The Rev. Tom Lalor looked out among the congregation before giving the final blessing to close Mass Thursday evening.

“I have been so blessed to be here,” he said.

In 1966, Thomas Lalor was ordained a priest at St. Patrick’s College in his home diocese of Carlow, Ireland.

Fifty years later, after serving as a teacher for 16 years and a pastor for 25, the Rev. Tom Lalor, 75, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination Thursday with a Mass at St. Paul Catholic Church attended by about 200 people from St. Paul and parishes across the state where he pastored; 23 of his fellow priests, the Most Rev. Joseph Kopacz, bishop of Jackson, and the Most Rev. Joseph Latino, bishop emeritus.

Lalor’s entire career as a priest has been in Mississippi, a place he volunteered to go.

“I was planning on doing it,” he said. “I was originally a student for my home diocese in Carlow, and I asked the bishop of that diocese for permission to go to Mississippi, because I knew Bishop (Joseph) Brunini wanted to get more priests, and I signed up to come for that reason. I’ve been here ever since.”

He began his ministry and teaching career in Biloxi, which was his first assignment after arriving on the Coast.

“I went to Biloxi in September, and when I came, on Monday morning, I was teaching two classes for Sister Paulinas. “I never taught a lick in my life at that time. That was before I was trained as a teacher.”

Since that first day in the classroom, Lalor has taught at St. Joseph in Jackson, St. Joseph in Greenville and Cathedral in Natchez.

“My 16 years in full-time teaching have been very rewarding,” he said. “It was very tough work; I taught in all Catholic high schools except St. Al, and now I’m in St. Al several times a week. That was why I was moved here, because I was in education for so long.”

Lalor is canonical administrator for Vicksburg Catholic Schools, which makes him responsible for all phases of the school’s operations.

Working under him, “Is absolutely the best experience anybody could ever have,” said St. Aloysius principal Dr. Buddy Strickland.

“He has all those qualities that you look for and you expect in a priest. He’s compassionate and understanding, and very insightful into things. He also is a realist. He taught before he became a pastor. He understands what the real problems are. He is just an absolute delight to work for.”

Lalor, he said, is “the final authority” on anything that happens at that school lies.

“He doesn’t meddle, but he’s there if you need him, and he trusts the people he works with.”

He said Lalor is at the schools three or four times a week, and may only stay about 15minues.

“He doesn’t ask questions, but he’s there,” Strickland said. “He has a genuine love and compassion for the kids here, and he wants to interact with them. He’ll be there for lunch, where he can sit down and eat lunch with them, or he’ll walk into a classroom.

“With the number of children we have, it’s hard to get to know every one, but his goal is to get to know every child to be able to call them by name and be able to know something about them.”

But while he enjoys being at the schools and being among the students, Lalor’s greatest joy has been being a pastor.

“I’ve been a pastor now since 1990, ’91; I’ve absolutely enjoyed it,” he said. “I am thankful for my pastoral experience.”

He came to Vicksburg in 2013, but his transfer here was not his first visit to city. A former marathoner, Lalor had run in the Run Across the River and Run Thru History races in earlier years.

“When I was at Natchez, I’d drive up to Vicksburg, stretch and then run across the bridge. I liked that,” he said.

Lynne Abraham, one of the parish’s two secretaries, said there was no anxiety when they learned Lalor was coming here.

“Father (Patrick) Farrell had already informed us we were getting one of the cream of the crop,” she said. “He’s truly a wonderful, compassionate person who cares about all his parishioners. He’s like the Energizer Bunny; if he’s not around here at the rectory, he’s out visiting the sick or homebound parishioners.”

Lalor said it’s his vocation as a priest that keeps him going, whether he’s visiting the sick or working at the rectory, “And it’s in my nature to stay active. If I were retired, I’d find something to do, I assure you.”

And he has no immediate plans to settle down.

“I was hoping my health would allow me to (remain a pastor),” he said. “I never had any other intention than staying with it. I can tell you I’m surprised and delighted that I arrived at this stage in such good shape. I’m very grateful for that.

“I intend to go on until it seems it’s time to retire,” he said. “Some of the priests who are retired already say, ‘You’ll know when you’re ready to retire.’ And I don’t feel I’m at that stage yet.”