Staff report

Monsignor Vincent Topper, a Hanover native believed to be the oldest priest in the United States, died Oct. 7 at the age of 104, according to a news release from the Harrisburg diocese.

Topper had served the church since the age of 23 and was still ministering to children in his later years.

The diocese celebrated his birthday in July and the 80th anniversary of his ordination to priesthood in May.

“He has seen and personally experienced so much in his lifetime,” Bishop Ronald Gainer said of Topper in the release. “Throughout the many changes in our church and culture that he has experienced, he maintained amazing fidelity and flexibility to continue to be what Christ called him to be and to what he said yes to so many years ago, to be a priest of Jesus Christ.”

There will be a viewing Oct. 15, beginning with morning prayer at 8:30 a.m. until the funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Catherine Laboure Church, 4000 Derry St., Harrisburg.

Burial will take place after the dinner at Annunciation Cemetery, 298 North 5th St., McSherrystown.

Read the diocese's full statement about Topper's service.

Read about Topper's 104th birthday celebration.