In May 1966, John D'Amico was ordained a Roman Catholic priest and then spent most of his brief priesthood at St. Patrick's parish in Kennett Square.

But, he said in a recent interview, he realized that he needed "a new route to becoming myself."

Next January will mark 30 years since D'Amico left the priesthood.

But that hasn't prevented Immaculata, a Catholic university, from hosting an annual evening for his jazz trio, the latest happening tomorrow.

In the years since he left St. Patrick's, it might be said, D'Amico has continued tending to those wearied of the world.

Since December 1990, he has been a Philadelphia probation officer.

For "about 18 years," he has been the pianist at the Tuesday night jazz jams at the 23rd Street Cafe, in the Art Museum neighborhood of Philadelphia.

And for 17 years come July, he has played piano a couple of nights a week at the William Penn Inn, near North Wales in Montgomery County, now every Friday and Saturday.

Yes, relieving workaday cares of the world-weary with the celestial sounds of Ellington and Monk.

Tomorrow and Saturday, D'Amico will be back at Immaculata University, for what he says is the 12th straight year of this annual two-day gig - performing, and lecturing on, jazz.

As with all of his piano playing, he will be billed as Father John D'Amico.

Once a priest, always a priest, so says church law.

His reason for the billing was not quite so theological.

"Mainly because it was a handle that was easier [for audiences] to remember me by."

At Immaculata, D'Amico and his trio - Kenny Davis on bass, Gregory McDonald on drums - will play at Memorial Hall in Villa Maria Hall tomorrow from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

The concert is free and open to the public, "a nice concert without any agenda," he said, "except to enjoy jazz live."

On Saturday, D'Amico said he will run a five-hour class from 10 a.m., again at Memorial Hall, in which "I play some, I play recordings, I show some DVD stuff, to educate people" about jazz.

The College of Lifelong Learning at Immaculata has titled the two-day event, "Circles of Healing: Hearing the Heart of Jazz."

For students of that college, the non-credit cost is $170, the credit cost $355.

Music and social work have been D'Amico's life for most of the years since he took off his cassock.

After marrying a graphic artist, Kathleen Hastings in December 1969, he said, "at the encouragement of my wife, I auditioned for a job and got hired" at a Bucks County restaurant.

At the same time, he began a career of social work with criminals.

From working at a prison in Delaware, D'Amico went on to work for "various community-based organizations," in Allentown, Bethlehem and Philadelphia.

D'Amico has seemed to continue his affection for churchly things.

Last month, D'Amico and his trio gave an evening concert in the coffee house of Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church.

Yesterday, they gave a noonday concert at Trinity Episcopal Church on Rittenhouse Square.

Because he plays without his trio at the 23rd Street Cafe and at the William Penn Inn, tomorrow's event is "a blessing, [because] I can play with my trio."

Only one of his children is a musician. Darius, 35, is a barber. Madeleine, 31, is a physical therapist.

But Michael, 28, "plays guitar and sings and plays his own folk rock."

If You Go

When and Where: Father John D'Amico and his trio will give a free, open to the public concert tomorrow night at Memorial Hall, a room in Villa Maria Hall, the domed building at 1145 King Road. The Immaculata campus is on Rte 352, south of Rte. 30.

For more information, call 610-647-4400.