Published: October 17, 2007 09:04 pm            

RELIGION: Monsignor J. Thomas Moran marks 50th year as priest

YOUNGSTOWN — A national magazine featuring a recent article on “1957” described it as a year that changed America.

For parishioners at St. Bernard’s Church in Youngstown, the front-page headlines then (e.g. “Sputnik Launched,” “Crisis in Little Rock” and “Dodgers Move to L.A.”) obviously chronicled the biggest news from around the globe.

But one relatively obscure newspaper item in ’57 was destined to also impact their lives in a special way: a young seminarian from Lockport ordained to the priesthood in Rome.

A half-century later, that seminarian, now the Rev. Monsignor J. Thomas Moran, 75, pastor of St. Bernard’s, will celebrate the golden anniversary of his priesthood at 1 p.m. Saturday with a Mass of Thanksgiving at the church.

More than 320 people are expected at a sold-out dinner to honor the monsignor at 3 p.m. in the Pilgrim Center Dining Room at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, Swan Road.

In addition, a public reception with refreshments is set from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Pilgrim Center.

Among those expected to attend are his three sisters, Clarita Calos, Virginia Tracey and Shirley Nagel, all of Lockport, many parishioners, about 10 priests, friends and several community leaders. Another sister, Mary Beth O’Neil, is deceased.

Earlier this year, the Buffalo Diocese, faced with an increased shortage of priests and declining attendance at many churches, considered merging St. Bernard’s with St. Peter’s in Lewiston. Subsequently, the diocese decided to keep St. Bernard’s open as an independent church.

Although beyond the retirement age, Father Moran prefers to continue his pastorate. “My health has been very good and I like what I’m doing,” he said, “I also enjoy Youngstown.”

Because of the full schedule Saturday and Sunday, the monsignor relies on the Rev. Paul M. Keeling, CRSP, a Barnabite father assigned to the Fatima Shrine, and Monsignor Edward J. Scanlan, the resident priest at Stella Niagara, to assist with the Masses.

“I’ve had the privilege of serving as the monsignor’s weekend assistant for nearly 20 years,” Father Paul said, “He is a great mentor for me, a very pastoral priest. He loves people and, with his great sense of humor, he is able to proclaim the gospel not just through his words but also through the way he give his life by constantly striving to be a good priest and faithful servant of the church.”

Monsignor Scanlan, a retired pastor from Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Niagara Falls, cited Father Moran as “a tireless pastor who loves his parishioners. He shares their joys and sorrows.”

As he marks the milestone, countless parishioners have been wishing him well and expressing their appreciation for his service.

“We call him Father Moran even though he has been a monsignor for many years,” said Joseph Cecconi, a trustee of St. Bernard’s. “After all, that’s what he is to us, a father watching and caring for his children with priestly advise, beautifying the physical facilities, overseeing a very large CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, administering the many parish societies and programs, and offering the sacraments with inspiration and sincerity.”

The son of Joseph and Elizabeth Moran, Father Moran graduated from St. John’s School, Lockport, Emmett Belknap High School and Lockport High School. He also graduated from the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary, Buffalo, and St. Bonaventure University in Olean.

He completed four years of theological studies at the Gregorian University, Rome, while living at the North American College. On Dec. 15, 1957, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Buffalo in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in the North American College.

After returning to the U.S. in 1958, he was named administrator of St. Francis Cabrini Church, Collins Center. A year later, he was appointed as an assistant pastor at St. Margaret’s Church, Buffalo, and also served as the Catholic chaplain at Erie County Community College. In 1964, Father Moran was appointed secretary to the Most Rev. Pius A. Benincasa, auxiliary bishop of Buffalo. He served with Benincasa at Holy Name Parish, Buffalo and at St. Aloysius Parish, Cheektowaga, for 13 years. “At one time, we had 989 children in the (now-closed) St. Aloysius school,” Father Moran said.

Father Moran was named pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary, Niagara Falls, in 1977. While there he served as moderator for the Council of Catholic Women, chaplain of the fire department and faithful friar of the Niagara Falls Assembly of the Knights of Columbus.

He was assigned as co-pastor of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Clarence. In May 1983, he was appointed pastor at St. Bernard’s. For the past 27 years, Father Moran has served as moderator of the annual Rosary Crusade, now held at the Fatima Shrine.

In 1989, Pope John Paul II appointed him a domestic prelate with the title of Reverend Monsignor. In 1990, he became the first priest in the diocese to be granted affiliation to the Order of the Barnabite Fathers.

Later this year, the monsignor will join his classmates for a pilgrimage to Rome to celebrate their anniversary Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. His classmates include Edward Cardinal Egan, archbishop of New York; James Cardinal Stafford, former archbishop of Denver now serving in Rome; Bishop James Moynihan of Syracuse, and Bishop Anthony Milone, bishop emeritus of Great Falls-Billings, Mont.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.