Reverend Monsignor John F. Moore died at the Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River on Sunday, August 12, 2018.
Msgr. Moore was born in New Bedford on July 1, 1933, the son of Patrick J. and Rose (McCabe) Moore, both natives of Ireland. He attended the parish schools of St. Lawrence Parish, graduating from The Holy Family High School in 1951. Msgr. Moore prepared for the priesthood at Cardinal O’Connell Seminary and St. John’s Seminary in Boston, receiving Bachelor and Master of Arts Degrees.
He was ordained to the priesthood on January 30, 1960 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River by Bishop James L. Connolly. His parish assignments included parochial vicar at Holy Name, Saints Peter and Paul, and St. William Parishes in Fall River and at St. Joseph Parish in Taunton. Following ordination Msgr. Moore earned a Master of Education Degree at Bridgewater State University. While in Taunton he also served as chaplain at Bishop Cassidy High School. In 1976 Bishop Daniel A. Cronin appointed Msgr. Moore the founding director of the formation program for Permanent Deacons. For many years Msgr. Moore had written a weekly column called The Mooring in THE ANCHOR, the diocesan newspaper. In 1977 he became the Executive Editor of the newspaper. In 1980 he was appointed pastor of St. Mary Parish in New Bedford, serving there until 1995 when he was transferred to the pastorate of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in North Falmouth, from which he retired in 2009. In 1999 he was named a Chaplain of the Holy Father with the title of Monsignor and in 2012 he was named a Prelate of Honor. In retirement Msgr. Moore assisted at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville and at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville. He was a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
He is survived by his sister, Margaret A. Grandchamp and her husband Philip of Adams and his brother Kevin P. Moore and his wife Kathleen of Penn Valley, PA, also by 10 nieces and nephews and 19 grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
He was predeceased by his sister Rosemary M. Bowen and her husband E. Howland Bowen.
Msgr. Moore will be transferred to St. Mary's Cathedral, 327 Second St., Fall River on Thursday, August 16th at 4 PM, where he will lie in state until a Vigil Service at 7 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 17th at 11 AM, with Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha as principal celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery in New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to FACE-Foundation to Advance Catholic Education, P.O. Box 1470, Fall River, MA 02722. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.