Father John Moore
Father John Moore died in his sleep on Monday, June 25, 2018 at Buckingham’s Choice.
John Charles Moore was born in Philadelphia to the late John and Elizabeth (Truskey) Moore on July 24, 1934. He is survived by his twin brother James P. Moore, a sister-in-law, Joan Moore, and by numerous nieces and nephews: Valerie (Mark) O’Neill, Matthew (Shannon) Moore, Eileen (Doug) Berchem, Robert (Noreen) Moore, and Trish (Cliff) Glass, and their children Erin, Brian, Ryan, Finnegan, Amanda, John, David, Robert, Meghan, and Kaitlyn. He was preceded in death by his brother Robert Moore, his sister-in-law, Laura Moore, and his niece Colleen Gasiorowski.
John graduated from West Catholic High School in 1952 and two weeks later entered the De La Salle Brothers of the Christian Schools (Christian Brothers) at age 17. He matriculated from La Salle College and taught Religion and English in Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., and Towson. He was a class advisor and moderator of school newspapers and yearbooks, and worked in multiple administrative positions. He served as the vice-principal of Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, MD from 1966 to 1974.
In 1975, after 23 years of ministry as a Christian Brother, Brother John answered the call to priesthood he had first experienced in elementary school. He applied to the Archdiocese of Baltimore for ordination so as to further serve the people of the Baltimore. He was ordained a priest at Saint Thomas Moore Church in Northeast Baltimore in 1978, and served as an associate pastor at St. Rose of Lima, and at St. Thomas Moore. In 1986, he was asked by Archbishop William Borders to move to Middletown to establish a parish and build a church.
From the very beginning, Fr. John committed himself to build a strong community of involved disciples. The first Mass for the new community was celebrated in Middletown High School on the Feast of the Epiphany in 1986. The community continued to meet there every Sunday morning and later in the Middletown United Methodist Church when a Saturday evening Mass was added to the schedule. Under Fr. John’s guidance, the community grew larger and stronger. In 1995, ground was broken for a church building and it was dedicated on March 14, 1997. Fr. John assured that people had a proper sense of ownership for the both the service and the mission of the parish. In 2007, Holy Family expanded their building when they dedicated a large social hall, multiple classrooms and an extension of the narthex. This new facility was named in Father John Moore’s honor.
Father Moore retired as Pastor of Holy Family in July of 2004 and was succeeded by Father Kevin Farmer, and then by Msgr. Robert Jaskot in 2010. With his retirement he moved to Myrtle Beach, S.C., then to Baltimore and subsequently to Frederick. He moved into Buckingham’s Choice in 2016 and soon became a devoted member of that community.
Father John’s pastoral mission was not limited to his own faith community. He also worked to build bridges with other ministers and communities. He established the Ministerium of the Middletown Valley gathering the area ministers into a working group of committed and dedicated women and men to serve God‘s people - all God’s people. Reverend Dr. Susan Halse, the retired pastor of Middletown United Methodist Church, spoke highly of Fr. John and his efforts in this area. She commented on his persistence and his faithfulness in helping the larger community live out the Gospel call. The Middletown Ministerium continues to meet regularly and work together to serve God’s people.
Even his students never forgot him. The high school class of 1960 in Pittsburgh invited him to celebrate their 50th Reunion. When they heard that he was no longer driving, they sent a car for him. He agreed with the stipulation that he return home the next day so he could celebrate mass at Saint John’s in Frederick where he was helping out on Sunday mornings.
From age 17 to 70 John Moore labored in many ministries. Regardless of his role, he always strove to build personal relationships whether at home, at church, or in the community. He felt this was the best way he could bring Christ to those he encountered. He walked daily in Frederick Towne Mall for exercise and to connect with people. When that mall closed, he changed to Francis Scott Key Mall and walked daily, even after retirement. When he moved to Buckingham’s Choice, he continued his practice of connecting with and supporting people he encountered. He chose a corner area of the home to minister daily for two hours, greeting and talking to all of God‘s people, providing guidance to whoever asked, including as he said: “when it was only directions to a rest room.”
Father John’s care has been entrusted to Stauffer’s Funeral home. He will lie in state at Holy Family Catholic Community, 7321 Burkittsville Road, Middletown on Monday, July 2 from 1 to 5 pm to be followed immediately by the Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Bishop Adam Parker and area priests. You are welcome to join the family for his burial at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township, Delaware County Pennsylvania at 12:30 on Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial donations to the Capital Repair Fund, Holy Family Catholic Community, 7321 Burkittsville Road, Middletown, 21769, or to the Clergy Care Endowment Fund of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, 320 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.