Father Moriarty ends 26 years of ministry in vocations, priestly formation
By Sean Gallagher
When Father Joseph Moriarty was asked in 1998 to become the archdiocese’s vocations director, he said it came as “a complete surprise.”
“It was completely unexpected,” Father Moriarty recalled in a recent interview with The Criterion. “I remember I said these words, ‘I don’t know what that work entails. But I know I love being a priest.’ ”
The ministry that came as a surprise in 1998 to Father Moriarty, then a priest for five years, continued for more than two decades, including 16 years of service in priestly formation in seminaries.
Now, 26 years later, Father Moriarty is stepping away from his official roles in promoting priestly vocations and in priestly formation.
He served as archdiocesan vocations director from 1998-2005; on the formation staff of Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad from 2005-13, and on the formation staff at Bishop Bruté since 2013, including as its rector since 2016.
In reflecting on his quarter of a century of either promoting priestly vocations or serving in priestly formation, Father Moriarty looks back to the witness of his now deceased parents for the model of his approach to life in ordained ministry.
“Mom and Dad modeled for me in their 59 years of marriage, and I as their ninth child, that when the going gets tough, you don’t get going. You pour yourself more into your vocation,” Father Moriarty said. “It’s strengthened that awareness that I help labor with God in something greater than myself. I feel a great duty to that.”
When difficult times come in his life and ministry as a priest, he knows where to turn for help.
“You go to God in adoration and say, ‘Here is my life. I’m not understanding, but I know this is an invitation to trust,’ ” Father Moriarty said. “I love being a priest. Priesthood is the joy of my life. And I realize in the context of that, when I suffer, I will know where to go and that is to Christ in the Eucharist.”
Father Moriarty recalled how he has sought on many occasions to pass on this insight to the seminarians he’s helped form for the priesthood, referring to when they lay on the floor prostrate in prayer during ordination.
“Perfection is not what is required,” he said. “It’s fidelity. We give ourselves again and again and again to the promise that we’ve made.
“I say it often to the seminarians, ‘Recall, men, that you lay on the floor only once. So, lay down your lives. Surrender to God and he will do everything for you.’ ”
Father Peter Marshall, who begins ministry on May 31 as Bishop Bruté’s vice rector while continuing as pastor of St. Jude Parish in Indianapolis, answered the call to priestly life and ministry with the help of Father Moriarty.
“Over 20 years ago, Father Moriarty recruited me for the seminary when he was vocations director for the archdiocese,” said Father Marshall, who was ordained in 2009. “He continues to be a support, role model and friend for me. I am humbled to follow in his footsteps.”
Similarly, Father Andrew Syberg, who succeeds Father Moriarty as Bishop Bruté’s rector, benefited from his ministry in priestly formation.
“Father Joe was spiritual director at Saint Meinrad when I got there,” said Father Syberg, who was ordained in 2015. “I’m going to miss Father Joe like crazy. We’ve lived together for seven years. He has such a good heart and a love for the guys [at the seminary].”
After stepping down as Bishop Bruté’s rector, Father Moriarty will begin a sabbatical, the first he’s experienced in 31 years of priestly life and ministry.
“There’s been tremendous joy in my 26 years,” Father Moriarty said. “It’s the legacy of the men ordained. It’s the legacy of the men who are faithful husbands. It’s the legacy of men in spiritual direction all over the country. That’s not my legacy, though. That’s God’s legacy through me to those people.” †
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