Rev. Jeremiah Moriarty, Third Pastor of St. Mary's
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Father Moriarty was associated with St. Mary’s for more than 40 years as assistant pastor, administrator and finally as pastor. Mere words can not express the mark that Father Moriarty has left on his parish never to be effaced. If his pastorate could be summed up in one word, that word would be charity. His love for his people and his generosity towards those in need are known only to God and to himself. He was born on July 3, 1863 in Whitby, Canada, and made his preparatory studies for the priesthood at Our Lady of the Angels Seminary, Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Ottawa University, Ottawa, Canada. His first assignment as a priest was as an assistant pastor to this parish. Later he was appointed as pastor of St. James, Waverly, where he remained until his return to St. Mary’s as pastor in 1907. Due to Father O’Dwyer’s failing health, Fr. Moriarty took over the parish. His devotion to and care for Fr. O’Dwyer during his last illness are but another testimony to his great charity.
Many are the activities recorded in St. Mary’s during Fr. Moriarty’s long pastorate. We are told that as an assistant to Fr. O’Dwyer, he was instrumental in having the new school built and he maintained its reputation on the highest level. It was a work very close to his heart as he himself had in earlier years been a school teacher.
He completely redecorated the church about 1912 and erected new altars and a new altar railing and purchased new statues for the sanctuary and installed new confessionals. At the same time he purchased a new organ for $2,900. Two new stained glass windows were placed in the sanctuary as gifts of Patrick Cusick and Ellen Sullivan. In later years the new carpet was placed in the church and new stokers installed in 1943. In Fr. Moriarty’s time the playground was built and he purchased property to square off the land belonging to the parish. It was also in Fr. Moriarty’s time that electricity was placed in the convent.
When Fr. Moriarty took over the parish there was a debt of $29,000 which he paid off in only 11 years and left about $35,000 in the treasury when he died, a truly remarkable record.
Fr. Moriarty established the Holy Name Society in the parish and one of the first Catholic Boy Scout Troops in the diocese. Under the direction of Fr. Predmore he started the mens and womens choir and a vested boys choir which sang in the sanctuary. In 1922 the adult choir gave the “Seven Last Words of Christ”. This program will be found in another place in this book.
It is felt that the intense devotion of the people of this parish for frequent Holy Communion is due to the encouragement of Fr. Moriarty. It is a fact that all visiting priests that come to this parish invariably remark on the great faith of its people and the large numbers that receive Holy Communion, even on week days. During Fr. Moriarty’s tenure there was a great number of converts, and in one year there were 35 adults confirmed.
Fr. Moriarty was a great lover of athletics and of the outdoor life. Every day he took long walks throughout the parish, during which he would often stop and visit with his parishioners. It was a familiar sight to see him walking about in Southport. He continued in good health practically until the time of his death at 80 years of age.
The accounts of the death and burial of Father Moriarty were carried in the Catholic Courier under the dates of Dec. 30, 1943 and Jan. 7, 1944.
DIOCESE MOURNS DEATH OF ELMIRA PASTOR
Solemn Mass of Requiem for the Rev. Jeremiah J. Moriarty, 80 year old pastor of St. Mary’s Church, Elmira, N.Y. will be offered by His Excellency Bishop James E. Kearney tomorrow morning (Friday, December 31) at 10:30 A.M. in St. Mary’s Church.
Father Moriarty’s death on Tuesday of this week evoked throughout the Diocese and in the City of Elmira, expressions of regret and tribute to his many years of pastoral service.
Pastor of the Elmira Church since 1907, he died in Elmira after a short illness.
He was born on July 3, 1863, in Whitby, Canada, and made his preparatory studies for the priesthood at Our Lady of the Angels Seminary, Niagara Falls, N.Y. and at Ottawa University, Ottawa, Canada.
At the time of his death, Father Moriarty was marking his 49th year in the priesthood. He was ordained at Buffalo in 1894.
The present St. Mary’s parish which he directed so long as pastor, was also the scene of Father Moriarty’s first priestly labors following his ordination. Later he was appointed pastor of St. James’ Parish, Waverly, N.Y., where he remained until his return as pastor, returning to St. Mary’s, Elmira, in 1907.
Father Moriarty was originally a priest of the Buffalo Diocese when the present southern tier area of the Diocese of Rochester still was a part of Buffalo.
Officers of the Pontifical Requiem Mass assisting Bishop Kearney will be: Assistant Priest, The Rt. Rev. Msgr. William F. Bergan, Chancellor of the diocese; Deacons of Honor, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John J. Lee, V.F. and the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Walter J. Lee, V.F.; Deacon of the Mass, the Rev. William J. Brien; Subdeacon, the Rev. Francis B. Burns; Master of the Ceremonies, the Rev. Lawrence B. Casey; second Master, the Rev. Thomas J. Toole.
Acolytes, the Rev. Arthur C. Smith and the Rev. Leo G. Schwab; Thurifer, the Rev. Francis J. Lane; Book-bearer, the Rev. Theodore J. Winterroth; Candle-Bearer the Rev. Francis J. Reilly, Mitre-Bearer, the Rev. Ladislaus J. Szezepanski; Gremiale-Bearer, the Rev. William A. Burns.
Bearers will be the Reverend Fathers James B. Kennan, Joseph E. Guilfoil, Thomas C. Carroll, John A. Smith, Michael J. Hynes, Joseph F. Hogan, John E. Cieslinski, and Edward J. Tolster.
The eulogy will be delivered by the Rev. George V. Predmore, pastor of Holy Apostles Church, Rochester, for many years assistant to Father Moriarty at Elmira’s St. Mary’s Church.
BISHOP KEARNEY OFFICIATES AT PONTIFICAL
FUNERAL RITES FOR FATHER MORIARTY
Bishops and priests of the Rochester diocese joined with the parishioners of St. Mary’s Church in paying final and sincere tribute to the Rev. Jeremiah J. Moriarty, pastor for 37 years at funeral service, Friday, Dec. 31.
His Excelency [sic], the Most Rev. James E. Kearney, Bishop of Rochester celebrated the Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass at which priests of Rochester and other dioceses, Sisters of St. Joseph of diocese, Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Mary’s School, relatives and parishioners united in prayers for the repose of Father Moriarty’s soul.
Voicing the tribute of all, the Rev. George V. Predmore, pastor of Holy Apostles Church, Rochester and for 11 years assistant to Father Moriarty declared the zealous pastor to be “the essence of kindness, unselfish in nature, unassuming, a man of humility.”
Many non-Catholics paid tribute to the memory of Father Moriarty and attended the funeral Mass. Included among them was the Very Rev. Frederick Henstridge, rector of Grace Episcopal Church.
Members of Elmira Assembly, Fourth Degree, Knights of Columbus, formed an honor guard during the Mass and the procession to the cemetery.
Sir Knights John T. Nugent, David Vincent Sheehan, Frank Rohde, and Arthur W. Hawley composed the Fourth Degree escort.
Burial was in the Priests’ Circle in SS Peter and Paul’s Cemetery. Bishop Kearney gave the final blessing. Father Moriarty was buried next to the grave of the late Rev. Monsignor James J. Bloomer, V.F. Founder and pastor of St. Patrick’s Church who died in 1931 and who was a contemporary and close friend and associate of Father Moriarty for many years.
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