Fr. Mike Moroney Celebrates 50 Years Of Service As a Priest in Louisiana

A young Irishman from the Emerald Isle, Fr. Michael Moroney celebrated his first Mass at St. Bartholomew Church in his hometown, Athea, just about 100 miles southwest of Dublin, Ireland. 

He was one of 24 Irish seminarians raised into the priesthood by Bishop Morris, Bishop of Cashel and Emily in the Cathedral of the Assumption in Thurles County, Tipperary, Ireland.

His father, Dan Moroney, a tradesman, and his mother, Mairead Moore Moroney, had four children. Fr. Mike is the eldest. He has one brother and two sisters.

At the age of 21, he began his training for the priesthood. While at Mount Melleray Abbey, he studied philosophy and subsequently went to St. Patrick’s College in Thules to complete his studies in Theology. 

Fr. Moroney was assigned to be the new assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Roads, LA only one month after he was ordained in June 1971. Imagine being away from home at such a young age and the only means of communication with your family was through writing letters as his parents did not have a telephone in their home for his first 15 years in the United States.

Quick to adapt and most impressed with the hospitality of folks in Louisiana, Fr. Mike was eager to begin his service in religious life.  He wanted to get to know his church family, and he was determined to master the pronunciation of their names – quite a task for anyone not familiar with the names of Louisiana. 

Fr. Mike says he found a place where people made him feel at home wherever he went in Louisiana. He jokes that he went from eating meat and potatoes to eating crawfish and seafood. Laissez les bons temps rouler!!

When asked about his homeland, Fr. Mike likens it to South Louisiana. Lifestyles are similar and there is a relaxed attitude among people in both places. 

Folklore and storytelling are the same—people like to share life events. To sustain these traditions, he is a firm believer that the family unit is a key in doing so. Communities of closely-bound families have been one of the great strengths of his native Ireland home and of Louisiana as well. It saddens him to realize that the current disconnect in many families is diminishing the strength we once had.

Always having had a special place in his heart for young people, Fr. Mike’s work with them was always a bright spot in his ministry, and it still is today. Weekend work in a halfway house for youth in London was instrumental in his making the decision to enter the priesthood. The program was called Street Rescue. He found it extremely gratifying to see the potential these youth had, which could provide insight into their capabilities. Instead of pointing out flaws and weaknesses, he liked to focus on strengths they possessed and tried to offer them opportunities that could offer positive outcomes. Stressing the need for a positive self-image by telling them “You’ve got to believe in yourself before others will believe in you” was his way of reinforcing their potential to be successful. Likewise, his advice to adults regarding young people was to never underestimate them for fear of losing the untapped energy and success within each one of them.

Although the decision to enter the priesthood was huge, he has never had any regrets about choosing this course for his life. Coming from a country where the Irish were persecuted for their faith for centuries, he says the whole background of defending faith has instilled of great amount of dedication and commitment to faith that has always been a part of Irish history. When one lives through difficulties faced in Ireland, God will always see his people through tough times. His upbringing taught him that life is good and goodness will prevail. Fr. Mike believes that the challenges and hard times he has faced, especially those things that are unpredictable, have made him stronger.

Admitting to being basically shy, Fr. Mike recounts how shyness can be misconstrued into being distant or even dismissive. He considers himself an introvert and enjoys his own space. He also says he is most happy in his lifestyle and the diversity the priesthood has given him.

We all witness Fr. Mike in his role as priest, pastor, and counselor. Sometimes we don’t see him as one of us, an individual who has personal feelings and emotions just as we do. He describes a most difficult time for him when he had to deal with the loss of both parents. Part of a pastor’s ministry is dealing with the sick and the dying and the dead. As professionals, priests deal with death every day. It is part of their job. However, there is a fine line between being compassionate and concerned but not emotionally entangled in personal problems and tragedies. One must exercise patience, put things into perspective, and always include prayer. But emotionally, when it is your own family, you are hit hard. Priests are not machines with no human side. Nonetheless, that side is there for all of us and those were some very, hard days. Having experienced the loss of his parents, he now has a greater appreciation for what others experience when they lose family members.

Experiencing the Flood of 2016 and the COVID-19 pandemic were and still are certainly stressful for many. The widespread devastation of the flood and the paralyzing conditions of the pandemic gave cause to examine the best way to continue serving St. Alphonsus parishioners and their needs with the constraints imposed on everyone. The call of a new challenge in the profession of priesthood is something that makes you pick yourself up and engage yourself in the process if you want good things to happen. Quick to praise the efforts of the church staff and resilient church family, Fr. Mike is grateful that there is a gradual sense of normalcy returning to all of us.

Noting that there is a definite shortage of young men going into the priesthood, Fr. Mike would offer the following advice to those considering a religious vocation—“Be open to challenges along the way. Don’t set such strict and rigid agendas and limit yourselves to only following a set path. If an opportunity presents itself, explore it. Redirection may be God’s way of altering your plans and putting you where He needs you most!”

One of Fr. Mike’s greatest joys is when he reconnects with people who share that he had a positive impact and influence in their lives. It is extremely rewarding to know he had a hand in molding their future. He also believes the generosity of people willing to share time and talent in their church life are great blessings he has received over and over. He appreciates the gifts a church family shares to solidify family units within their own homes, leading and living as examples to their children.

Future plans for Fr. Mike? Provided his health stays good, and when the time comes, he would like to retire! He enjoys reading short stories, outside yard work, racquetball, bicycling and watching football games with friends. Until then what keeps Fr. Mike Moroney going? He believes it is being in such a great place with great people here at St. Alphonsus and the many places he has served the Lord for the last half-century.

Thank you, Fr. Mike Moroney, for the kindness, love and blessings you have shared with everyone the past 50 years.

May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, the rain fall upon your fields, and until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand!