Offering mercy

Father Maurice Moon speaks to eighth grade students at the annual vocation day. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

I’ve been a priest now for more than seven years, and it has been an amazing journey! 

I’d like to share some of my experiences as a priest as it can paint a picture of the Catholic priesthood and may inspire someone discerning this vocation. 

For the first five years of priesthood, I was the chaplain at Nolan Catholic High School while helping with vocations in our diocese. 

In that time, I really enjoyed helping our youth discover the love of Jesus Christ, and I did that through many different ways. I would step into theology classes, teach about Christ, and answer their questions about the faith. 

We had discipleship groups of boys and girls where we would meet once a week to eat breakfast, pray, talk about life, and read over the upcoming Gospel for Mass. We would discuss what a vocation is and how we discern the vocation God desires for us. 

Also, I enjoyed offering the mercy of Jesus Christ in the sacrament of reconciliation all day on first Fridays and whenever they saw my office door open throughout the week. There were days I must have heard more than 100 confessions. Often, I would be wiped out by the end of the school day, but it was fulfilling to know I was an instrument for offering God’s mercy to His People.  

Other great moments in the priesthood have been the ability to help out at most of our parishes in our diocese. Because I did not have a parish, I was asked to go to different parishes each weekend. I met so many wonderful people across our diocese, people who loved priests and taught me a lot about the rich history of their parish community.  

I was also blessed to go to Ghana, Africa, with Bishop Olson and see the Catholic faith in Africa. There, we met the archbishop of Kumasi as well as families of the Ghanaian priests serving in our diocese. We heard the stories of how Catholicism came to their country, as well as their joys, aspirations, and struggles. It was quite moving to be at a large Mass where everyone in the congregation was singing with great enthusiasm. 

Also, just a couple of years ago, I was sent to St. Joseph Seminary College in Louisiana where all of our seminarians go for their bachelor’s degree in philosophy before they go off to get a master’s degree in theology. 

I have enjoyed being at the seminary as a formator, helping these men in their discernment of the priesthood of Jesus Christ. I enjoy teaching seminars on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, chastity, and the virtues. 

I enjoy accompanying these men as they all come from unique backgrounds and experiences. It is inspiring to see how God is still calling men to labor in His vineyard, to see how He has worked in these men’s lives, and continues to work, in very real ways. 

I am currently the vice-rector, and it is fulfilling to know that my work is having an impact on the Church in the United States. 

There have been countless experiences as a priest that have been deeply moving: bringing the sacraments to the dying in their last moments; comforting those who have just lost a loved one; baptizing babies, etc. 

I am deeply grateful to God for this vocation, for calling me to this life. There has never been a dull moment, an existential or midlife crisis, because I know Jesus Christ and that He has called me to this. 

Although I am imperfect and sinful, Jesus Christ still desires to use me as His instrument for His mercy. And because I am imperfect and sinful, I have encountered His mercy in a real way, inspiring me to go out and share with others what I have received!