Monsignor Terence Mathius Moore February 24, 1943 ~ December 19, 2023

Intermountain Catholic

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Reverend Monsignor Terence M. Moore, our loving brother, uncle, beloved pastor and friend, age 80 years, completed his earthly journey and went peacefully to his Father's House on December 19, 2023.

Rev. Msgr. Moore was born on February 24, 1943 in Ballyfin, Co. Laois, Ireland to Peter and Julia Moore. Rev. Msgr. Moore entered the seminary at St. Patrick's College, Thurles, Ireland in 1961 and was ordained to the Roman Catholic Priesthood on June 10, 1967. He came as a missionary priest to the Diocese of Salt Lake City in August of that year and assumed his first assignment as the associate pastor of the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

 The young Father Moore demonstrated a passionate devotion to the poor and vulnerable at the earliest stages of his ministry, becoming very involved in social justice ministry on behalf of disenfranchised members of the downtown urban community. Bishop Joseph Lennox Federal observed Fr. Terry's passion for community involvement and sent him to study for a master's degree in social work at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 1970. Father Moore returned to Utah in 1972 and became the director of the Newman Center at the University of Utah where he was a regular speaker on campus on social justice issues. He assumed several assignments as pastor during his younger years which he fulfilled with great energy and pastoral enthusiasm.

In 1978 he was named director of refugee resettlement for Catholic Charities of Utah and administered a variety of social service programs to promote the self-sufficiency dreams of thousands of refugees from southeast Asia, eastern Europe and Cuba. He was invited to study for a doctorate in social work at the University of Utah, which he completed in 1981. He was asked to serve as the coordinator of refugee resettlement for the Utah State Department of Social Services in 1982, a position he held with distinction for three years.

In 1985, he was appointed pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Sandy, a position he held for 14 years and during which time he oversaw the building of their new church and rectory. In 1987, he was named executive director of Catholic Community Services of Utah, a position he served for seven years and during which time he developed several programs to address homelessness in Utah communities. In 1999 he assumed the role of founding pastor of  St. John the Baptist Parish in Draper, a position he held until his retirement from fulltime active ministry in 2013. During his tenure at St. John the Baptist Church, he oversaw the construction of the new church and rosary grotto on the grounds of the Skaggs Catholic Center.

He was named Prelate of Honor to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on November 5, 2008, with the title Monsignor. He was an active member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem since his installation into that Order in 2004. He also served as chaplain to the Knights of Columbus in several parishes and Assemblies.

He will be remembered for his warm personality which empowered many people to undertake leadership roles in parish ministries. He was totally selfless in his caring for those entrusted to his pastoral care even as he battled chronic leukemia and subsequent heart disease for the past several years. He genuinely loved people and they loved him in return. He devoted several hours each week to pastoral counseling and spiritual direction and was cherished for his gentle spirit and compassionate, humble heart. He will be greatly missed by all of us but his deep faith will continue to call us to our higher selves and the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, for whom he had an abiding affection and devotion.

He is survived by his brother John (Maggie), his sisters, Dympna and Veronica (Michael) and several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

The vigil for Msgr. Moore will be Monday, Jan. 8, 5-7 p.m. at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, 300 East 11800 South, Draper, with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by the vigil Mass at 7 p.m. with Father Stephen Tilley presiding. The funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 309 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Bishop Oscar A. Solis will preside. Committal will follow at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 275 U St., Salt Lake City.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Priests Mutual Benefit Society, 27 "C" Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103 or Catholic Community Services, 224 North 2200 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116.