Obituaries

Chicago, IL (February 13, 2017) – Rev. James Francis Moriarty passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, at the Bishop Timothy J. Lyne Residence for Retired Priests, where he was a resident. Fr. Moriarty was Pastor Emeritus of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Evanston. He was 91 years old.

Fr. Moriarty was born in Chicago on December 11, 1925. He attended St. Theodore School in Chicago. Fr. Moriarty went on to study at Quigley Preparatory Seminary North and graduated from the University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary with a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) and a Master of Arts degree.  He was ordained into the priesthood on May 3, 1951, by Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago. Fr. Moriarty celebrated his first Solemn Mass at St. Theodore Parish on May 6, 1951.

Fr. Moriarty served in the Archdiocese in a number of different parochial roles. He served as Assistant Pastor of St. Ferdinand Parish in Chicago, (1951-63); St. John the Evangelist Parish in Streamwood (1963-70); and St. Mary of the Woods Parish in Chicago (1988-89). Fr. Moriarty served as Pastor of St. Luke Parish in River Forest (1982-88). In 1989, Fr. Moriarty was named Pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Evanston, and he served there until his retirement in 1995, when he was named Pastor Emeritus.

In addition to serving Catholics in parishes around the Archdiocese, Fr. Moriarty also worked at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center for over a decade. He was a Delegate Judge for the Metropolitan Tribunal, and in 1969, he began working with the Catholic Conference of Illinois. Fr. Moriarty dedicated much of his work to the development of Catholic Television, as Director of the Catholic Television Network of Chicago from 1973 to 1984. During this time, he was a resident of Holy Name Cathedral Parish.

Fr. George Kane, retired Archdiocesan priest, was a classmate of Fr. Moriarty. He said, “Fr. Jim had a great love and loyalty for his family, for the people he ministered to, and for his brother priests.” He added, “He was very organized and super detailed, and he had a great sense of fun.”

Fr. Moriarty will lie in state on Thursday, February 16, from 3 to 9 p.m., at Curley Funeral Home, 6116 111th St., Chicago Ridge. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., on Friday, February 17, at Most Holy Redeemer Parish, 9525 S. Lawndale Ave., Evergreen Park. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich will be the main celebrant and Fr. George Kane will be the homilist.

Interment will take place at St. Mary Cemetery in Evergreen Park.

Fr. Moriarty is survived by his brothers, Thomas, Robert and Gerald Moriarty, as well as his nieces and nephews.