REGINA: What would your response be to those concerned about keeping young people in the Church?
FATHER MOORE: I am forty and feel these thoughts about my generation too: We want to be challenged! We want a beautiful liturgy that will lift us up to God! We love the Church and want to encourage her Priests and Religious to be zealous in the spread of the Faith! Catholics love to celebrate Life! This means being surrounded by God's beauty, living as a sign contrary to the latest politically correct trend, having a joyful faith, and, ultimately, striving with God's Grace to be joyful Saints!
REGINA: Can you speak to the situation of your Order, the Dominicans, in Ireland?
FATHER MOORE: There was a general sense with most Diocesan and Religious Priests in Ireland that the Dominicans seem to be one of the few orders flourishing with native vocations. At their House of Studies at St. Saviour's in Dublin, I encountered a growing, joyful, zealous, and sharp group of young men who will be fantastic Dominican Priests. I also was able to visit our Dominican Sisters of Nashville who now have a convent in Limerick. They have at least one native Irish vocation now, and I'm looking forward to seeing more young women join their ranks. This last point is very important. Having a parish without the example of Religious Women is like having a single parent home . . . not ideal.
REGINA: In the months since this happened, what have been your thoughts?
FATHER MOORE: It was great to offer Mass where my Brother Priests once ministered, offered the Holy Sacrifice, and ultimately faced persecution. In our age, where there is increasing hostility to the Faith, it serves as a reminder that we always need to fight for freedom of religion.
REGINA: Do you have any final thoughts to share with our readers?
FATHER MOORE: It is my prayer that these pilgrimages can continue—and that they can be experiences to help bolster the faith of the next generation of Catholics. I also hope that these can help our dear young friends to discern the vocations that God is calling them to: to be the next generation of Catholics who help bring the light of the Gospel into the midst of our dim and dreary world. . .
LEFT: A Dominican amongst Benedictines: Father Moore shares a light moment before lunch at Silverstream Priory, headed up by Dom Mark Kirby, OSB, on the right.
(Photo Credit: Meghan Ferrara)
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