MOONEY, REV. JOHN FREDERICK
The death of Rev. John Frederick Mooney, a retired priest of the Diocese of Saint John, occurred in the Saint John Regional Hospital on May 7, 2015 after a brief illness. Father Mooney was born in Saint John, N.B. on May 29, l923, the eldest of four children born to Harold and Gertrude (Driscoll) Mooney.
After studying in local schools he graduated from St. Vincent’s Boys High School in 1940. From 1940 to 1941 he undertook a university preparation year at Saint John High School. He then enrolled in St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, N.S., where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1945. Next he pursued philosophical studies in Montreal followed by theological studies in Holy Heart Seminary, Halifax, N.S. He was ordained in the priesthood in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Saint John by the Most Reverend Patrick A. Bray, CJM, Bishop of Saint John, on June 3, 1950. After spending the summer as a chaplain of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets in Mahone Bay, N.S., for the next several years he served as curate to St. Stephen’s Church, St. Stephen, St. Bernard’s Church, Moncton and St. Anthony’s Church, Fredericton. From 1956 until 1963 he was curate at St. Francis Xavier Church, Sussex. Father Mooney was then appointed Rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in 1963, and served there until he was appointed Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Sussex in 1969. In 1973 he was appointed pastor of our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Rothesay, where he served for sixteen years until being appointed pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Saint John in 1989. Father Mooney retired from full time ministry in 2000 and moved into residence in St. Rose of Lima Rectory, Saint John. He had continued to assist in St. Rose of Lima Parish and other parishes of the Diocese including, most recently, St. William’s Church, St. Martin’s. Father Mooney was a well-respected priest with a ready smile, a positive attitude and a constant willingness to serve in any way he could. And serve he did, for sixty-five years. Fr. John together with Fr. Bernard Stack were known as the "original Flying Fathers", building two planes together. "Shall we say", his family and friends knew him best for his endless sharing of many adventures and most importantly of his many trips to the Yukon.
Fr. Mooney is survived by his brother Frank of Whitehorse, Yukon, twelve nieces and nephews and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
He was predeceased by his sister Gertrude in November 2014 and his mother, Gertrude, his brother George and his father Harold all in 1979-three months apart.
Father Mooney will be resting at the Cathedral Residence, 91 Waterloo Street, Saint John on Saturday with visitation from 7:00 to 9:00PM, Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00PM. His remains will be translated to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday for Solemn Vespers at 7:00PM followed by visitation until 9:00PM. Father’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Robert Harris, Bishop of Saint John, on Monday at 12:00 Noon. Interment will follow in the Priest’s Plot at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.