NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Two diocesan priests will commemorate a half-century of serving the people of the Fall River Diocese this weekend.
Msgr. John F. Moore and Father Martin L. Buote were ordained to the priesthood 50 years ago by Bishop James L. Connolly on Jan. 30, 1960 at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Msgr. Moore will mark the occasion with a small private gathering Saturday with family and friends and plans to have a more elaborate celebration in May at his home parish of St. Lawrence Martyr in New Bedford.
Father Buote will celebrate with an anniversary Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in New Bedford Sunday at 10 a.m. with a reception immediately following in the parish hall.
For Msgr. Moore, who said he is still trying to adjust to life after retiring last year, the last 50 years have been quite fulfilling.
“It’s just been exciting,” he said. “It was a busy time, but it really didn’t feel like it was busy because I was constantly active. It’s been a joyful experience. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been a wonderful 50 years and I’ve enjoyed it immensely.”
Msgr. Moore, 76, was born in New Bedford and previously spent 38 years writing for The Anchor — 28 of them serving as the diocesan newspaper’s executive editor. He also was director of Communications for the diocese and director of the Permanent Diaconate program.
He was ordained after studies at Cardinal O’Connor Seminary in Boston and St. John’s Seminary in Brighton. He served as parochial vicar at Holy Name Parish, Fall River; St. Joseph’s Parish, Taunton; SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Fall River; St. William’s Parish, Fall River; and at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fall River. He served as pastor at St. Mary’s Parish, New Bedford; and finally at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, North Falmouth, where he remained until his retirement last year.
Msgr. Moore also found time to earn a master’s degree in education from Bridgewater State Teachers College and in 1999 was named a chaplain to Pope John Paul II, with the rank of monsignor.
“I began teaching at Coyle-Cassidy High School, then worked for the deacon program, then I got involved with that newspaper they call The Anchor,” Msgr. Moore mused, reflecting on some of the highlights of his ministry. “I feel very blessed because I have a very large and expansive family — a lot of priests don’t have that — then I have a lot of wonderful priest friends and I’ve just enjoyed working with people in parish ministry.”
Celebrating his 50th anniversary during this Year For Priests, Msgr. Moore encouraged young men to consider a vocation to the priesthood.
“First and foremost, don’t get caught up with the distractions of our times, because we have to see beyond that,” he offered to those who think they may have a calling. “The first person to ask me about going into the seminary was one of my Sister of Mercy teachers at Holy Family High School. She opened the door for me and I was very fortunate to have very supportive people around me at the time.”
Father Buote said his calling to the priesthood came while he was a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. It was there that he developed not only an interest in mathematics and physics, but also “fell in love with all aspects of creation.”
“The beauty of God’s creation now became more evident in other ways as I became aware of the sweep of God’s plan in what is called the Economy of Salvation,” he said.
He subsequently left MIT to enter the seminary.
When asked about celebrating this 50-year milestone, Father Buote seemed to take it all in stride.
“If you wait long enough, it happens,” he said. “My original idea was to be out of town this weekend, so that I wouldn’t have to worry about a big fuss. But others have prevailed upon me, so we’re going to have a fuss.”
That “fuss” will include the anniversary Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish, along with a reception and buffet to follow, and what Father Buote calls “a little museum of me.”
“Different things from my life, starting with photos at age two months, and various awards, certificates and highlights from the past 50 years will be on display in the parish hall,” he said.
Father Buote, 76, was born in Fall River and received his education at Pottersville Elementary School, Somerset High School, and MIT. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Boston College in 1964. He studied for the priesthood at the School of St. Philip Neri in Boston, Cardinal O’Connell Minor Seminary and St. John’s Seminary in Brighton.
After ordination Father Buote was parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception Parish, Taunton; Immaculate Conception Parish, North Easton; St. Joseph’s Parish, Fall River; St. Joseph’s Parish, Dighton; St. Mary’s Parish, Mansfield; St. Thomas More Parish, Somerset; St. Michael’s Parish, Swansea; and St. Joan of Arc Parish, Orleans.
He was named pastor of St. Anne’s Parish in New Bedford in 1980, where he remained until his retirement in 2004.
When asked about some of the highlights of his 50-year ministry, Father Buote immediately said one thing stood out.
“I heard people’s confessions,” he said. “That was one of the most important things I’ve ever done in my ministry.”
Long involved in youth work, Father Buote was also co-director of the CYO in the Taunton area and assistant director of Scouting in the Taunton-Attleboro area. He taught mathematics at Bishop Connolly High School from 1970 to 1974, was director of Scouting in the Fall River area, was chaplain to the Sisters of the Holy Union at Sacred Hearts Academy, was in residence and chaplain to the Sisters at Mount St. Joseph’s, was chaplain to the Camp Fire Girls, was a member of the Plymouth Bay Girl Scout Council, and served as Diocesan Director of Scouting from 1977 to 1989.
Father Buote said everyone — family members, friends and past parishioners — is invited to attend the anniversary Mass and reception Sunday.
“I’ve sent letters to the various parishes where I was assigned to be included in their bulletins,” he said. “However, it’s been a long time.”