Sulpicians: Meet Our Members

A Day in the Life...

A growing relationship
A priest of the diocese of Memphis, TN, Father Daniel Moore, S.S., is the Vice Rector at Theological College, the national seminary at The Catholic University of America, in Washington, DC. While fully engaged in the formation of seminarians to become priests, Fr. Moore is also an adjunct faculty member in School of Theology and Religious Studies at the university. In his early twenties, even though successful by cultural standards as co-owner of a local restaurant, he abandoned this viable career, responding to the subtle urgings of vocational discernment.

The value of life experiences
Ordained a priest at thirty years of age, Fr. Moore served the diocese in a variety of roles: he was an associate pastor, chair of a high school religion department, president-principal of a diocesan high school, a diocesan consultor and later a pastor for a parish of over 1,000 families. In the late 1990’s, Fr. Moore discerned more fully a call to the Sulpician ministry of priestly formation. He entered the Society of St. Sulpice in July 2000 and granted definitive membership in the Society in September 2004. He truly brings liturgical-pastoral, catechetical and administrative experiences of priesthood to the Sulpician community.

A shared journey of learning
Education plays a major role in Fr. Moore's life as a priest, both in teaching and learning. He believes they go hand in hand, as the more knowledge he gains, the more he is able to share with others. He trained at St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD, completing his S.T.B. in 1982 and his M.A. in 1984. After his ordination as a diocesan priest in July 1984, he completed a S.T.L. in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. His higher education goals were supported by his bishop, and his gift of teaching affirmed by many others along his priestly journey.

Fr. Moore has been strongly supported and encouraged by the Sulpicians in his continued journey. He most recently defended his dissertation (magna cum laude), Jesus, An Emerging Jewish Mosaic: Jewish Perspectives, Post-Holocaust. He was awarded a Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D) in February 2006 from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. Practicing his belief that learning and teaching are synergistic, he presented a paper, "Jesus, From A Different Angle: Select, Modern Jewish Perspectives" at Princeton Theological Seminary in April 2007. His thesis has been accepted for wider publication by Continuum International Publishing Group. It will be available to the public in June 2008.

Hands on opportunities
His background of combined continuing education and real world ministry allows Fr. Moore to use his gifts fully and collaboratively. He frequently provides weekend Mass assistance at area parishes, as well as teaching two seminars — Theological Reflection on the Diaconate and Foundations in Catholicism — along with his duties as vice rector. As vice rector, he collaborates closely with the rector and the formation faculty. He oversees the day-to-day lives of the students, making sure they have the basic necessities of living so that they are better able to focus on their goals. Fr. Moore also has been given wider administrative and supervisory responsibilities, along with his usual oversight of the seminarian evaluation process.

As spiritual director and advisor/mentor for seminarians, he gets great satisfaction in the camaraderie offered within the Sulpician community. He shares meals with students and is available to dialogue with them about their priestly formation journey. He has seen several men go through the complete process from pre-theology to priesthood — and is proud to be a part of the daily lives of these men. Keeping in touch and offering encouragement to both present and past seminarians is very important to Fr. Moore.

A full life serving Christ
Today, while treasuring his diverse priestly ministry in the diocese of Memphis, Father Daniel F. Moore, S.S. looks forward to continuing his relationship with the Sulpician community, because it is both a community of opportunities and a community of confreres with whom he shares a common purpose. He says, "I bring a wide variety of ministerial experiences to the seminary community. These experiences, I believe, continue to serve me well as I collaborate with colleagues in the preparation of men for diocesan priesthood. I am grateful for the continued opportunity to serve the Church in this capacity. I am grateful for the camaraderie and encouragement of both my Sulpician confreres and brother priests."