Rev. John H. Moloney

The Rev. John Hugh Moloney, Prior of the Center for Spiritual Formation at St. James Episcopal Church, died early Wednesday morning, March 18, 2009, at Baton Rouge General Hospital. He was 52. While he lost his battle with illness over the past year, the Rev. Moloney won over virtually everyone he met over the course of his life. Always ready with a smile or to cause one, always providing warmth to the room he was in or to the gumbo he was cooking, he seasoned his deep spirituality and intellectual curiosity with a keen sense of humor and a genuine love of life. Born in Shreveport, he knew he wanted to be a priest by age 10 and entered a Roman Catholic monastery at age 17. When he met Carol Sherman while on leave, that all changed. She has been his wife and best friend for the last 30 years. They discovered the Episcopal Church together and John attended seminary at the University of the South, graduated with a master of divinity degree in 1986. He was ordained in the Diocese of Western Louisiana, and later served as Prior of the Spirituality Center at Camp Hardtner and Archdeacon of the Diocese under Bishop Robert Hargrove. He had also served as rector of the Church of the Epiphany in New Iberia, and most recently before coming to Baton Rouge, as Rector of Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Memphis. Before he became ill, the Rev. Moloney was completing his dissertation to earn his doctorate of theology in Anglican studies from the University of Oxford, England. In addition to his wife, Carol, the Rev. Moloney leaves two sons, Sean Moloney and Kyle Moloney, both of Memphis; a sister, Gina Sanders, of Shreveport; a brother, Dean Moloney, of Seattle; his mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. David Strickland Sr.; and stepbrothers, David Jr. and Donald Strickland, all of Shreveport. To this loving husband and father, to this pastor and counselor, to this teacher and spiritual guide, to thiswonderful friend, all those who knew him and know where he has gone, say "John, laissez les bon temps rouler." Funeral service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church on Monday, March 23, at noon. Visitation will be at the Chapel of the 12 Apostles on Sunday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Monday from 10 a.m. until service at noon. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, all memorials go to St. James Episcopal Church or Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Memphis.