The Catholic Church in the Diocese of Lae bemoans with the entire Church the passing on of Emeritus Bishop Desmond Charles Moore, M.S.C of Alotau Diocese in Papua New Guinea.
The late Emeritus Bishop Desmond Charles Moore belonged to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSC). He was born in Thebarton, Australia on 12 May 1926 and was ordained a priest on 27 July 1957.
“When I was first ordained (as a priest of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on July 27, 1957) I was posted back to Douglas Park as assistant to the novice master and the bursar of the monastery.” said the late Bishop Moore.
On 2 July 1990, the late Emeritus Bishop Moore was ordained Bishop of Alotau. On 15 June 2001 at the age of 75, he retired as the Bishop of Alotau Diocese. For 41 years, Bishop Desmond Moore ministered to the people of Papua New Guinea. After his retirement, he returned to Australia Sydney.
The Bishop of Alatau whose life today we reflect on has served the Church in PNG on different capacities. He has worked in Port Moresby as a parish priest. He was also a religious superior for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Port Moresby. He has also worked in Milne Bay.
On March 7, 1970, he was appointed Bishop of Alotau and succeded the founding bishop of the diocese, Bishop Francis John Doyle MSC. “There”, he spoke, “I was for the next 31 years.”
In 1996 Bishop Moore was knighted for his work in Papua New Guinea. “It was granted to me by the Queen; I don’t know how that came about,” he said.
The late Bishop Moore was a humble servant. His time in PNG gave Bishop Moore had a greater understanding of the challenges faced by Australians who served in the region during World War II. He has died at the age of 94.
Source: Catholic FM103.7 png