My name is Deacon Joseph Moynahan. I am a transitional Deacon preparing to enter my last year of seminary formation (year six of six) at St. John Seminary in Brighton, before, God willing, being ordained a Priest next June. Usually, during the summer months, Bishop Libasci assigns his seminarians to a Pastor in order to be at a parish to get a lived-experience of parish priest ministry and the life of a parish priest. For those of us who live close enough to the Diocese, during our last year in Seminary, typically, we keep our summer assignment throughout the academic year. That means basically that on the weekends, for the most part, I will be in the parish serving as Deacon for Fr. Marc. Prior to coming to Salem, I was with Fr. Marc at St. Michael (Exeter) and St. Mary (Newmarket) Parishes, an
assignment that began on June 3rd.
I am originally from Eliot, Maine. In 2005 my family and I moved out to Southern Indiana. I returned to the seacoast area in 2011. The parish in which I was raised was Immaculate Conception Parish in Portsmouth, NH. In 2006, Immaculate Conception was consolidated with two other parishes in Portsmouth and thus the new Parish, Corpus Christi was generated. Though it has changed a bit from when I was young, I am so happy to call Corpus Christi my home parish. And thanks to the hospitality and generosity of the Pastor, Fr. Gary Belliveau, I reside at the rectory (Vianney House) when I am not at seminary or assignment.
Before entering seminary I was an R.N. for about six years. In 2009 I had received my bachelor's degree in nursing and worked in Indiana, Chicago, and Portsmouth. For the most part I worked in critical care and then transitioned into a cardiac catheterization lab. It was a career which I loved, but the Lord had (and has) a different gift to give me, the Sacrament of Holy Orders, for which I am forever grateful.
I look forward to ministering to you as Deacon as I prepare for the Priesthood next year, and I look forward to getting to know you.