New Priest at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Campbellford

Father William (Bill) Moloney

Father Bill Moloney brings with him a sense of humour, his fundraising abilities and his indomitable faith

Article by Sue Dickens/Image submitted

Campbellford – Thurs., Oct. 21, 2020 - Father William Moloney is the new priest at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Campbellford.

He arrives at a time when COVID-19 has changed how services are being conducted and he brings with him his sense of humour, his fundraising experience and indomitable faith.

“My priority is always to make this the most viable faith community possible,” he told Trent Hills Now.

He admits there are challenges now due to the pandemic which has resulted in attendance at about three-quarters what it would normally be. “We have usually close to 150 people attending every weekend,” he commented.

Along with his new role at St. Mary’s, Father William Moloney has taken on the role of helping the congregation pay off the debt it incurred when the church had to undergo extensive renovations to maintain the historic structure.

“There’s just under $810,000 left to pay off and they’ve done very well.”

The total cost to renovate was originally close to $2.3 million.

“So I think that’s part of the reason I’m here, I do have a bit of a reputation as a fundraiser, but this should being said that’s not my only priority, but it’s interesting you know in many ways, it is like a family that has a mortgage.”

He added, “It’s always there in the back of your mind…after day-to-day household expenses and living expenses etc., we’ll just take the long term approach.”

The church has a raffle underway right now to help raise money to pay off the debt

Father Moloney took a moment to talk about his background before coming to Campbellford.

“I’m a farm boy, grew up on a beef farm in Douro. So in some ways I felt right at home right away when I moved here. It’s a very welcoming community. I’ve had more invitations out for supper in the 2 ½ months I’ve been here than in the 12 years I was in Peterborough,” he said with a chuckle.

Father Moloney says it’s been challenging getting to know everyone because of the pandemic.

“My goal in the first couple of years is to try to visit every family in the parish and in their home but for now I have visited a few on their porch,” he said.

He brings to his position as priest here a wealth of experiences.

He attended the World Youth Conference in Medjugorje, Yugoslavia in 1991, and the CIDD Centre in Cuernanvaca, Mexico for the Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board in 1992.

“I was a teacher for 17 years,” he said. He conducted a mass for the teachers of St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School as a way of introducing himself to everyone there.

He coordinated the Days in the Diocese for World Youth Day in 2002, with a lay couple.

As well he has been the chaplain on three pilgrimages to the Holy Land, something he would like to do again in the future.

Father Moloney has hobbies too.

He enjoys moose and deer hunting and is a beekeeper.

“I have my own honey I make called ‘Heavenly Honey,’” he said with a grin. “I keep about 20 hives and in the spring I will be looking for a place to keep them.”

Saint Mary’s Church is a Roman Catholic Parish of the Diocese of Peterborough, in Ontario, Canada.

“There’s about 40 churches in the Diocese,” he commented.

In Campbellford Mass is held Saturday evenings at 5 p.m., Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. and again at 10:30 a.m.

Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays there is morning Mass, usually at 9 a.m.

Friday mornings Adoration at 11 a.m. followed by Mass at noon

There are weekday masses as well.

“And because more people seem to be returning to the church and because we don’t want to turn people away, we’re going to open it up to some on Sunday night and hold a mass at 7 p.m. for November and December,” he noted.

Oh and one last thing before concluding the interview, Father Moloney has a great sense of humour and says he is a Maple Leaf believer and decided to crack a joke about it.

He said with a grin, “If I’m cut I bleed blue because I’m a Maple Leaf hockey fan. I think every Christian should be a Maple Leaf fan because we already believe in the resurrection.”

About Father Moloney:

Born in Peterborough in 1957 on the feast of St. Peter + St. Paul.

Grew up on a beef farm in Douro which is now a century farm after 3 generations.

Parents were Tim Moloney of Douro + Dorothy Crough of Ennismore

Five siblings: Janet, Randy, Colleen, Clair + Tim.

Twelve nieces and nephews.

One great niece and three great nephews with another on the way. “t.b.a.”

Attended St. Francis de Sales Elementary School in Donwood.

Graduated from St. Peter’s High School.

Entered St. Peter’s Seminary in 1976.

Ordained to the priesthood May 27, 1983.

Assigned as the assistant priest in St. Michael’s Parish, Cobourg.

Sent to teacher’s college September 85.

Taught mathematics at St. Stephen’s Secondary, Bowmanville from 1986-1997.

Taught mathematics at St. Peter’s Secondary, Peterborough from 1997-2003.

Assigned as pastor to St. Joseph’s Parish, Bracebridge from 2003 to 2008.

Assigned as pastor to St. Anne’s Parish, Peterborugh from 2008 to 2014.

Assigned at pastor to Immaculate Conception Parish from 2014 to 2020.

About the church:

It was founded in the late 1800’s and the present building was erected in 1900 when the previous building underwent a fire during the night of Christmas Eve to Christmas Morning, in December 1899.

This present structure, as it stands was built in only eleven months, for the price, at the time, of $22,000.

Souce: https://www.saintmaryschurch.info/about