By Father Kenneth W. Ekdahl | Special Contributor

On Friday, June 21, 1991, I arrived at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Mercerville, and began my priesthood on that weekend, celebrating Mass and preaching there for the first time, until being reassigned to a new parish on Father’s Day, June 16, 1996, almost 18 years ago.

During those five years, I met many people but none whom I became closer to than Tim Moore, his wife, Roseann, and their daughter, Kimberly.  During those years when I was assigned to the parish, I learned from Father Ralph (Stansley), the true mediator and perfect pastor to work with, and Father Sam Sirianni, who taught me about liturgy and the more practical side of priesthood.

But the true friend I made, keeping counsel with until April 3 of this year, was my closest friend, my confidant and the most down-to-earth, spiritually gifted person to ever cross my path – Tim Moore.

We have all heard the expression, “God’s ways are not our ways,” and, with Tim’s death occurring literally on the threshold of Holy Week, this would only be better understood later.

 Echoing the words of the Acts of the Apostles, Tim was ordained to serve – and that he did, quietly and without fanfare. He enjoyed serving as a deacon, and took his duties to heart. He loved preaching and ministering to all the children in his parishes, especially those under his guidance as altar servers.

Ours was an ordinary friendship which so often imitated the season that we celebrated – extraordinary occasions celebrating our ordinary lives. So often life doesn’t prepare us for what may be hiding just around the corner.

The life and times of Tim Moore was always – and primarily – about family. Certainly he reached the crescendo of family and parish life when he served and preached at the wedding of his daughter, Kimberly, and her husband, Justin.  I know in retrospect how privileged I am to have celebrated their nuptial Mass with Tim by my side. At the wedding reception, I can still recall the loud music and the clashing of our respective senses of humor which played off each other, but always with love as the centerpiece of our relationship. Certainly, memories of Cape May and many, many games of miniature golf, in which sadly I never mastered the skills and or luck to beat him even once, will always be treasured.

As we grow closer to Father’s Day, I am reminded that Tim was first and foremost a husband to Roseanne and a father to Kimberly. I am also reminded of a definition of a saint which I read many years ago: “a person who lived his life and handled ordinary things of life in extraordinary ways.”  I speak not of canonization, but rather of the truth that we have all learned, believing that when good people pass into God’s hands, God is waiting to accept them into his loving arms.

May God bless Tim in his eternity, and grant that God will let time ease his loved ones pain and help in the difficult days yet to come.  

Father Kenneth W. Ekdahl serves as pastor of Jesus the Lord Parish, Keyport.