Notes & Events

After 12 years as Retreat Director at the Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center in Houston, Father Joe Moons will be moving on. Father Joe was born in Haastretch, Netherlands in 1951, being one of thirteen children. His family immigrated to the United States in 1956 settling in the Los Angeles area. Father Moons was ordained a Passionist Priest in 1977 and spent his early years in the Chicago area. Following Chicago he served as a parish priest in a black impoverished neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama and then nine years as Regional Superior of the Passionist communities in India.

Over the past ten years the men and women of St. Mary’s/St. Joseph’s have participated in their annual retreat at Holy Name under the direction of Father Joe. He has been our shepherd, confessor, counselor and friend. The men of St. Mary’s honored Father Moons with a friendly “Roast” at their February 2014 monthly Men’s Club Meeting. In September Father Joe will travel to Rome for a sabbatical at the North American Pontifical College prior to his next assignment. Where that will be is unknown at this time but surely it will be where the Passionists feel his talents and energy will be best utilized. According to Father Joe, “God always finds a way, even if there is no way”. Thank you Father Joe. Vaya con Dios!