Rev. James Francis Moriarty, 91, formerly of River Forest, died on Feb. 8, 2017, at the Bishop Timothy J. Lyne Residence for Retired Priests, where he was a resident.
Born in Chicago on Dec. 11, 1925, he attended St. Theodore School in Chicago then went on to study at Quigley Preparatory Seminary North and graduated from the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary with a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) and a Master of Arts degree. He was ordained into the priesthood on May 3, 1951, by Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago. Fr. Moriarty celebrated his first Solemn Mass at St. Theodore Parish on May 6, 1951.
He served in a number of different parochial roles, including pastor of St. Luke Parish in River Forest (1982-88).
He dedicated much of his work to the development of Catholic Television, as director of the Catholic Television Network of Chicago from 1973 to 1984.
Fr. Moriarty will lie in state on Thursday, Feb. 16, from 3 to 9 p.m., at Curley Funeral Home, 6116 111th St., Chicago Ridge. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., at Most Holy Redeemer Parish, 9525 S. Lawndale Ave., Evergreen Park. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich will be the main celebrant and Fr. George Kane will be the homilist.
Interment will take place at St. Mary Cemetery in Evergreen Park.
Fr. Moriarty is survived by his brothers, Thomas, Robert and Gerald Moriarty, as well as his nieces and nephews.
