Sr. Patricia Moran

Dominican Sister of Peace Patricia (Anna Patricia) Moran, (74) died on January 18, 2020, in Horsham PA. Sister Pat was one of four children born to Anna Durkin and Patrick Moran in Philadelphia, PA. Sister Patricia worked until the age of 30, when she answered God’s call and entered the Congregation. She made first profession in 1979, took her final vows in 1984 and faithfully followed the vows of religious life for forty years. Sr. Pat lived the four pillars of Dominican life in many ways, but she was particularly devoted to study.  She earned a BA in Religious Studies from Villanova University, an MA in Religious Education from Fordham University, and Certification in Pastoral Ministry, Effective Group Leadership, Church Leadership, Theology and Technology from various institutions of higher learning. Sr. Pat lived the pillar of community by serving her congregation in retreat ministry in Florida and in Pennsylvania, and as Vocations Director and Director of Education and Promoter of Preaching. Service was very important to Sr. Pat, and she served God’s people faithfully as a Theology teacher at Holy Family College and DRE/Pastoral Assistant, and later, as a volunteer in Horsham, PA. Sr. Pat believed that the “most effective ministers are those who can relate faith to the issues people live with and are concerned about in this era of affluence and social reforms.” Because of this, she worked to relate the Gospel teachings to women’s issues, effects of technology, environment, and ecumenical dialogue. She also made us of her other talents, including her love of photography, to make spirituality real to her students. In her reflection at Sr. Pat’s memorial service, Sr. Anne Lythgoe recalled another way that Sr. Pat related faith to life issues. “Like Lucy Easton Smith, the founder of the de’Ricci congregation who saw that women needed to attend to their own spiritual lives, Pat invited women to see themselves truly as God would see them.  She was a companion to them on their spiritual journey.” Sr. Pat served as Chaplain to a group called Women Heart of the Home, which was so large at one point they had to break it up into several groups. She is survived by her sister Eileen Blastic, close family members, her nieces Sharon Blastic, Deborah Blastic, Brenda Wilson and husband Jack, sister-in-law Joanne Moran and other nieces and nephews. A Vigil of Remembrance and the Mass of Christian Burial were held on January 25 at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Horsham, PA. Sr. was interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham, PA. Memorial gifts in Sr. Pat Moran’s memory may be submitted securely online or sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr, Columbus, OH 43219.