Shock, sadness follows priest's death

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Shock, confusion and sadness follow the apparent suicide of beloved Buffalo Priest Father Joseph Moreno.

Many community members are devastated Father Joe has passed. They say he fed the hungry, counseled the hurting and intervened in crises whenever he saw one. It was evident he was loved when people came out in droves to honor him at a prayer vigil Sunday night.

Father Joe was so important to his community, that people from other parishes, even some who aren’t Catholic, filled St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church for a prayer service Sunday in his memory.

Parishoner Pat Zimmer said, “Father Joe was the most wonderful, gentle, kind man that I ever met. He would do anything for anybody. He would go to the greatest length for anybody."

Parishoner Carolyn Robinson said, “Just very friendly and warm person, you felt like you've known him for years.”

Father Joe was recently told by the diocese that he was being removed from St. Lawrence Church, but he wasn’t given a new assignment yet.

Bishop Richard Malone said, “I met with Father Joe this past Tuesday to discuss his change in assignment and he said, I have a recommendation for you bishop, I said lets hear it. He said I love hospital work and if I could be a hospital chaplain, I would be delighted."

The bishop went on to say that a plan to make Father Joe a hospital chaplain was in the works at the time of his death. Father Joe will receive a full Mass of Christian Burial, possibly in downtown Buffalo, because so many people are expected to attend.