Reverend Joseph Vincent Moniz died September 7, 2024. He was 83 years old.
Father Joe, as he was known, was a beloved pastor at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Pasadena for nearly 20 years, until his retirement in 2018. Prior to that, he served as associate pastor at St. Raymond Church in Downey, St. Rose of Lima Church in Simi Valley, and St. Catherine of Siena Church in Reseda.
Father Joe was born in Goa, India, and was ordained a priest there in 1964. In 1966, he came to Los Angeles to study at Loyola Marymount University, and was incardinated for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1974.
Father Joe had a special passion for youth ministry, including Life Teen and RCIA classes. When he was assigned to St. Joseph Church in Hawthorne, a largely Hispanic community, he spent six weeks in Bolivia, studying the language, before returning as co-pastor of the parish. The Spanish skills he honed there served him well as pastor of St. Philip, where he often celebrated the weekly Spanish Masses.
At St. Philip, Father Joe was a champion of the parish school, leading a capital campaign to fund Holy Angel Hall, the school’s gym and parish hall, in 2005. His legacy lives on in the school’s TK program, which he encouraged the principal to start. Father Joe was so loved that when he retired, parishioners chipped in to buy him a condo close to the parish, so he could continue to minister.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m., at St. Philip the Apostle Church, 151 S. Hill Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106. Interment will be private.
Condolence letters may be sent to Jeanette Dalgado (sister), at 2625 Beland Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278.
In your charity, please keep Father Joe and all of our deceased priests in your prayers.
