Nonagenarian priest celebrates another year
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- December
- 6
The Rev. Francisco Moriones chuckled as he discussed his upcoming birthday party.
The priest at Tagaste Monastery in Suffern marked his 97th birthday on Monday, and his fellow friars were planning to host a celebration complete with cake and guest appearances from area officials belonging to the Order of Augustinian Recollects.
As he talked Monday, Moriones, a multi-lingual Spaniard who joined the priesthood 73 years ago, said this decade has been productive.
Moriones embarked upon an ambitious project when he turned 90. He decided to write a book.
“I began writing the book when I was 90, finished when I was 93 and published it when I was 95,â€? Moriones said of his work, titled “Teologia de San Agustinâ€? (or, “Theology of St. Augustin”).
The publishers in Madrid tell him the book is selling well, Moriones said. The volume sells for about 35 euros, or around $51.
Although the priest was no stranger to writing  having already published other books in Spanish as well as in Latin  one part of the process was new to him: the computer.
“I had never used one before,â€? he said in his softly-accented English, “and I learned word processing. I typed the book myself, over 800 pages.â€?
Moriones, who is the oldest priest in the entire Augustinian order, is looking forward to the future.
“I can see 100 coming close,â€? he said.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, December 6th, 2007 at 6:04 pm by Suzan Clarke.
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