Father John Gordon Moreland, SJ, noted spiritual director and retreat guide, died March 14, 2024, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California, at the age of 91. For a span of 40 years, his priestly ministry was primarily focused on guiding the religious development of priests, seminarians and laypeople both in the Pacific Northwest and in Southern California.
Fr. Moreland was born in Moxee City, a small suburb of Yakima, Washington, on August 2, 1932, the son of James Moreland and Olympe Regimbal Moreland. He graduated from Marquette High School in Yakima and attended Gonzaga and Seattle Universities before entering the Jesuit novitiate at Sheridan, Oregon, in 1951. His studies took him back to Gonzaga for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, to the Gregorian University in Rome, and to Santa Clara University for degrees in theology. He was ordained a priest in Rome in 1964.
He served on the staff of Mount St. Michael’s in Spokane, Washington, the philosophy school of the Oregon Province Jesuits for two years and was named director of novices for the Northwest Jesuits in 1968, where he guided the spiritual growth of the newcomers and trained them in religious life. He held this position until 1976, during which he oversaw the relocation of the program from rural Sheridan to Portland, Oregon.
Fr. Moreland taught religion at Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane (1977-1980) and then returned to Portland as director of retreats at the Loyola Renewal Center (1980-1985). After a sabbatical, he founded and directed the House of Prayer for Priests in Orange, California. For over 30 years he provided a welcoming space for priests for renewal and counseling. He was also active in giving retreats to bishops and priests in the area. He retired as director in 2017, but remained active in counseling and spiritual direction until health considerations brought him to Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in 2021.
Fr. Moreland is survived by his nephew, Gene G. Moreland, of Portland; niece, Susan Hallett, of Colfax, Washington; grand-nephew Fr. Matthew Kunkel, SJ, of Spokane; and other extended family members. A Memorial Mass was held at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center.
Funeral Mass
Saturday, April 27, 2024
11:00 am
St. Aloysius Church
330 E. Boone Ave.,
Spokane, WA
A livestream for those unable to attend can be found here.
