Msgr. Robert L. Noon, Retired Priest in the Diocese of Columbus for 42 Years, Pastor, Originally from Zanesville, Ohio

Msgr. Noon knew that he was called to the priesthood before his First Communion. As a young parishioner at St. Thomas Church in Zanesville, he describes one of the most influential moments for him as the Sunday afternoon processions in his parish.

The Call to the Priesthood

“The procession with the Blessed Sacrament included the parishioners and the priests. I remember waiting near the back to be near the priests and thinking that I would like to do that,” said Msgr. Noon.

He also had a high school pastor who has very influential in his spiritual development and he describes him as a “very holy man.”

Msgr. Noon also attended a Holy Hour every Thursday and the Pastor gave beautiful homilies during that hour and inspired him to consider the priesthood. “This, of course, was in the days before television,” said Msgr. Meagher.

A group of Brothers from St. Joseph’s in Somerset came to the parish each Sunday for solemn high Mass at 10 a.m. and they were an impressive group that also encouraged him to pray about a vocation to the priesthood. “This was during the depression in the 1930s,” said Msgr. Meagher.

He attended both Catholic and public school in Zanesville and remembers a teacher in public school who gave her lunch to a young man who did not ever have breakfast. “Good people everywhere help inspire young people to serve God.”

Educated as a Priest

Msgr. Noon attended Providence College in Rhode Island. He then transferred to St. Charles to board and finish college at the end of WWII.

He attended Mount St. Mary’s West in Cincinnati for major seminary and he was ordained May 26th, 1951. There were 7 men ordained in his class. 40 years later, all seven were still all together in the Columbus Diocese.

Pastor Assignments

His first assignment as a priest was St. Peter’s near 5th Avenue and Cleveland, built in 1928, and torn down in 1966. He was also assigned as Assistant Pastor to Marion St. Mary’s and Columbus St. Aloysius.

A Mission to Peru

Msgr. Noon then went to Peru for three years. At that time, Pope John XXIII had asked for 10% of the priests in each diocese to go to South America. Msgr. Noon joined a group of Carmelite priests from Chicago to serve in the Andes Mountains.

“I learned patience in Peru,” said Msgr. Noon. He describes the people there as “living on the surface of the faith. They complained that the priests kept talking about the importance of the Sacraments, but they were more interested in sacramentals like statues and processions,” said Msgr. Noon.

Vatican II Council, Starting a New Parish and a Trip to Italy

Upon his return to the U.S. in 1964, he was assigned as Pastor at Waverly Our Lady Queen of the Missions. This was during the time of the Vatican II Council.

He was then asked to start a new parish in northern Columbus, St. Elizabeth, where he was from 1967-1978.

Next, he took some time to go to the North American Pontifical College (NAC) in Rome, as a Pastor in Residence. When he returned, he had some health problems and was assigned as Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Peace for four years, Columbus Holy Spirit for one year, and then Pastor at Lancaster St. Bernadette for 10 years (1983-1993).

Photo Msgr. Noon in Rome receiving a book from Pope Paul VI and the Pope whispering to him, ironically, “Don’t tell Cardinal Ottaviani I gave it to you – it doesn’t have the Imprimatur.”

Msgr. Noon

Fr. Noon received the honor of Msgr. Prelate of Honor to His Holiness, Sept. 1992. He became a Protonotary Apostle in November, 1999.

Retired, but not Retired

Msgr. Noon turned 70 and retired in 1993. He then filled in for priests on sabbatical for thirteen 3-month periods.

What did he love the most about being a diocesan priest? “I miss people and parish life being here at the Villas. I still like to get out to the parishes,” said Msgr. Noon. “Although I do have more time to pray now.”

He enjoys reading; especially church history and when he was younger enjoyed travel. “I think I have been to Rome 13 times. I just love Rome. In fact, I am going next week,” said the 85-year old Msgr. Noon. He also has an extensive Holy Card collection.

He is enjoying getting to know some of the younger priests at the monthly Holy Hour a group of young priests started on one Monday a month at the St. Therese Center. “I think the younger priests are enjoying getting to know us older priests as much as we are enjoying them,” said Msgr. Noon.

Advice to Seminarians: Humor

What advice does he have for seminarians and young priests? “Prayer life is essential and first.”

More advice: “Don’t take yourself too seriously. Humor keeps us going and companionship with other priests just makes sense,” said Msgr. Noon who still meets with his priest support group monthly; this group starting gathering in 1982.

Favorite Saints

His favorite saints are St. Dominic and St. Therese of Liseux. He also admires many of those designated as ‘Blessed’, including Blessed Charles de DeFoucauld, Blessed Dom Columba Marmion, and also St. Cucuphas, a Spanish martyr (a teenager who joined the army and was beheaded for not worshipping the emperor – a town in Spain, San Cugat, is named after him.)

Favorite Scripture

His favorite scripture is from St. Paul in Romans 11:29-36:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord
or who has been his counselor?
Or who has given him anything
that he may be repaid?

For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To God be glory forever. Amen.