A couple of years ago, Fr. Joseph Maurici ’04 was speaking with Amy Colosimo P ’23, ’23 (French, 1999-present) at a Harley event. They were talking about Harley’s Hospice program and she said, “You should come as a guest speaker to one of the classes.” He and Sybil Prince ’00, P ’37, ’39’s (Hospice, 2017-present) connected soon after.
Earlier this February, Fr. Maurici sat at the Harkness table, an oval table in Harley’s Hospice room created to promote discussion where everyone is equal, in Harley’s Hospice room to speak to the students about the “Art of Dying,” referencing a book that he often refers to, translated by Brother Columba Thomas, OP, MD.
For centuries, he explained, the Roman Catholic Church has understood dying as something that can be approached with intention and preparation. When a Catholic nears death, three sacraments—often referred to collectively as the Last Rites—are offered. Holy Communion becomes nourishment for the final journey. Anointing of the Sick strengthens and comforts the soul. Penance offers forgiveness, cleansing the heart and easing it toward peace.
He talks about the prayer book that he carries with him. Much of it draws from the Psalms, prayers he reads daily as part of seven hours of personal prayer that structure his life. At a bedside, he will read prayers for the dying person, for the moment after death, and for the family who remain, trying to bring comfort in the quiet that follows.
He described the use of holy water, ordinary water set apart through blessing and prayer, used to cleanse and drive away bad spirits (he shared that he’s even been asked to come to houses that are “haunted” to drive those bad spirits away). He spoke about oil of the sick, blessed for the purpose of anointing people who are sick or nearing death, to give them strength.
Sybil and the students had a lot of questions. They wondered whether he could offer Last Rites to someone who was not Roman Catholic. He explained that while the formal sacraments are reserved for Catholics, prayer is never restricted. He can always accompany someone spiritually. In one case, a man diagnosed with cancer chose to be baptized as an adult, making his desire for the Church official as he approached death. In more urgent moments, Fr. Maurici baptized two small children—one who died upon birth because his mother was sick during childbirth and another, a ten-month-old with a brain tumor. Fragile moments for everyone involved.
Another student asked how he carries the emotional weight of these encounters. His answer lay in the rhythm of his life. He sustains himself through constant prayer and practices that strengthen his spirit.
The conversation turned to the sin of “being scared” when one is dying. If someone feels despair while dying, is that wrong? He acknowledged that despair can be understood as a failure of hope, yet he emphasized how natural fear is in the face of death. That fear, he suggested, creates space—an opening where prayer can enter and hope can be spoken aloud when it feels out of reach.
And what if someone never receives Last Rites at all? The rituals, he explained, are gifts meant to prepare and strengthen a person for what lies ahead, but that it is ok if you don’t receive it.
Before leaving, he encouraged the students to read Brideshead Revisited, a story of faith and family, and Catholicism.
After class, I was able to speak with Fr. Maurici more about his own history and how he found his calling to go into the priesthood.
That path began in Scottsville. After attending Wheatland-Chili Public School, he transferred to Harley in Grade 6 when his parents decided he needed greater academic challenge. Academically at Harley, he wasn’t the best student, but he kept busy as a three-sport athlete and in theater. He ran cross-country, swam competitively, and played baseball. Onstage, he took on small roles in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Much Ado About Nothing, and even donned a costume as a cow for Into the Woods.
He went on to Mercyhurst University, where an early fascination with ancient civilizations from his Harley days led him to begin as an archaeology major. Over time, his focus shifted toward liberal arts, English, and Asian Studies, building a wide foundation in the humanities. Theater remained part of his life; he performed in the world premiere of Sing, Virgie, Sing.
After graduation, practical necessity led him to a job at Dollar General, initially meant to be temporary as he searched for a job in his discipline. The 2008 financial crisis changed the landscape. While many friends struggled to find steady work, his position proved stable. His diligence led to promotions, raises, and transfers to different stores. Six years passed, and with each promotion came a growing sense of responsibility—and a quiet question about whether this was the life he was meant to build.
During that time, he began attending “Theology on Tap” gatherings for young adults interested in discussing faith. Raised Catholic, he found those conversations stirring something deeper. An invitation to a vocation dinner offered him a chance to explore the priesthood more intentionally. Once he attended, the sense of direction sharpened.
This decision brought on a lot of paperwork, first he had to apply to the Diocese of Rochester and then seminary school. He was accepted to St. John’s Seminary in Boston. Six years of study followed. He earned a Bachelor of Philosophy and a Master of Divinity along with a pontifical degree—a Bachelor of Sacred Theology —in addition to his bachelor’s degree from Mercyhurst.
On June 5, 2021, at Sacred Heart Church in Rochester, he was ordained a priest. His first assignment took him to Auburn, New York, serving as a parochial vicar—assistant to the pastor—at several parishes. Eventually, he returned to the Rochester area and now serves at St. Louis Catholic Church in Pittsford. There, alongside the daily rhythms of parish life, he started a book club. Together, parishioners have tackled Dante’s Divine Comedy and Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain, exploring stories of sin, redemption, courage, and grace.
