Maurice was born on April 7 1924 in O'Fallon, Missouri, son of William and Olivia G. Zerr, both of whom are deceased. He has three sisters and one brother. His brother Bernard, lives in the St. Louis area, as do two of his sisters: Mrs. Valeria Rieffer and Mrs. Luellen Johnson. His other sister, Mrs. Adelaide Callahan, resides in Commack, New York.

At the age of five Maurice's family moved to Kirkwood, Missouri where he attended St. Peter's Grade School. He attended St. Louis University High School for one year; and then Coyle High School for his second year High. He joined Maryknoll in September of 1940 and finished his high school at the Diocesan Preparatory Seminary n St. Louis. His first two years of college were spent at Maryknoll Junior seminary, (Venard) at Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. His last two years of college took place at Maryknoll Seminary in New York. He attended the Maryknoll Novitiate in Bedford, Massachusetts in 1946-1947. He was ordained a priest at Maryknoll Seminary, New York, on June 9, 1951.

After ordination, Father Zerr was assigned to advanced studies at Manhattan College in New York. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. Father Zerr then taught for two years at Maryknoll Junior Seminary, Clarks Summit.

In August 1955 Father Zerr left the Unite States for his new mission assignment in Maryknoll's mission Shinyanga, Tanzania, East Africa. The country at that time was know as Tanganyika and had not as yet attained its independence. Father Zerr spent 22 years working with the Wasukuma people in the western part of the country. It was somewhat primitive in those days, but the people were wonderful to live and work with in his ministry. During that period of time he served in several parishes in the Shinyanga Diocese. He was appointed consulter to the Africa Regional Superior on two separate occasions.

In January 1977, Father Zerr was transferred to Kenya, the country bordering on Tanzania in the north. Father Zerr spent seven years as Catholic Chaplain in the Kenyatta National Hospital; two years of specialized work for Cardinal Maurice Otunga in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, speaking in schools about the Catholic Charismatic Renewal; and three years as Assistant Chaplain of the University of Nairobi.

Father Zerr has served his entire missionary career of thirty five years in East Africa. On April 27, 1990, he was enrolled in the Special Society Unit with continued residence in Kenya. He devotes a good deal o f his time to retreat work in schools and with Religious Groups.

Moe's Reflections             Moe's Ministry

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