Reverend Maurice J. Nutt, C.Ss.R., D.Min.

Growing up at Alphonsus Liguori “Rock” Catholic Church, a Redemptorist parish, Maurice Nutt felt drawn to priesthood.  He earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in Saint Louis, an M. Th. from Xavier University of Louisiana; an M.Div. from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago; and a BA in Philosophy and Communication from Holy Redeemer College in Waterford, WI.  He was ordained a Redemptorist priest on June 10, 1989 by Bishop J. Terry Steib, S.V.D.

In 1993, Nutt became the first African American to pastor his historic home parish.  Over 9 years, the parish grew from 150 families to over 1,200 families with over 80 ministries.  In 2000, the parish was named one of 300 Excellent U.S. Catholic Churches by the Pastoral Summit.  He later served as pastor of Holy Names of Jesus and Mary Catholic Church in Memphis, TN from 2005 – 2011 and as a full time preaching evangelist as a member of the Redemptorist Mission Preaching Team based in Chicago, IL (2011 – 2014).  

Nutt is nationally renowned for his spirited retreats, revivals, missions, and lectures.  His areas of specialty include preaching, evangelization, African American culture, spirituality, and also community and church development.  He has served as Director (and faculty member) of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies; and also, on the Boards of Directors for the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, the National Black Catholic Congress and the National Association of Black Catholic Administrators.  Nutt, a contributor to the African American Catholic Youth Bible (2014), has published many articles and authored three books, including: Thea Bowman: In My Own Words.  Bishop Joseph Kopacz of Mississippi recently appointed Nutt to research the life, writings and works of Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA, to explore a possible case for canonization.