The Passing of Fr. George Morgan, O.S.A.
The Merrimack College community is asked to remember in its prayers Rev. George R. Morgan, O.S.A. who died Monday, January 5, 2009. He was 69-years-old.
Contributions may be made in his honor to:
Merrimack College A-8
Rev. George Morgan ’61, O.S.A. Scholarship Fund
315 Turnpike Street - North Andover, MA 01845
Condolences may be sent to:
The Family of Rev. George R. Morgan, O.S.A.
c/o Alumni Relations A8
Merrimack College
315 Turnpike Street - North Andover, MA 01845
As an Augustinian for 42 years, Fr. Morgan served Merrimack College and other Augustinian communities in many roles. Most recently, he was Director of Pastoral Relations, Office of Alumni Relations. He also served as: Director of Alumni Relations; Director of Campus Ministry; Chaplain at Massachusetts General Hospital; Pastor at Holy Rosary Church in Lawrence; Teacher at Austin Preparatory School in Reading; Teacher at Monsignor Bonner High School (PA); St. Thomas University (FL).
More about Fr. Morgan
George Robert Morgan, OSA, was born on Aug. 19, 1939, in Cambridge, the son of the late, George W. and Mary G. (Noonan) Morgan.
He was baptized on Sept. 7, 1939 at St. Raphael Catholic Church, in W. Medford. He attended St. Mary School, Winchester (1945-1953), Matignon High School, Cambridge (1953-1957), and Merrimack College where he obtained a B.S. degree. He was received into the Order as a novice on Sept. 9, 1961, and after a year as Good Council Novitiate, New Hamburg, N.Y., he professed first vows on Sept. 10, 1962. He then spent a year at Villanova University, completing his course work in Philosophy, (1962-1963). He then went to Augustinian College, Washington (1963-1967), for his theological studies, obtaining an M.A. degree.
He professed solemn vows on Sept. 10, 1965. He was ordained to the priesthood on Nov. 19, 1966, at Chapel of Christ the Teacher, Merrimack College, by Richard Cardinal Cushing, Archbishop of Boston.
Fr. George was first assigned to Austin Preparatory School, Reading, where he taught from 1967-69 and 1970-76. From 1969-70 he was assigned to Saint Joseph Friary and Msgr. Bonner High School (PA), where he taught. He then was assigned to retreat ministry at Mount Augustine Retreat House (N.Y.) (1976-77). He then served as associate pastor at Saint Augustine Parish, Lawrence (1977-78).
From 1978-81, he was assigned to Our Mother of Good Council Monastery and Merrimack College where he taught. In 1981 he spent a sabbatical year at Mundelein College, Ill. From 1982-86 he was assigned to the Casa San Lorenzo (FL) and taught at Biscayne College.
In 1986 he was assigned to Saint Augustine Parish, Andover, where he served as associate pastor, (1987-95). In 1994 he was appointed as chaplain for the Lawrence General Hospital, (1994-96), and also served as chaplain to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. From 1995-96 he served at Saint Augustine Parish, Lawrence. In 1996 he returned to Saint Augustine Parish, and began work for Merrimack College in Alumni Relations, (1996-2008).
When he was Director of Campus Ministry at Merrimack, he expanded the liturgical life of the campus and provided pastoral care and counseling for many students, faculty and staff. As Director of Alumni, he brought the Augustinian mission of care and compassion for every person to the office and its programs.
For thousands of Merrimack alumni, Fr. George was an embodiment of the College's Catholic identity and Augustinian heritage. He worked over the years with many faculty members to bring Catholic social teaching and moral theology into the curriculum and classroom. He was also an important part of the college's musical heritage, from his long involvement with the Alumni Chorale, founded many years ago by his Augustinian brother, Thomas Walsh, OSA, to his central role in the 1989 pilgrimage of the College Chorale to Rome and an audience with Pope John Paul II, to his constant support of good liturgical music at many college celebrations.
After a long and difficult illness, George passed over to the Lord on Jan. 5, 2009, at Holy Family Hospital, Methuen. Fr. Morgan will be sorely missed by his loving siblings; Maryann and her husband, Walter Roger of Thibodeaux, La., William and his wife, Maureen Morgan of Kennebunk, Maine, Gerard E. Morgan of Burlington, Ruth H. and her husband Bill Curtis of Danvers, Kathleen and her husband, Harry Molloy of Bow, N.H. and Constance Morgan of Hudson. Fr. Morgan is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his Augustinian family. He was predeceased by his loving niece, Christine Roger.