Father J. Morley Dies in England, Townsville Catholic News, April 1968, pp 4-5:

Date of death: May 19th, 1964

A few weeks ago, news came to hand of the death in England of Rev. Father Joseph Morley, a priest of the Diocese of Townsville.

At the time of his death, Father Morley was chaplain to St. Anne's Convent, Rockstons Place, Southampton, England, where he was living in semi-retirement.

The late Father Morley was born at Fethgard in the Diocese of Cashel, Ireland on March 31st, 1894. He was educated by the Presentation Sisters at the National School in that town and later began his studies for priesthood at St. Brendan's College, Killarney, Ireland. He then went to the College of the Propagation of the Faith in Rome and was ordained in the Basilica of St. John Lateran on June 2nd, 1917.

When he arrived in the Diocese of Rockhampton in 1918, he was appointed as assistant priest in the parish of Bowen. Here he remained till 1923. Other appointments included Ingham (1923-1926); Charters Towers (1926-1929); West End (1929) and the Sacred Heart Cathedral (1930).

In March 1930, Father Morley received permission from his Bishop to go to Ireland and test his vocation to the monastic state. He remained overseas for eight years.

Shortly after his return to the Diocese in 1939, he was appointed parish priest of Richmond. He remained here for some years until his health failed and he accepted a chaplaincy at a Convent at Blackheath, N.S.W.

In the latter part of 1957 Father Morley received permission to go on extended leave and, after spending some time in Ireland, he returned to England and lived close to St. Anne's Convent, Southampton where he said Mass each day.

By nature Father Morley was rather shy, quiet and unassuming. After his departure from this Diocese he did not maintain much contact with his brother priests. A short note or a few lines on a Christmas card was all that could be expected by the few who remained close to him. Somehow or other, he seemed to have regretted that he did not embrace the monastic state in his youth and, to the end of his days, he retained his love of silence and solitude.

In every parish where he served he made but few friends. These, however, he retained to the very end despite their letters and cards that very often remained unanswered.

It is quite possible that this is the reason why, even though Father Morley died almost four years ago, news of his death has only recently reached us.

When Father Morley came to Bowen in 1918 he became friendly with members of the Russell family. For many years they received from him each Christmas a small note. These letters ended abruptly in 1964 and certain letters sent to his address were returned unopened.

Miss L. Russell of Bowen asked a friend who went overseas recently to see if contact could be made with Father Morley at his old address but he was unable to be traced. Eventually, a letter written by Miss Russell to the Convent where Father Morley said his daily Mass brought the following reply:

"Concerning Father Morley R.I.P.
"Father Morley arrived here in Southampton on May 16th, 1958 and from that day till two days before his death on May 19th, 1964, said his daily Mass in our chapel.

"He kept quite well until six months before his death. We then noted a marked decline in his health.

"Early in 1964 he went for a holiday to Scotland. I believe he had a sister who was a nun up there. She was ill when he went to see her and while he was there she died.

"When Father Morley returned to Southampton in early May 1964, he made up his mind to retire to a Benedictine Monastery in Ireland. The date he had actually arranged for doing this was the date of his death.

"He said his last Mass here on the Saturday morning. We all could see that he was not well. We sent him home by taxi and asked the doctor to call and see him. He died early on the following Monday morning. He died from a heart attack. He is buried here in Southampton.

"I am afraid that that is all that I can tell you of Father Morley's death. He led a very quiet life here. He was very retiring and did not mix much with people . He used to spend the greater part of every morning in prayer in our chapel".

We are hopeful that someone who knew the late Father Morley well might be kind enough to write an appreciation of this quiet, retiring priest who passed away almost four years ago and the news of whose death has just reached us.

Father Morley's life was not a happy one. There were in it periods of great depression and sadness. His one consolation seemed to be his daily Mass that, under no circumstances. would ever be omitted. May Light Eternal shine upon him and may he be with Christ in that place where there is refreshment, light and peace.

We do trust that our readers—particularly those who knew him—will not forget him in their prayers. May he rest in peace.

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Historical, Townsville Catholic News, February 1969, p 7:

In a recent issue, reference was made to the death of Rev. Father Joseph Morley. I knew Father Morley quite well.

One day in October 1921 when the "Canberra" berthed in Bowen for half-a-day on her way to Townsville, I met Father Morley for the first time.

My mother and I were passengers on the ship and my brother who was a personal friend of Father Morley, asked him to meet us at Bowen when the ship berthed.

In those days most people walked and Father Morley, my mother and I walked from the wharf to the Presbytery. Here we both had dinner with Father Morley and the parish priest, Father John Walsh. Reference has been made to the reserved character of Father Morley. My recollection of him on that day was that of a bright, witty and delightful conversationalist.

He and Father Walsh vied with each other in telling stories about England and Ireland and I remember Father Morley expressing his wish to do great missionary work in Australia. I have very happy recollections of that dinner in the Bowen Presbytery and I did not mind the long long walk back to the "Canberra". That evening my mother talked about Father Morley for he evidently made a good impression on her. Later that night we sailed and we had a pleasant trip to Townsville.

Then the years slipped by ... When I was in Ravenswood in 1941 I received a telegram advising me of my mother's death on Ascension Thursday. I went to the Presbytery to ask to have Mass said for my mother and who should be there but Father Morley! When I mentioned my mother's name he paused and looked at me and said, "I remember, I met you and your mother when the Canberra berthed in Bowen almost twenty years ago." What a memory!

He was the only priest she knew in the whole Diocese and it does seem strange that he was the priest who said Mass for her on the day she died!