Fr Frank Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants: Recalling the Spirit of the Deceased Priests of the Diocese of Port Augusta and Port Pirie 1888-2008, 2008:
Morgan, Patrick, SJ

Spent some time at Streaky Bay after the death of James Dunne in 1974.
Died: 1/8/1983.
Enjoyed introducing the people of Streaky Bay to the modern liturgy and other aspects of Vatican II.

(Reproduced with the approval of Sister Mary Cresp RSM)

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Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Morgan, Patrick

Teacher, pastor; born Melbourne, Victoria, 18 March 1914; died Adelaide, 1 August 1983, aged 69.

In 1882 two Irish migrants arrived in Australia together. Eventually they took up adjoining properties just north of Melbourne in an area now known as Niddrie. Niddrie was the name of a house and property owned by a Scotsman, Stephenson, who had named it after a small town outside Edinburgh. Patrick's father bought this property of some 250 areas, and while the family lived in the residence, the farm was lent out to a share farmer. The Morgan land, after having been cut into by the tramline, was finally sub divided and sold. The Essendon airport stands on what was once Morgan land and the township of Niddrie takes its name from the property. It was from here that Patrick Morgan and his brother Richard travelled daily to St Patrick's College, East Melbourne.

Morgan must be thought of by those who knew him as one of the 'characters' of the province. From his first entrance into the Society, 8 March 1932, he was always a positive presence in class, whether as student or teacher, in recreation or any community. He had special personal qualities of wholehearted joyousness and an extraordinary sense of order and neatness that was a family trait.

All his years in the Society, apart from formation, were spent in school or parish; over 20 years at St Aloysius' College, Milson's Point, 1947-61 and 1963-67, and in the Jesuit parishes of Richmond, 1962 and 1971-73, Toowong, 1968-70, and Sevenhill, 1974-83, where he was parish priest at the time of his death. He also administered the parish of Streaky Bay in the diocese of Port Pirie for some 18 months. In every place he engaged the attention of his students or parishioners. His humour and his oddities endeared him to many and annoyed some.

Parishioners would wait with some apprehension to hear his Sunday sermons that were filled with wit, homely advice and some erudite excursions into history, especially some quote from his mentor Newman.

As a teacher he loved opening the eyes of the young to the story of mankind's past. He taught ancient history while at St Aloysius' College, and had the capacity for dwelling long on any one point, coming back to it for days on end, until he had extracted the last grain that might be mined from it.

Morgan was also a most respected and successful teacher of geography, director of the sodalities of Our Lady and the St Vincent de Paul, coach of the second XI and XV. He also took care of the community library. In his role as college chaplain he showed special care of the boys he believed required help. He always had an eye on the needy. He was shyly retiring by nature among strangers, but most at ease with those he knew well.

His sense of order and neatness was reflected everywhere. In his own room wherever he lived or had his working quarters, one could imagine looking at a sterile place. He always did the cleaning himself and with much vigour. Above all, in the church or sacristy, order and spartan cleanliness were obligatory. He loved his work as sacristan or prefect of chapel or church. Shining equipment and new and elegant vestments were the mark of his presence.

However, personal adornment was not part of his make-up. His clothes often looked as if he had been fitted out by the St Vincent de Paul Society, and in a hurry. If he had one special peculiarity of dress it was his devotion to the biretta. At a time when the birettas were compulsory wear in the refectory and scholastics were itching to get out and take them off, Morgan would keep his on all day, worn rakishly on the back of his head. At Sevenhill he was able to resume its use. He was even seen in the main street of Clare in biretta and gown over his pink shirt.

In community he always found cause for mirth and shared it with others. He was a most obliging companion ever ready to help and bursting with generosity. His manner of effacing himself was by making others the centre of attention; but in doing this he never became a negative presence.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)