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:
Morrissey, Francis Bernard

Born: Collingwood, Victoria.
Ordained: 15/7/1917 in Genoa, Italy.
Worked in Pekina 1919; Peterborough 1930; Jamestown 1931; Burra 1935; Carrieton 1939; Georgetown 1947. First Diocesan Inspector of Schools 1937-38. Diocesan Consultor 1936. Diocesan MC 1940.
Died: 8/3/1954. Aged 59. Buried at Georgetown.

Memories: Father Francis Bernard Morrissey

Ordained: 1917.
Died: 8th March, 1954. Buried in Georgetown cemetery.

Father Morrissey came to the Diocese Port Pirie from Melbourne. He had studied at All Hallows College and completed his studies at Genoa, where he was ordained.

He served the people at Pekina 1919-30; Peterborough 1930-31; Jamestown 1931-35; Burra 1935-39; Carrieton 1939-47 and was then stationed at Georgetown until his death in March 1954.

At Fr Morrissey's Month Mind Mass, Bishop Gallagher and Monsignor Coffey paid tribute to 'his great characteristics ... of devotion to his priestly duties ... being most meticulous and exact in the discharge of these functions ... that as a teacher and as a preacher ... he had few equals among his brother priests .. . it was unfortunate for us, his fellow priests, that Father Frank was rather a shy and sensitive person and we were not privileged to hear him as were his Parishioners, preaching the truths of our religion, in language that was both sublime and clear'. His knowledge of the proper celebration of the Mass and the sacraments led to his appointment as Diocesan Examiner at the Priests conference.

Father Frank, as he was known, was well respected by the priests of the diocese and death at only 59 years of age was a great loss to the diocese.

Memories, compiled by Greg Slattery:
He is remembered by parishioners as being quiet, dignified. His meticulously prepared sermons, which to the children, however, were sometimes rather frightening hearing of the evils of mixed marriages, and the great figure 'Almighty God' seemed to be more terrifying and remote, than loving.
Miriam Slattery

At Father Morrissey's funeral the singing of the priests, particularly that of Father Eugene Kenny, was absolutely enthralling. In hindsight it was all the more memorable because of the absence of singing in the churches in that era.
Christine Slattery

Father Morrissey died just a few weeks after I started primary school, so memories are few. However, his shiny black humpback Vanguard is well remembered, parked outside both the church and our home. Mum had a cup and saucer with the bridge at Murray Bridge on it which was always used for Father Morrissey as she thought he didn't like cups with roses on them and she had lots of rosey cups. Father Morrissey's reputation as a dignified and meticulous priest lived on in the parish, undoubtedly as a product of the contrasting character of his successor.
Greg Slattery

(Reproduced with the approval of Sister Mary Cresp RSM)