Michael Morrison | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Michael Morrison SJ Title: Rev First Name: Michael Middle Names: Gerard Preferred Name: Surname: Morrison Order: SJ Date of Birth: 05-Oct-1908 Place of Birth: Listowel, Co Kerry Country of Birth: Ireland Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 07-Apr-1973 Place of Death: Dublin Country of Death: Ireland Date of Burial: 1973 Place of Burial: Glasnevin, Dublin Country of Burial: Ireland Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125902216 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Morrison, Michael Pastor; born Listowel, Kerry, Ireland, 5 October 1908; died Dublin, 7 April 1973, aged 64. Michael Morrison lived in his early years at Ballysimon on the outskirts of Limerick city. The Christian Brothers educated him at Sexton Street, and then he went to Mungret from 1922, where he excelled himself at hurling. In his last year at school he was a member of the junior team that won the O'Mara Cup. He entered the Society at Tullamore, 1 September 1925, and after his home juniorate at Rathfarnham, studied philosophy at Tullamore. He did regency at Belvedere and Mungret, 1933-36, teaching mathematics and was involved with sport. He studied theology at Milltown Park, 1936-40, and was at Rathfarnham, 1940-41, for tertianship. During the Second World War he was a military chaplain with the British Army in Egypt, 1941-46, serving with the Eight Army and was present at the fall of Tunis. He was later at Belsen in 1945, working in Camp Number 1, the Horror Camp. Herded together in this camp were 50,000 people where typhus was raging. When Morrison's unit entered the camp between 7,000 and 10,000 people were found dead in the huts and on the ground. The majority of the living were seriously ill. Many thousands died subsequently. Morrison anointed about 300 people daily, helped by very few chaplains. He celebrated Mass on 22 April 1945, the first time at the camp. It was a moving experience for those able to attend. After the War he went to Australia, teaching briefly at St Aloysius' College, and then at Riverview, 1947-48. He finally did parish work at Richmond, 1949-58. After leaving Australia, he spent several years attached to the Jesuit Holy Name church in Manchester. He returned to Ireland later, and taught at Mungret, and then at Belvedere College, being the college bursar, 1963-73. Morrison was a good listener, allowing others to speak. His quiet, matter-of-fact, way of viewing things rendered him one of the most factually objective witnesses of the day-to-day circumstances of the World War II situation. His health deteriorated in his latter years after a series of strokes. He was a man of strong principles, loyal to his duties, and, in his sickness, always unwilling to be a burden. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Michael

Middle Names:

Gerard

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Morrison

Order:

Date of Birth:

05-Oct-1908

Place of Birth:

Listowel, Co Kerry

Country of Birth:

Ireland

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

07-Apr-1973

Place of Death:

Dublin

Country of Death:

Ireland

Date of Burial:

1973

Place of Burial:

Glasnevin, Dublin

Country of Burial:

Ireland

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125902216

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

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

Pastor; born Listowel, Kerry, Ireland, 5 October 1908; died Dublin, 7 April 1973, aged 64.

Michael Morrison lived in his early years at Ballysimon on the outskirts of Limerick city. The Christian Brothers educated him at Sexton Street, and then he went to Mungret from 1922, where he excelled himself at hurling. In his last year at school he was a member of the junior team that won the O'Mara Cup.

He entered the Society at Tullamore, 1 September 1925, and after his home juniorate at Rathfarnham, studied philosophy at Tullamore. He did regency at Belvedere and Mungret, 1933-36, teaching mathematics and was involved with sport. He studied theology at Milltown Park, 1936-40, and was at Rathfarnham, 1940-41, for tertianship.

During the Second World War he was a military chaplain with the British Army in Egypt, 1941-46, serving with the Eight Army and was present at the fall of Tunis. He was later at Belsen in 1945, working in Camp Number 1, the Horror Camp. Herded together in this camp were 50,000 people where typhus was raging. When Morrison's unit entered the camp between 7,000 and 10,000 people were found dead in the huts and on the ground. The majority of the living were seriously ill. Many thousands died subsequently. Morrison anointed about 300 people daily, helped by very few chaplains. He celebrated Mass on 22 April 1945, the first time at the camp. It was a moving experience for those able to attend.

After the War he went to Australia, teaching briefly at St Aloysius' College, and then at Riverview, 1947-48. He finally did parish work at Richmond, 1949-58.

After leaving Australia, he spent several years attached to the Jesuit Holy Name church in Manchester. He returned to Ireland later, and taught at Mungret, and then at Belvedere College, being the college bursar, 1963-73.

Morrison was a good listener, allowing others to speak. His quiet, matter-of-fact, way of viewing things rendered him one of the most factually objective witnesses of the day-to-day circumstances of the World War II situation. His health deteriorated in his latter years after a series of strokes. He was a man of strong principles, loyal to his duties, and, in his sickness, always unwilling to be a burden.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Michael Morrison SJ

Biographical Notes