January 5 is the anniversary of George R. Morgan, O.S.A.

George Rober Morgan was born on August 19, 1939, in Cambridge, MA, the son of George W. and Mary G. (Noonan) Morgan. He had two brothers and four sisters. He was baptized on September 7, 1939 at Saint Raphael Catholic Church, West Medford, MA. He attended Saint Mary Parish School, Winchester, MA, (1945-1953), Matignon High School, Cambridge, MA, (1953-1957), and Merrimack College, North Andover, MA, where he obtained a BS degree.

He was received into the Order as a novice on September 9, 1961, and after a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, NY, he professed first vows on September 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, DC, (1963-1967), for his theological studies, obtaining an MA degree. He professed solemn vows on September 10, 1965. He was ordained to the priesthood on November 19, 1966, at the Chapel of Christ the Teacher, Merrimack College, by Richard Cardinal Cushing, Archbishop of Boston.

Fr. George was first assigned to Austin Preparatory School, Reading, MA, where he taught from 1967 to 1969 and from 1970 to 1976. From 1969 to 1970 he was assigned to Saint Joseph Friary and Msgr. Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, PA, where he taught. He then was assigned to retreat ministry at Mount Augustine Retreat House, Staten Island, NY, (1976-1977). He then served as associate pastor at Saint Augustine Parish, Tower Hill, Lawrence, MA, (1977-1978). From 1978 to 1981, he was assigned to Our Mother of Good Counsel Monastery and Merrimack College, North Andover, MA, where he taught.

In 1981 he spent a sabbatical year at Mundelein College, Chicago, IL. From 1982 to 1986 he was assigned to the Casa San Lorenzo, Miami, FL, and taught at Biscayne College. In 1986 he was assigned to Saint Augustine Parish, Andover, MA, where he served in the parish as associate pastor, (1987-1995). In 1994 he was appointed as chaplain for the Lawrence General Hospital, (1994-1996). From 1995 to 1996 he served at Saint Augustine Parish, Lawrence, MA. In 1996 he returned to Saint Augustine Parish, Andover, MA, and began to work for Merrimack College in Alumni Relations, (1996-2008).

When he was Director of Campus Ministry at Merrimack College he expanded the liturgical life of the campus and he 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 College’s alumni, Fr. George was an embodiment of the college’s Catholic identity and Augustinian heritage. He has 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 January 5, 2009, at Holy Family Hospital, Methuen, MA. He was 69 years old.

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