January 30 is the anniversary of William J. Morrison.

William Joseph Morrison, son of Patrick Morrison and Hannah Devit, was born in Mahanoy City, PA, on May 6, 1857. He entered the novitiate at Villanova on January 26, 1877, and professed simple vows on September 26, 1878 and solemn vows on October 4, 1881. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Shanahan of Harrisburg, at Villanova, in the gymnasium church, on November 13, 1881.

Father Morrison devoted the years of his priestly apostolate in the parishes of the province: Saint Mary’s, Lawrence, MA; in New York State: Cambridge, Lansingburg (Troy), Carthage, and Greenwich. A pastor well-loved by the many parishioners he served, he was particularly well thought of in Tory, his transfer from which in 1911 evoked a signed petition by hundreds of names submitted to the Provincial requesting his continued service there.

Father Morrison died at Old Saint Augustine, Philadelphia, on January 30, 1919, at the age of 62, and is buried in the vault there.

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