By George P. Matysek Jr.
Deacon Richard Morris, a familiar and welcoming face to all who entered the Catholic Center in Baltimore, died Sept. 20 after a long illness. A funeral Mass was offered Sept. 28 at St. Ursula in Parkville, the parish he served as a deacon from 2004 until his 2005 retirement – and where he continued to assist until his death.
“He was a strong, steady and quiet deacon,” said Monsignor Thomas Baumgartner, former pastor of St. Ursula. “He was very faithful to the job, very good with the job – and he was a strong family man.”
Deacon Morris was married to his wife, Margaret, and had five children and nine grandchildren.
Ordained Sept. 17, 1983, at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland, Deacon Morris’s first assignment was at his home parish of St. Michael the Archangel, Overlea. He ministered at St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Highlandtown, beginning in 1996. In 2002, while continuing his service at St. Elizabeth, he worked part-time at the main desk of the Catholic Center – answering telephone calls and greeting visitors to the archdiocesan headquarters. During that same time, Deacon Morris provided part-time pastoral care at Union Memorial Hospital.
Copyright (c) Oct. 3, 2012 CatholicReview.org