1946 – 2013

PORTLAND — The Rev. James J. Morrison, 67, of Portland, died Monday, Nov. 11, at Mercy Hospital, with friends and family by his side.

He was born in Portland on April 8, 1946, the only child of Thomas and Veronica McCafferty Morrison.

After graduating from Cheverus High School in Portland, Jim completed his studies in philosophy and theology at St. Paul’s Seminary in Ottawa, Canada. After serving a deacon internship at Sacred Heart Parish in Yarmouth, he was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Rev. Peter L. Gerety, eighth bishop of the Diocese of Portland, on May 11, 1974, at St. Joseph’s Church in Portland.

During his years of full-time ministry, Fr. Jim served in the following assignments: parochial vicar at St. Margaret’s Parish, Old Orchard Beach, 1974-78; associate director of vocations and assistant chancellor pro-tem, summer 1978; graduate studies at the School of Canon Law of the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., earning the degree of Master of Church Administration, September 1978 to May 1979; temporary administrator at St. Edmund’s Parish, Westbrook, from December 1978 to January 1979; vice chancellor 1979-83 and director of vocations from 1979-86; pastor at St. Gregory’s Parish, Gray, from 1983-86; pastor at St. Mary’s Parish, Old Town, from 1986-92 and added St. Joseph’s Parish, Old Town, from 1990-92 and the newly merged parish of Holy Family Parish, Old Town, from 1992-95; pastor at St. Christopher’s Parish, York, from 1995-98; pastor at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Scarborough, from 1998 to 2006; temporary administrator at Holy Family Parish, Lewiston, in 2006; parochial vicar at St. Philip, St. Louis and Sacred Heart parishes, Auburn (now Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish); and St. Catherine Parish, Norway, and Our Lady of Ransom Parish, Mechanic Falls (now Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish), Norway, from 2006-08.

He also served in the following capacities: chaplain to the Knights of Columbus in Old Orchard Beach and Old Town, chaplain to the Roman Catholics at Pineland Center, volunteer staff to the Diocesan Marriage Counseling Program, guardian ad litem to the Diocesan Tribunal, vicar forane to Central Penobscot Deanery for 10 years, member of the Council of Priests for five years and member of the College of Consultors for five years.

On July 1, 2008, because of declining health, Fr. Jim retired from full-time active ministry. For a period of time, he continued to reside at the Sacred Heart rectory in Auburn and he provided ministry to the extent he was able. He eventually moved to St. Joseph Rehabilitation and Residence in Portland, where he continued to exercise pastoral and sacramental ministry for the benefit of the residents, their families and staff. Many thanks for the compassionate care provided to Fr. Jim, both by the staff of Mercy Hospital in his last days and the staff of St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation and Residence over the past few years.

He is survived by many cousins, among whom are Natalie and John Bonnell of Falmouth, Thomas and Linda Dunlay of Dixfield, Robert and Jane Nadeau of Rumford and John and Nancy Dunlay of Bangor.

Fr. Jim was predeceased by both of his parents.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.ctcrawford.com.