RIP Fr. Francis G. Morrisey, OMI - Famous Oblate Canon Lawyer Dies at Age 84 who was Involved in the Prep of the 1983 Code
Fr. Francis G. Morrisey, OMI, JCD, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Canon Law Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada has died of Cancer on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at the Bruyère hospital in Ottawa.
Fr Francis Morrisey, OMI, was born in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada, February 13, 1936. He was ordained a priest on September 23, 1961, for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. His studies were at the University of Ottawa and at Saint Paul University. He has occupied many administrative positions at Saint Paul University, and is presently Professor emeritus in the Faculty of Canon Law of that University. He is an international lecturer and has been invited to speak in some 50 countries on matters relating to Canon Law. He is an honorary life member of the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand. He has published extensively in the area of canon law, Catholic health care, and related subjects. He also has served as Consultor to Pontifical and Episcopal Conferences in Vatican City and for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, not to mention his involvement with numerous religious institutes. He was involved in the preparation of the Code of Canon Law that was commissioned by Vatican II and promulgated in 1983.
Long time Friend - Father Vincent Pereira, JCD, JV sent this special Note
As Frank is Resting in the Peace of Christ on the eve of Ascension, St. Theresa Parish of Ottawa bids him a final farewell which has been his parish since his early childhood, where he served as an altar boy, said his first Mass, Chaplain of Legion of Mary, substitute for many a Sunday Mass, for decades concelebrated at Christmas and Holy Week (of course dinners & drinks) and many other special occasions including the 40th anniversary of my priesthood where he was invited to give a speech. I had endless canonical consultations including penal processes in which he and I were involved. Having known him for 40 years, it is difficult to say goodbye. He had a unique sense of humour: when I was asked by the late Archbishop Plourde to study canon law, I informed Frank in his office and he said "what took you so long?" The New Code was promulgated just 2 years before! I have enjoyed his generosity and kindness on many occasions. He had corrected my doctoral thesis when I was doing it at the Gregoriana Univiseity, Rome. An internationally known noble canonist focused on canonical mission.
Fr. Vincent Pereira, JCD.
Judicial Vicar, Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall.
Pastor@St. Theresa Parish, Ottawa
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