Rev. Msgr. Philip David Morris

POMPANO BEACH, FL Msgr. Philip D. Morris passed away at home after a short illness gon Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at the age of 86. He was born in Orange, New Jersey on October 24, 1937, the son of David and Rose (Scavone) Morris. He was predeceased by his sister, Judith Carolyn (Morris) Kelly and his nephew Philip Kelly. He is survived by his niece Carolyn (Kelly) Bogart, her husband Scott Bogart and their three children David, Cathryn, and Andrew; his nephew Christopher Kelly, his wife Patricia and their three children Lauren, Melissa, and Nicholas, and by his close friend William J. (BJ) Albright.

Msgr. Morris attended West Orange, NJ Public Schools, Seton Hall Preparatory, Seton Hall University, graduating in 1959 with a BA degree. While at the University he began Seminary Formation at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, NJ from 1957- 1959 and continued at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, receiving the Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L) in 1963. Msgr. Morris also received a doctorate degree in Sacred Theology in 1968 from The Catholic University of America. His Doctoral Dissertation was “Theology of Ecumenical Dialogue.”

Msgr. Morris was ordained a Catholic Priest in Rome on December 19, 1962. He began his Ministry in the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ in July 1963 as Assistant Pastor for St. Michael’s in Palisades Park. Subsequent assignments included Assistant Pastor at Our Lady of Mercy in Jersey City 1963-1965; Weekend Assistant at St. Paul’s in Irvington (1966-1967); Most Blessed Sacrament in Franklin Lakes (1967-1968); St. Mary’s in Nutley (1968-1974); St. Gabriel’s in Saddle River (1974-1977). In 1977 he was appointed Associate Pastor at Guardian Angel in Allendale until 1981 and then as Pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows in South Orange until 1993. Msgr. Morris was appointed Pastor of St. John the Baptist in Hillsdale in 1993 until his Retirement from Assigned Ministry with the title of “Pastor Emeritus” in July 2008. During his pastorate at St. John’s, he was named “prelate of honor” by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1986. Subsequently he was In Residence as Weekend Assistant at St. Rose of Lima in Short Hills, NJ.

Msgr. Morris held the position of Seminary Educator at Immaculate Conception Seminary from 1965 to 1977. He was appointed Professor in Systematic Theology from 1968-1977 and then Adjunct Professor until 1981. Msgr. Morris was a Visiting Professor in the School of Theology during 1990 and 1995.

Msgr. Morris was active in Archdiocesan Activities for nearly 30 years as Director and Chair of several programs for Priestly Formation, Pastoral activities and the Archdiocesan Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. He was Dean of the Northeast Bergen Deanery from 1995-1998. He was Chaplain of St. John the Baptist Knights of Columbus Council 12303 from 1999-2008 and Catholic Chaplain of the Hillsdale, NJ Police and Fire Departments 2005-2007.

In addition to Archdiocesan Activities, Msgr. Morris was a Visiting Lecturer at Seton Hall University, Caldwell College, Sacred Heart University, Bridgeport, CT and Princeton Theological Seminary. In keeping with his Doctoral Dissertation “Theology of Ecumenical Dialogue,” he was a member of many Ecumenical Activities including the Hillsdale Ecumenical Clergy Association from 1993-2008.

Msgr. Morris eventually moved to Florida and assisted in several Catholic Parishes as a Weekend Assistant. He was living in Pompano Beach, Florida at the time of his passing.

Visitation at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, 69 Valley Street, Hillsdale, NJ on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, from 2-7PM, with a Vigil Service at 7PM. Visitation on Thursday, January 4, 2024, from 9-10:45AM with the Funeral Liturgy celebrating Msgr. Morris’s life, priesthood and faith at 11AM. Interment will follow at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ.