Morgan Murphy, OFM

1908 – 1977

Fr. Morgan (Fintan) Murphy, OFM, was born June 1, 1908 in Buffalo, N.Y. He graduated from Canisius College in 1930 and worked for the New York Central Railroad. He entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1934, professing temporary vows one year later. Fr. Morgan made his solemn profession and was ordained in 1938.

As a young priest, he served in the United States Army as a chaplain and saw action in the major military campaigns in Africa and Europe. In 1944, the jeep in which he was riding struck a mine. The driver was killed instantly and Fr. Morgan suffered serious back injuries that plagued him most of his life. His sense of humor sustained him through the pain and his regimental commander once remarked “This man is worth a whole battalion,” an echo of Francis’s praise of Brother Juniper. Fr. Morgan received a purple heart and a silver star.

After the war, he taught at Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., and ministered as a retreat director at St. Francis Friary, Brookline, Mass. From 1951 to 1961, Fr. Morgan was pastor at St. Stephen Parish in Croghan, N.Y., and at Holy Cross Parish in Callicoon, N.Y. His final years of ministry were at St. Anthony Shrine, Boston.

He died there on Feb. 22, 1977. Fr. Morgan was 68 years old, a professed friar for 41 years and a priest for 38 years.