Rev. Kenneth R. Morris, CSV, died at the province center on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 11:45 a.m. He was 82. He was born on November 26, 1927 in Quincy, Illinois, the son of Charles and Edna Birkenmier Morris.
Fr. Morris pronounced his first vows on January 16, 1947 in Bourbonnais, IL, and was ordained a priest on July 4, 1954 by Bishop Jaime DeBarros Camara in Rome, Italy.
Fr. Morris was a graduate of St. Patrick Academy in Chicago. He held a BA degree from DePaul University, Chicago, with a major in Latin, and a minor in Greek. He attended the Angelicum in Rome, where he earned his degree in Sacred Scripture (STL), and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, where he earned his degree in Biblical Studies (SSB).
Fr. Morris taught at Spalding Institute in Peoria, IL from 1950-1951. Between 1961 and 1972, he was assigned to the faculty of the Viatorian Seminary in Washington D.C., where he taught sacred scripture. Fr. Morris served as superior of the Viatorian formation house for seminarians in Washington D.C. from 1966 to 1972.
In 1974, Fr. Morris was elected as the 12th Provincial Superior of the Province of Chicago, where he served for 10 years. In 1984, he returned to Rome as Vicar General of the Congregation and served as acting superior general from 1986 to 1988.
After a sabbatical year, Fr. Morris returned to Chicago and resided at the Viatorian House of Discernment as Director of Pre-Novices. In 1991, he was assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Viator Parish in Chicago. In 1994, he was assigned to St. Thomas More Catholic Community in Henderson, Nevada, where he served as Parochial Vicar until his retirement in 2004.
Visitation for Fr. Morris was held at St. Viator Church, 4170 W. Addison Street, Chicago, IL on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A vigil service was held at 7:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at St. Viator Church. Interment was at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.
Please remember Fr. Morris in your Masses and prayers.
Taken from letter to the Viatorian Community on December 7, 2009 from the Provincial, Rev. Thomas R. von Behren, CSV