We Will Miss You Father Mike

There have only been a few priests in my life that have been both friend and counselor, a leader and humble, someone who inspires us to God's lofty standards without forgetting his own human frailty.

Father Michael Morris is one such priest. We have been blessed to have him in our parish for the past three years. As a family, my wife, children and I have shared meals and trips and rallies and private Masses and jokes and the Word of God. He's a passionate man who is willing to speak from the pulpit that which is not easy to hear, but what is necessary to be spoken.

During his time with us at Espiritu Santo Catholic Church he has grown to accumulate an immense following, while, at the same time, growing as both a priest and a man. He never goes anywhere without being dressed in his familiar black clothes with a white collar... in an age where off-the-clock priests and nuns are often not dressed in their religious clothing, I asked him why he remains "old fashioned" and his response was very wise. He said "My collar is my wedding ring. Would you leave your house without your wedding ring? If you do, you are only making yourself available, intentionally or not, to find yourself in situations that could be misinterpreted. When I go out everyone knows that I am married to the church and there is never a misinterpretation of who I am and what I represent."

If only more religious would value holy symbolism as highly as Father Mike does. It can be a very powerful statement.

Father Mike with us after the last Mass
Gabriel and DC will ever serve with him.

Father Mike is blessed with the gift of holy gab. His homilies are impassioned and full of humor, detail, life experiences, but most importantly, truth. His words challenge us and make us reevaluate where we are in our relationship with Jesus. He holds the sacraments to the highest regard, reiterates the saving grace of Confession and treats the Eucharist at every Mass as if he were indeed holding the hand of our Savior.

He instituted the Elijah Cup at three Masses at our church in an attempt to foster religious vocations. He often lead the parish in Eucharistic Adoration, attended Pro-Life rallies and headed a group to the Holy Land. He had personal experiences from his military days with the cultures and religions in the volatile Middle East. He is able to speak multiple languages and would, with amazing ease, translate the original words from which the Bible was written and explain the deeper meanings behind the original authors that has been lost when offered to us in English.

His love of the church, his love of his vocation and his love of orthodoxy was a refreshing and welcomed infusion of spirit into a parish named after the Holy Spirit itself.

After three years with us he has been blessed to be able to combine his two greatest joys... his priesthood and his love of the military. He will be leaving us soon to head over to Germany to be a chaplain.

He will be missed. .. his smile, his humor, his love of family and his endless supply of selfless energy to the parish. They say when you become a priest that you give up your ability to have a family. On the contrary. Father Mike now has an immense family of faithful at Espiritu Santo.

He is an important part of our faith community and extended family. We are happy for his next assignment and will pray that he can influence those men and women in the armed forces with the same gusto, the same commitment and the same love of Jesus that he has afforded us at our parish.

God speed and God bless you, Father Mike. You will always remain with us in our hearts and our prayers.