Fr. Ken Morris, CSV, holds a unique place in Viatorian history, for being the first Morris_JPII_0002webprovincial to be elected to an unprecedented three terms.morris

But he also holds another distinction: He met two of our modern day popes — Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II — and he led the Viatorian Community in carrying out the reforms of Vatican II, which transformed the Catholic church.

Fr. Morris spent three years studying in the seminary in Rome before he was ordained there in 1954. He returned in 1966 for post-graduate work — one year after the close of the Vatican II Council — to earn a degree in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute.

Fr. Ken Morris, CSV, during an audience with Pope Paul VI

Fr. Ken Morris, CSV, during an audience with Pope Paul VI

He would return to Rome in 1967, 1969 and 1972 as an elected delegate to the General Chapter meetings, before being elected himself as vicar general of the Viatorian Community in 1984, for a four-year term in Rome.

“His gentle spirit, deeply grounded faith and common sense approach to religious life,” said Fr. Mick Egan, CSV, “was a real gift to the community.”

Fr. Morris passed away in 2010, but his legacy of community building and of dialogue — even with the Holy Father — continues to inspire his confreres.