Background
Morgan was born in Keilor on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia where his father Patrick owned and operated a farm.
Morgan was born in Keilor on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia where his father Patrick owned and operated a farm.
He attended Street Columbas Primary School in Essendon before moving on to Street Joseph"s Christian Brothers College in North Melbourne in 1917 and again from 1920 to 1926, finally completing his secondary schooling at Saint Kevins.
At the time of his death he was one of the oldest Catholic bishops. He was ordained a priest on 15 July 1934 for the Archdiocese of Melbourne. During the Second World War he served as a Chaplain with the Second Australian Imperial Force in Papua New Guinea from 1942 to 1945.
He later recalled that his experiences there were a formative part of his spiritual and personal life.
Morgan was to remain an Army Chaplain until 1981 when he stepped down as the Army"s Chaplain General. While in Melbourne he was placed in charge of various parishes including, in 1953, Street James" parish in Richmond.
Morgan was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn as well as Titular Bishop of Membressa on 6 March 1969. He was ordained bishop on 28 April 1969.
He was appointed on 29 May 1969 to the Roman Catholic Military Ordinariate of Australia where he would remain until of 2 January 1985, as well as the auxiliary bishop of the Canberra and Goulburn archdiocese.
In 2003 he concelebrated Mass at Street Patrick"s Cathedral Melbourne to mark the centenary of his old school, Street Joseph"s Canadian Broadcasting Company North Melbourne. Just as he had done with the soldiers in New Guinea, he retained strong pastoral feelings for his flock, the residents in the center where he lived, celebrating Mass daily and speaking with them whenever possible. He died on 21 May 2008 aged 98.
While at school he was considered a very good high jumper and champion handball player and retained a love of sport, and in particular, Australian rules football, throughout his life. Morgan held the following honors. Officer of the Order of Australia (1976), Medal of the Order of Australia (1980), the Reserve Force Decoration and the Efficiency Decoration.
