Father Tom Morley
Born In: Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: May 14th, 2010
Father Thomas C. Morley died on Friday, May 14, 2010 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. A native of Glace Bay, N.S., Fr. Tom was a son of the late Joseph H. and Agnes (Curry) Morley.
After graduating from St. Anne High School, Fr. Tom attended St. Francis Xavier University. A cherished memory of those years was to have been chosen class life president of the 1950 graduating class. Unfortunately illness prevented his participation in the ongoing festivities of class reunions.
Following his studies at St. FX and after several years of work in various fields of employment, Fr. Tom began his theological studies for the priesthood at St. Paul Seminary, Ottawa. He was ordained for the Diocese of Antigonish by Bishop William E. Power on June 8, 1963.
His pastoral appointments in the diocese included the parishes of St. Mary's, Mabou; St. Stephen, Florence; St. Ninian, Antigonish; St. Joseph, Bras d'Or; St. John the Baptist, River Bourgeois; and St. James, Gardiner Mines. During a sabbatical year, Fr. Tom was invited by Archbishop J.N. MacNeil of Edmonton to continue his priestly ministry in western Canada. There he served the parish of Evansburg as administrator and as parish priest in Rimbey, Buck Lake, Winfield, Olds, Hinton and Ponoka. After approximately 12 years in Edmonton archdiocese, Fr. Tom returned to Nova Scotia but continued his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Yarmouth serving in Berwick, and in the Diocese of Antigonish in Arisaig and St. Mary's Polish parish, Sydney. Due to ill health he was forced to retire from pastoral ministry.
During his sabbatical year he pursued further studies and obtained his masters degree in education from the University of Ottawa.
Fr. Tom is survived by brothers, Fr. Frank and Fr. Fred; sisters-in-law, Judy Morley, Amherst and Mary Morley, Halifax. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews as well as grandnieces and grandnephews.
He was predeceased by brothers, Joseph, William, John, James, Charles; sisters, Dr. Mary, Teresa, Monica, Sister Alice, Sister of Charity and Sister Agnes, Sister of Charity.
Visitation will be held at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel, Sydney on Sunday, May 16, 2010 from 2-4 p.m. Remains will be transferred to St. Anne's church, Glace Bay for vigil and visitation from 7-9 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 11 a.m. with Bishop Brian Dunn presiding and Fr. Frank and Fr. Fred concelebrating. The priests of the diocese are invited to concelebrate.
Online condolences may be sent to Curry's Funeral Home, Glace Bay, jmcurry@ns.sympatico.ca.
