Obituary
Obituary: Father John L. Morin, OMI, missionary, headed Haitian apostolate

By Father Robert M. O'Grady Pilot Staff
Posted: 8/9/2019

Father John L. Morin, OMI, a long time missionary in Haiti died on July 28 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence, Tewksbury. Father Morin was born in Central Falls, Rhode Island, on July 8, 1925, one of five children and the only son of the late Francis and Alma (Couture) Morin.

He attended Oblate seminaries in New Hampshire and Maine, as well as the Oblate Seminary then in Natick. Fellow Oblate, Bishop Louis Collignon, OMI, ordained him to the priesthood at St. Jean Baptiste (French) Parish, Lowell, on July 29, 1951.

Assigned to the Oblate Haitian missions immediately following ordination, he would serve there for 35 years in parishes, teaching at the Oblate Seminary and as Master of Novices. His Haitian assignments were at Port Salut; Camp Perrin; Roche a Bateau; Port a Piment; Ouananmonthe; Port au Prince; and Mount Organise.

He returned to the United Stated and served in Plattsburgh, New York, at St. Peter Parish (1991-1993). In 1993, he began his 10 years of service to the archdiocese, serving the large and active Haitian community at St. Angela Merici Parish in the Hub's Mattapan section. In addition to this ministry, he was also for two terms the coordinator of the Haitian Apostolate of the archdiocese. He "retired" in 2003, just a couple years shy of his 80th birthday.

From 2003 to 2010, he served at the Oblates' St. Joseph the Worker Shrine in Lowell; and from 2010 to 2015, he served the Haitian apostolate of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, aged 85-90! During his years at Lowell, he also spent time at the Oblate Retreat House in Willimantic, Conn.

In 2016, aged 91, he actually retired to Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence in Tewksbury.

Father Morin's Funeral Mass was celebrated on Aug. 3 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, Tewksbury. Father Morin was buried in the Oblate Cemetery, Tewksbury.