Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • November 15, 2019 13 Remembering Bishop Roger Paul Morin Bishop Morin is pictured with family members following his farewell Mass as Bishop of Biloxi in 2017. (Bishop Morin’s sister) Pat did say that “he always reminded her that she was the older one.” They shared a lot, through the good times and bad. As for myself, he was Roger, my big brother. My older siblings always love to taunt me with the fact that I was the baby and Susie could do no wrong. I remem- ber going with my mother to visit him in the seminary when I was a little girl. He recently sent me a letter he had held onto all these years, in the letter I wrote that I was being a good girl and studying hard at school. We shared the love of shopping. The last Saturday he was home, we took a ride to Mystic, CT, to a gift shop he loved to go to whenever he was home. I think we spent over two hours just shopping in that one store. I know the Diocesan offices always knew when he had been home to MA/NH, because the boxes would start arriving before he returned. He said Mass Sunday, October 27, in his home par- ish. How ironic that his last Mass would be held in the church he received all his sacraments. I always felt a great deal of pride when I would sit in my pew and watch him say Mass. I would remind myself how lucky I was to have a brother for a Bishop, such a huge accomplishment in his life. He performed my wedding ceremony, baptized my daughter, officiated at my husband’s funeral, came home to be there to give my daughter her First Holy Communion, attended her graduation ceremonies from UConn and Boston University and then officiated at her wedding. He also baptized both her children. He was always there for us even though he lived far from home. Susan Spellissy Bishop Morin’s sister He was my older brother I always went to him for advice and help with school work. He was an excellent student and he was always there for me. He was the most loving, giving, caring, generous person I know. He came to visit twice a year and we would go antiquing in NH, MA, Vermont and Maine. He was always looking for religious art work, statues, etc., usu- ally for gifts for other people. He always said that was his hobby, buying gifts and giving gifts to others. He enjoyed going to the Art Museums in Boston. He could tell us the name of the artist of every painting in the Museum. Elaine Joncas Bishop Morin’s sister I was always impressed with how he was so knowl- edgeable on so many subjects. We could talk about any number of subjects except sports. That was not his thing. I enjoyed his company on many long road trips searching out new restaurants to try and antique stores and junk shops to explore and of course our road trip to Canada to research his family roots. He was like a brother to me and he will be missed. Ray Joncas Bishop Morin’s brother-in-law Bishop Morin was just a kind and gentle person to be around. He had a great sense of humor and when he came into the room you couldn’t help but smile. His easy-going laid-back style made you feel right at ease. Especially during the aftermath of Katrina in the build- ing of Holy Family Church, and the Chapel of St. Paul, he really tried to do the best he could for all involved. From the time he was installed Bishop of our Diocese I had the privilege of serving as his Master of Ceremony (MC). As MC for many ordinations and dedications and other liturgical ceremonies he would always say at the end of the ceremony, “Deacon Vrazel is the only one in the diocese that can get away with telling me what to do.” When assisting him at some of the confir- mations or other functions, I would have the pleasure of driving us to and from our destination. We had many great conversations although it was mostly him speak- ing as he shared many stories of his life experiences. I will always remember how he made time to come con- celebrate the funeral Mass of my little grandson Ezekiel who had drowned in 2014. How he reached out to comfort my family in our time of great sadness. On a lighter note, Bishop Morin loved to eat. The many Deacon Bill Vrazel times he came into Vrazel’s restaurant for lunch or dinner and with all the delicious and different types of food we prepared in our fine dining restaurant, his order was always fried chicken strips. Once when he came in I decided to jazz those chicken strips up a bit. I sent out a platter with chicken strips breaded in five different types of breading, five different sauces, and of course they were all fried. He named it “The Morin Chicken Strip Extravaganza.” Yes, he took a to-go box home. I loved Bishop Morin and have many fond memories of him. I will miss him greatly. May he rest in peace and be granted eternal life.