40 Years: Father Michael E. Morrissey
STOCKTON—Father Michael Morrissey was born in Kingsville, Texas, moving to Amboy at age five. He attended the Vincentian Fathers high school seminary for two years, finishing high school in Amboy. He spent a year with the Vincentians serving developmentally disabled persons and attended the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.
He was ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 1986, by Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford.
Father Morrissey served as an associate at St. Mary Parish in Elgin (1986-1989), also teaching at St. Edward Central Catholic High School. He served as an associate at St. Patrick Parish in St. Charles (1989-1991). From July-December 1991, he did language studies at the Maryknoll Fathers School of Language in Bolivia, then served and practiced Spanish at St. Joseph Church in Elgin for four months as part of his year of Hispanic study.
He became pastor at SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Cary (1992-1997). He was pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Elgin (1997-2000). That was followed by a few months’ health leave of absence.
He served as an associate at Holy Family Parish in Rockford (2000-2003). He was parochial administrator at St. Anne Parish in Dixon (2003-2013). He has served as administrator of Holy Cross Parish in Stockton from 2013 to the present.
