If one of the visitors at the jubilee Celebrations of 1903 had been asked to point out, among the sons of St. Laurence's, the one over middle age who looked most robust and most likely to live to a great age, he would not unlikely have chosen Fr. Romuald Morgan. Of powerful build with fresh colour, clear resonant voice and hearty laugh, from his youth upwards he had always looked the picture of health. Twelve months later, at the Exhibition of this year, the same visitor might very well have pointed him out as the next to die. In those few months he seemed to have aged as many years, and to have returned from his lonely Lancashire mission as an old man on the edge of the grave.
It may surprise many who knew him well to hear that his health was the one trouble of Fr. Romuald's career. That he should pose as an invalid was always looked upon as a humorous eccentricity. But the truth is that an expert whom he consulted nearly thirty years ago warned him that the preservation of his eyesight depended on the preservation of his general health. Whether this was exactly true or not, Fr. Romuald had the threat of possible blindness hanging over him. Every year the terrible shadow seemed to be drawing closer to him, and with every ailment this gradual loss of sight seemed to be hastened. It speaks well for his courage that one seldom heard him allude to his trouble, that he was always so full of spirits, and so anxiously willing and obedient. He would excuse himself nothing. He spent the whole of his priestly career labouring on the mission in different parts of the country. He was simple and pious and earnest in his daily life, devoted to his Order and to the house of his profession. As might have been expected of him he died at his post. On Wednesday, the 9th of November, he was about his work as usual; on Thursday, the 10th he was dead. He was in his 61st year, the 41st of his Religious Profession, and the 33rd of his Priesthood. R.I.P.
Joseph Romauld MORGAN 10 Nov 1904 1843 21 Nov Born at Coughton, Warwickshire educ at Ampleforth 1863 29 Sep Clothed 1868 11 Jan Solemn Vows 1871 23 Dec Priest 1872 Rixton St Mary's Liverpool 1873 St Anne's Liverpool 1881 St Augustine's Liverpool 1882 Bungay 1885 Acton Burnell St Joseph's Swansea 1887 Abergavenny 1894 Lee House, Preston 1904 10 Nov Died