Morin, Benjamin R.
Jesuit Father Benjamin R. Morin died on April 23, 2015, at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan. He was 94 years old. Fr. Morin was born on Aug. 15, 1920, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Army Lieutenant Morin served in the Philippines during World War II. He was captured with his unit in 1942 and was a prisoner of war until the Japanese surrendered in September 1945. He ascribes his vocation to the two priests he met as a POW. To read a Partner’s Magazine article about Fr. Morin’s time as a POW, click here.
Fr. Morin entered the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus on Sept. 1, 1946, at Milford, Ohio. He was ordained on June 13, 1956 at West Baden College in southern Indiana, and took final vows on Feb. 2, 1964. He transcribed to the Peru Province in 1985. As a Jesuit, Fr. Morin earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and Licentiate Degrees in philosophy and theology from West Baden College. He also earned a masters’ degree in philosophy from Loyola University Chicago.
During regency, Fr. Morin taught Latin at the University of Detroit High School (1951-1953). After finishing theology, he taught religion at Loyola Academy (1958-1960) before becoming a missionary to Peru. He began his time in Peru studying Spanish and teaching at the grade school of Parroquia del Sagrario, Tacna, Peru (1960-1961).
Fr. Morin then spent 38 years performing pastoral ministry at: Parroquia del Sagrario, Tacna (1961-1963); Parroquia de Santa Fortunata, Tacna (1964-1965); La CompañÃa, Arequipa (1965-1988); and in Arequipa (1994-1999). He spent a few summers in Los Angeles: doing pastoral ministry at Precious Blood Parish (1975); raising funds for the Archdiocese of Arequipa (1979); and participating in the Missionary Cooperative Plan (1981). Fr. Morin was also minister of La CompañÃa (1967-1970) and superior of Residencia Sagrado Corazon (1988-1994) in Arequipa. After his return to the U.S. in 1999, he performed community service at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan.