Francis A. Morrison was born on April 26, 1917, in Philadelphia, PA, the fourth of five children. He had two brothers and two sisters. A terrible tragedy struck their lives on March 21, 1925, when their mother passed away. Francis was about 8 years old at that time. The family had moved to Baltimore by 1930. He started high school in 1931 and one of the those with whom he became friends in that first year of high school was Martin Flahaven, who also became a pastor at St. Peter’s. The war was coming and on October 16, 1940, he registered for the draft. The draft record notes that he was a divinity student at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and that he was six feet tall and weighed 170 pounds. The Federal Census of 1940 indicates that he had by this time completed 5 years of higher education, was living in Catonsville, and was 22 years of age. At some point his draft record was updated to reflect his new assignment at St. Mary’s Rectory, 5502 York Road. He was ordained at the B

Long sought post-Vatican II renovations to the second (1870-2004) St. Peter’s Church building in Libertytown culminated in the dedication of a new altar at a special Mass forty years ago on February 20, 1983. Auxiliary Bishop P. Francis Murphy, Western Vicar at the time, was the celebrant of the dedication Mass that Sunday afternoon. According to the Catholic Review edition that week, Bishop Murphy was “extremely impressed by the beauty of the newly renovated church” that “clearly reflects the vision of the Church and of the liturgy promoted by the spirit of the Second Vatican Council.” The Bishop also noted that “at the same time, there is a creative integration and utilization of a number of the more traditional features of the former sanctuary and church.” Former pastor Fr. Paul Iaia was pleased to mark his tenth anniversary at St. Peter’s by seeing the work completed, saying that since his appointment a decade earlier renovating the church had been a priority for him. He noted that

With the season of Lent fast approaching, many parishioners are making plans to attend weekly Stations of the Cross services.  As we turn to face each of the fourteen plaques along the side walls of the nave of the church that depict the stages of Christ’s passion, we are reminded how fortunate our parish is that they were able to be salvaged after the devastating fire that destroyed our second St. Peter’s church in 2004.  The Stations were damaged, some quite badly, but it was determined that they could be repaired and saved for installation into our current church once it was built.  The parish contracted with the firm Sacred Spaces, then based in Alexandria, VA, and all involved were pleased with the quality of their restoration work. Lighting was installed allowing the Stations to be illuminated at night. There are a few other surviving elements that were saved after the fire and incorporated into our present church.   One that was a source of amazement and comfort in the immedia

In 1937, a group of Catholic women formed the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary at St. Peter’s.   Every Tuesday, the Sodality met in the Church for Mass and afterwards, would pray the Miraculous Medal Novena.   The Sodality was divided into small groups called bands, each having approximately thirteen ladies – and there were enough bands to fill the entire Church!   Each lady wore a large Miraculous Medal on a long blue-ribbon necklace during the Mass and Novena.   The ladies were active in other ways too; assisting the Sisters of Notre Dame with dinners and the annual two-day fall bazaar (the pre-curser to our Christmas in the Country annual fundraiser).   The Sodality lapsed for a time, but in 1952 was revived by the then “new” pastor, Father John Mountain.   The late Anne Morrissey, a long time Sodality member, recalled starting a gift shop of religious articles and crafts and making so many quilts, dish towels and similar items that she wore out 3 sewing machines!   Anne was also