| CURIA GENERALIZIA MARIANISTI Death Notice No. 11 (To all Unit Administrations): April 17, 2006 The Province of France, recommends to our fraternal prayers our dear brother, LOUIS FELIX MOREL, priest, who died in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary on April 10, 2006 in Colmar, France in the 78th year of his age and the 61st year of his religious profession. Father Louis MOREL was born in the Department of the Jura in a little village with the name of PIARDS, so little that there wasn’t even a town-hall. One had to take up all public matters at Chaux des Prés, the next town. At the age of 17, he entered the Postulate and joined the Novitiate the following year in Paris. World War II was at its end and restrictions were very severe in the city. Thanks to the ability of certain brothers from the East who spoke German perfectly, relations with the occupier were easier and allowed some accommodations. This was a novitiate of strict observance. When he left the novitiate, he was assigned to Belfort as prefect, and then to Courtefontaine. He did his military service in a short time and was ready to take up studies in science in Besançon and Strasbourg. He earned a teaching diploma in 57, which quickly allowed him to begin teaching in Strasbourg. He made his perpetual vows on August 15, 1953, that is eight years after his first vows. In September 1957, Fribourg welcomed him as a seminarian. He was ordained on July 16, 1961 by Cardinal Marella. From this time on, he was able to engage in all kinds of teaching and pastoral ministry. Louie was gifted in physics and astronomy. He was passionately fond of mathematics and knew how to share his passion with his students. The computer gave him a new area of interest. He quickly became involved with the small instruments. He wanted to put everything on the computer but alas others could not work at his pace. As a principal, he was constantly looking for ways to finance the purchase of better computers. Whenever he returned to Ivory Coast, he always had lots of baggage and his problems with customs were frequent. He did not like being a principal. To make decisions about personnel were hard for him, above all when it was question of having to suppress some of the personnel. He used to say that he abhorred administrative paper-work. In Abidjan, he refused to regularize his status as principal. Cocktails were not his thing, nor were social gatherings of educators. Père Louie was a great worker. After a day as principal, he often assured Mass for the Marianist Sisters or others: pastoral service balanced his professional work. Louie loved to joke and knew how to amuse people. He was responsible for writing several booklets recounting the “fioretti” of the Province. When he was no longer principal, he remained in Ivory Coast where he put the writings of Father Chaminade on CD’s. A tedious task, if there ever was one! But he could assimilate them and give some interesting excerpts to the brothers at table. After a few services rendered in the novitiate and scholasticate, he returned to France worn out. We will remember him as a very active religious, more inclined to
put a brake to than to foment the rapid evolution of society, fond
of a good laugh and easily making others laugh. Reserved, he avoided
the limelight. A quarter of a century for studies, a quarter in Africa,
a quarter for work, and everything for the Lord and Mary!
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