Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow
Bishop Morrow, popularly known as "The Smiling Bishop", was one of those rare persons who dedicated their lives selflessly to the betterment of humanity, with a view "to love God and help others to love God."
Louis L.R. Morrow was born of an ecumenical marriage on 24th December, 1892, at Weatherford, Texas, USA. His father Joseph LaRavoire was a French Catholic. His mother, Isabel Morrow, American born, was of Irish heritage, and a staunch New Jersey Episcopalian. They had three lovely children, Frank, Louis and Margarita.
In the year 1921, "Luisito" was ordained priest in Puebla, Mexico. Thus began his glorious career of service. On 25th May, 1939, he was consecrated Bishop of Krishnagar, by Pope Pius XII, at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. His coat of arms bore the inscription, "To Jesus Through Mary", as from an early age he was devoted to our Blessed Mother.
Upon his arrival in Krishnagar on 25th October 1940 he set his heart on the formation of a solid educated Christian community and focused on the progress of the Don Bosco boarding and Industrial schools for boys and Holy Family School for girls. As a result the literacy rate which was 4.5% in 1940 rose almost to 100% by the time of his retirement in 1969.
During the Second World War, in 1942, the British authorities in India decreed that all Italians be interned at Dehra Dun, north of Delhi. At once he swung into action. He told the local British authorities that they could cut off his right arm if they found one of his Italian priests doing anything detrimental to the war effort. He hurried off a telegram to the Governor of Bengal in Kolkata, and another to the viceroy in New Delhi. In desperation he sent a cable to Her Majesty the Queen of England, at Buckingham Palace. So Bishop's staff remained untouched.
During the disastrous famine of Bengal in 1943–44 he was chosen Chairman of a voluntary Citizens' Food Committee. He begged by mail day and night from benefactors, and in Kolkata, in person, for war surplus food from Indian, British, Australian and U.S. officers.
In Bengal's time of great distress—famine, flood, epidemic and partition—while coping with the stream of refugees that poured into Krishnagar, Father Bishop approached the Catholic Relief Services in New York for food supplies. At that time CRS had no representative in India. Accordingly from 1944 to 1959 Father Bishop served as the representative for North East India, until a permanent office was opened in Kolkata.
In 1945 Father Bishop introduced the practice of Family Communion on New Year's Day. When Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1948, 15 thousand mourners of Krishnagar assembled on the banks of river Jalanki for a memorial service. Father Bishop was one of the three invited to speak along with a Hindu and a Muslim.
On 12th December, 1948 Father Bishop laid the foundation of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate and made a valuable contribution towards a happier and healthier world for children and thereby for our nation too.
In 1952 he was elected as Commissioner of the Municipal Board of Krishnagar on which he served for 13 years. During that time a long overdue extension of the city's waterworks scheme was financed. Through his initiative a telephone system was installed in Krishnagar and the city's T.B. Clinic received an X-ray machine from the U.S. He served as official visitor to Nadia District Jail and to the Government Hospital, and consultant of the Indian Red Cross Society of West Bengal.
Pope Paul VI responded generously to his appeal in 1967 for help towards the erection of Krishnagar Stadium. He also made handsome contributions to the Children's Park, Rama Krishna Pathaghar (City Library) and Sri Aurobindo Bhavan (Students' Health Home).
A number of books that were written for children have been translated into many languages. His great catechism, 'OUR CATHOLIC FAITH', is the best known of his publications and is of international repute.
In 1969 he retired as bishop of Krishnagar. After retirement from the diocese, he continued his apostolate of the printed Word, updating his books, and distributing copies of the Holy Bible in English and Bengali.
He was an ardent advocate of women's rights, convinced that justice and peace cannot prevail until and unless women have an equal voice in legislative assemblies throughout the world.
Bishop Morrow loved children dearly and enjoyed being in their midst as Father and friend. He had a childlike heart and mind and spirit full of kindly thoughts for others, radiating to all, the love of Jesus.
May Father Bishop's gracious smile and encouraging words ever linger in our hearts, inspiring us to sow seeds of joy, love and peace, wherever we go, in noble and tireless service of God and his people. His motto through life was "To love God and help others to love Him."