Patrick Joseph Murray

Born in Rathangan, County Kildare, in Ireland, Patrick Joseph Murray was the oldest of five boys born to James and Frances Murray. From the moment Patrick was born, he spent every day of his life ministering to God’s people. His firm belief was that you could never argue anyone into love or religion. So by his actions, his words, and his sincere love and compassion for others, hegently guided them to faith.

Patrick was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Ferns in 1963 and was immediately sent to England to work with Irish immigrants at the Irish Center in Camden Town. He also worked at the Catholic Film Institute and in 1968, he was recalled to Ireland to become the Dean at St. Peter’s College in Wexford. In 1972, he was transferred to the Diocese of Orlando, Florida, to be near his brother, Rev. John Stanislaus Murray. In 1978, after receiving a dispensation from his vows of celibacy from Pope Paul VI, Patrick continued in religious education ministry where he spent most of the rest of his career at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Winter Park and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Mt. Dora. He met and married the love of his life, Marjorie Colton Murray, and God blessed them with a son, John Stephen Murray, who he affectionately called Sean, and a daughter, Christine Frances Murray. He was a proud grandfather to Lacey Roisin Murray.

Patrick is preceded in death by his parents, James and Frances Murray, and his four brothers, Rev. John S. Murray, Rev. James Murray, Michael Murray, and Gerry Murray. 

Patrick’s sense of humor, unwavering love, and wise guidance and counsel will be greatly missed by his wife, Marjorie Murray, his children, John (Sean) Murray and Christine Frances Murray-Rudy, granddaughter, Lacey Murray, daughter-in-law, Kaylee Murray, son-in-law, Mitch Rudy, his brothers-in-law, Tim Colton and Don Randolph, his sisters-in-law, Susie Randolph, Pam Colton, Mary Jones, and Florrie Murray, many nephews and nieces, many great-nephews and nieces, as well as, Cachy McLoughlin and sons, Bishop Jose McLoughlin and Bill McLoughlin, who, after losing their father early in life, saw Patrick as their father.

God sends people into our lives who may not be family by birth, but rather family by love. For Patrick, that family by love are Hugh and Bernie Sheridan, Kevin and Aine Sheridan and all of the Sheridan and O’Connors and their extended families in the Ballagh in Ireland who embraced Patrick as their family and provided him a loving home in Ireland to come to every year throughout his lifetime. 

After being a guiding light to so many for 85 years, Patrick will rest in peace in the St. John the Baptist cemetary in The Ballagh in Ireland where his family by love will continue to take care of him. His life was full of love, fun, and laughter, and although his body will be at rest, his love, which was the gift of his life, will live with us forever. 

To celebrate his legacy, there will be a funeral mass at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Winter Park on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 10:30 am. There will also be a funeral mass on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ballaghkeen, County Wexford, Ireland. He will be laid to rest in the St. John’s Cemetery.