Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • August 18, 2023 11 For the good of the people of God in the Diocese of Biloxi, Bishop Louis F. Kihneman, III, has re-appointmented the following priests as Vicar Forane for another term of five years effective immediately. Given at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Biloxi on July 25, 2023. ? Most Reverend Louis F. Kihneman, III Bishop of Biloxi Official Appointments Very Reverend Godfrey N. Andoh, V.F. East Central Coast Deanery Very Reverend Joseph M. Uko, V.F. Central Coast Deanery Very Reverend Michael E. Snyder, V.F. East Coast Deanery Very Reverend Mark A. Ropel, V.F. Northern Deanery Very Reverend Michael P. O’Connor, V.F. West Coast Deanery Obituaries Sister Miriam J. Nolan, a Sister of Mercy of the Americas for 65 years, died on July 26 at Catherine’s Residence, the Community’s retirement center, in Frontenac. She was 82 years old. Johanna Nolan was born on April 6, 1941, in Ro- screa, County Tipperary, Ireland. She was the daugh- ter of James Nolan and Mary Costigan Nolan. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mary, and brothers Dan and Oliver Nolan. On September 8, 1958, Johanna Nolan entered the Religious Sisters of Mercy and later received the name Sister Miriam Joseph. She professed her first vows in 1961 and made perpetual profession on Au- gust 16, 1966. Sister Miriam completed her high school studies at St. Mary’s Presentation Col- lege High School, Mountmellick, Ireland, in 1958 and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Webster College in St. Louis, MO, in 1963. She earned her secondary education teaching certificate in 1965; and a Master of Science in Chem- istry from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York in 1971. She also received a certificate for Religious Formation/Spiritual Direction in 1975. Sister Miriam taught at Sacred Heart High School, Biloxi, St. Joseph Secondary School, Jeanerette, LA, and St. John’s Inter-Parochial High School, Gulfport. Sister Miriam held numerous integral staff positions within the Sisters of Mercy includ- ing vocation and formation ministry and community leadership. In addition to her love of teaching, Sr. Miriam established Mercy Conference and Retreat Center and became its first executive director. Sister Miriam served on numerous Mercy Health System boards and most recently was an active volunteer at the Pratt Cancer Center outpatient laboratory. Sister Miriam is survived by her brother, Tom, and numerous nieces and neph- ews from County Tipperary, Ireland. Her ring motto was “Thy Will Be Done.” A Mass was celebrated July 31 in the chapel at Mercy Conference and Retreat Center located at 2039 N. Geyer Road in Frontenac, MO. A private burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, St. Louis. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mercy Conference and Retreat Cen- ter -- Mercy Heroes Fund or another fund supporting the retreat center. Sister Miriam J. Nolan, RSM Sister Miriam Nolan Sister Mary Anne O’Brien, RSM, entered eternal life on Wednesday, August 2. A native of Ireland, Sister Mary Anne was the seventh of nine children of Mary Anne and Patrick O’Brien. Upon completion of her high school education with the Presentation Sisters she entered the Sisters of Mercy at Webster Groves, MO, in September 1951. Her first ministry assignment in 1956 was in Missis- sippi where her brother, Rev. John T. O’Brien was a priest. She remained in Mississippi until she retired at Catherine’s residence in St. Louis in 2018. Sr. Mary Anne held degrees from Webster College, Marquette University and the USM. She served as an elementary and high school teacher and she also taught ECD on weekends and during the summers. She spent six years as administrator of McAuley Home, a retirement home for the Sisters of Mercy in Vicksburg. In addition, she served as a psychologist at Gulf Coast Mental Health Centers, Catholic Social Ser- vices Biloxi. Her final and longest ministry was at St. Thomas Parish in Long Beach where she served in various capacities, including being Chaplain to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She also volunteered for a short time at the local jail. While at Gulf Coast Mental Health Center she introduced a program for bereaved parents. She continued this ministry throughout the rest of her live. Sister Mary Anne is survived by one sister, 14 nieces and nephews; 31 grand nieces and nephews and one great-great niece. Visitation was on Tuesday, August 8, at Catherine’s Residence, in St. Louis, MO, followed Mass. Interment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Vicksburg, MS. Sister Mary Anne O’Brien, RSM Sister Mary Anne O’Brien