Gulf Pine Catholic

12 Gulf Pine Catholic • August 30, 2024 Msgr. McGough From page 1 “He was the chancellor of the diocese so, being the book- keeper, I had things I had to take to him to sign,” said Graham, who now lives in State College, Pennsylvania. “He was sta- tioned at St. Jude Parish in Pearl and we had a young adult group that met there because they had a real nice parish hall. He would come to our events and greet us. He was always a kind, under- standing person. He was a priest’s priest. Working with him was a real honor. He was a very devout person and very dedicated to his priestly obliga- tions.” Father Louis Lohan said Monsignor McGough played an integral role in the establish- ment of the Diocese of Biloxi in 1977. “He was a wonderful man, he was a brilliant man. He loved the Church and always had the good of the Church at heart,” said Father Lohan. “He was very instrumental in setting up the chancery office and in putting the diocese on the right road. He was always very friendly and a shining example of dedication and commitment.” Patricia French Brewer’s friendship with Monsignor McGough spanned over five decades, beginning when he served as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Hattiesburg. “He baptized my youngest daughter and was very involved with the school children,” said Brewer. “But the thing I hold dear about him is the way he dealt with my sister, who had left the Church. She stayed away from the Church for a very long time because she thought she couldn’t come back. He told her all she had to do was come see him and she came back into the Church before she died. He made it very simple for her. “He was just so pleasant to be around,” added Brewer. “I never heard anybody say anything bad about Monsignor McGough.” After Monsignor McGough moved to Fatima, Brewer, her husband and sister paid him a visit. “They had a little party for him and I took him a University of Southern Mississippi folding chair to sit out on his patio and watch the world,” she said. “He got a big kick out of that.” After his ordination to the priesthood in 1994, Monsignor Dominick Fullam was appointed associ- ate pastor of St. James Parish in Gulfport, where he served under Monsignor McGough. He has fond memories of the experience. “Monsignor McGough was genuinely concerned about the people of his parish and their spiritual development. He wanted his parish and parishioners to thrive in their faith,” said Monsignor Fullam. “He wanted the youth to have the very best religion teachers with backgrounds in theology or catechesis. He was very intelligent and preached with great zeal. He sought to be a faithful son of the Church. “He was a true gentleman who enjoyed fishing on his day off and laughed deeply at a good joke,” continued Monsignor Fullam. “He was quite satis- fied with a meal of overcooked roast and some form of potatoes.” Overall, said Monsignor Fullam, “he supported me as parochial vicar in everything I attempted to do.” Deacon Dick Henderson did not knowMonsignor McGough prior to his becoming pastor of St. James Parish in Gulfport in 1990 but grew to love him and call him a friend. “Monsignor McGough’s great reputation super- seded him, and, though we were losing a great and holy pastor in Monsignor (Kevin) Bambrick, we welcomed Monsignor McGough with open arms,” said Deacon Henderson, who described the transi- tion as “a wonderful experience” for everyone involved. “We all quickly came to love, respect, and hold Monsignor McGough in great esteem. He was a gentle pastor, always encouraging everyone and growing the parish with new parishioners who flocked to him to hear his gentle, beautiful homi- lies. He could speak of the deepest theological sub- ject, and we could grasp its concept to the point we felt comfortable, feeling we had genuinely learned something.” Deacon Henderson praised Monsignor McGough’s admin- istrative abilities. “As an administrator, he worked tirelessly with the state of Mississippi when Cowan Road, a sleepy little two lane street was made a four-lane Mississippi highway. The wid- ening took a large number of our parking spaces, but Monsignor kept the number to a minimum,” said Deacon Henderson, who was already enrolled in the permanent diaconate formation program when Monsignor McGough arrived at St. James. “He continued to be extreme- ly supportive and encouraging, as was Monsignor Bambrick,” said Deacon Henderson. “One day, Monsignor McGough asked me to quit my job at the Jefferson Davis campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and come to work full time for the parish. It was one of the best and easiest decisions I ever made. He was not your typi- cal boss. He told me he wanted me to go to the hos- pitals every day, be involved with St. James Elementary School and visit our shut-ins. Monsignor McGough allowed me to do those things as I saw fit and he never questioned me. That was a great feeling to believe he had that much faith and trust in me.” Three decades later, Deacon Henderson still vis- its the hospitals and shut-ins on a daily basis He also frequently visited and ministered to Monsignor McGough at home and in the hospital up until his death. “We who knew him well will carry a special place in our hearts for knowing, loving and serving him,” Deacon Henderson said. “He was a great man and inspiration.” Monsignor McGough is survived by a brother, Rev. William “Bill” McGough; and numerous nieces and nephews in Ireland and England.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 21 from 9:30-11 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 2090 Pass Road, Biloxi. Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in the church. Interment will be in St. James Cemetery, Gulfport. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorials to Monsignor McGough be made to the Association of Priests, 237 E Amite Street, Jackson, MS 39201. Monsignor McGough Ordination Msgr. McGough was named a Papal Chamberlain by the Holy See in 1965. He is pictured receiving the honor from Bishop Richard Gerow. Photo courtesy of Gerald McGough