In memoriam: Msgr. James McGough

Msgr. James Patrick McGough, 91, of Biloxi, passed away on August 12, 2024.

Msgr. McGough was born July 24, 1933 in Rathagan, County Kildare, Ireland. His ecclesiastical studies were at Mungret College in Limerick, Ireland and at St. Bernard Seminary, St. Bernard, Alabama. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson at St. Mary Basilica on May 25, 1957.

On September 2, 1957, He was assigned to Nativity Parish in Biloxi and in September 1958, he entered Catholic University in Washington, DC to study Canon Law. In 1961, he was appointed as Assistant Chancellor and Defensor Vinculi (Defender of the Bond) and in 1962, he was appointed a Diocesan Chancellor. He was named Papal Chamberlain by the Holy See in 1965 and in 1966, he was appointed Vicar General for the diocese. In 1969, he was named an Honorary Prelate of His Holiness. Msgr. McGough was appointed as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Canton, MS on January 15, 1971 and later that year was appointed Diocesan Consultor. On December 1, 1971, he was appointed as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Hattiesburg where he also served as the Dean of Deanery V and Episcopal Vicar. On June 6, 1977 he was appointed Chancellor for the newly established Diocese of Biloxi and remained in the diocese until his passing.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 9:30-11 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 2090 Pass Road, Biloxi. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Bishop Louis Kihneman and other priests at 11 a.m. in the church. Interment will be in St. James Cemetery, Gulfport.