#30 - Katrina and Race Relations - 2/3 Irish Missionary in Mississippi - Fr. Mike Kelleher

Fr. Mike Kelleher discusses segregation in the South, and tells the story of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, and his subsequent efforts to integrate two faith communities in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Fr. Michael Kelleher was born in County Limerick in 1941, ordained as a priest in 1965, and ministered to the people of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi for fifty five years. Fr. Mike, as he was affectionately known, left a huge legacy on the 'sleepy little town of Pascagoula' (to quote the Ray Stevens song, which is worth a listen by the way), and was loved by all who knew him. His role in uniting two of Pascagoula's Catholic churches, one Black and one White, in the aftermath of the disaster that was Hurricane Katrina, was one of the highlights of his time in Pascagoula. On 29th September 2019, a special mass was celebrated at St. Peter the Apostle (African-American) Catholic Church where Fr. Mike was especially thanked for the support he provided to that parish community over the span of the couple of years following Katrina, over a decade previously. The new church building at St. Peter's had just been completed, fourteen years on from Katrina. This interview was recorded on 3rd November, 2019 at Fr. Mike's house in Pascagoula, a stone's throw from Sacred Heart Catholic Church, from where he retired as pastor in 2019. Fr. Mike died in February 2020 following a short illness. May he rest in peace.