Fr. Pat O'Shaughnessy

Fr. Patrick “Pat” O’Shaughnessy, age 80, of Hattiesburg, and a former resident of Long Beach, passed away peacefully on April 19, 2024.

Father Pat was born on February 11, 1944 in Limerick, Ireland. He was a naturally gifted athlete. In his youth he played rugby. He then went on to compete in many marathons and his greatest achievement was completing an IronMan Triathlon in Hawaii on October 14, 1989, with a time of 12 hours, 53 minutes and 11 seconds. He loved all sports but had a deep passion for golf.  He got a hole in one in Ballybunion. 

Father Pat ministered in many different areas across Mississippi. Since his retirement, he was glad to be a part of Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Long Beach. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Margaret O’Shaughnessy; his brother, Jim O’Shaughnessy; his sister-in-law, Emma O’Shaughnessy; and an infant sister.

He is survived by numerous cousins in Ireland.

He will be mourned by Bishop Kihneman, all the Priests in Mississippi, many other Priests, and his previous parishioners who will miss him dearly and many other friends both in the United States and Ireland. 

Fr. Pat was a native of Limerick, Ireland and completed his ecclesiastical studies at St. Patrick’s College, Thurles, County Tipperary.   He was ordained to priestly ministry on June 8, 1968 at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Thurles and arrived in the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson on August 27, 1968.

His first assignment was as an associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Pascagoula, associate pastor of St. Michael Parish, Vicksburg, and St. John Parish in Oxford while he was continuing his graduate studies at the University of Mississippi, and then he was assigned to St. Alphonsus Parish in Ocean Springs. 

He served as pastor of St. Michael Parish, Biloxi, Sacred Heart Parish, Hattiesburg, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hattiesburg, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Lumberton and St. Joseph Mission, Poplarville, and he retired to St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Long Beach in 2009.  

Fr. Pat was a gifted homilist that could get his point across in just a few words.   His love for the outdoors was evident with his love of golf and bicycling.  Fr. Pat also had a gift with children and caring for those with needs.  He worked with the St. Vincent de Paul Society offering spiritual guidance to those in need.  His impact on the Diocese of Biloxi will be remembered and celebrated for many years to come. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am Monday, April 29, 2024, at St. Fabian Catholic Church, 9 Saint Fabian, Hattiesburg, MS 39402 where visitation will be from 10 am - 11 am in the church.
 
There will be a visitation at Fr. Pat's home, 104 Buena Vista Drive, Long Beach, MS 39560, from 5 - 9 pm on Monday, April 29, 2024.

A visitation will be on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, from 11:00 – 12:30 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 720 East Beach Blvd, Long Beach, MS 39560.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:30 pm in the church.  Interment will be held in Loughill Graveyard, Newcastle, County Limerick, Ireland.  The mass will be live streamed at www.saintthomaslb.org or by clicking the link 2024.04.30 Mass of Christian Burial Celebrating the life of Fr. Pat O'Shaughnessy - YouTube

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the St. Vincent de Paul Society c/o St. Thomas the Apostle catholic Church.  

The Riemann Family Funeral Home, Long Beach, is handling the local arrangements and online condolences may be offered at www.riemannfamily.com.   Moore Funeral Home in Hattiesburg is handling the arrangements for services in Hattiesburg.