Rev. Msgr. Martin Francis Farrell

Rev. Msgr. Martin Francis Farrell, Biloxi, MS, passed away peacefully on August 12, 2017. Martin Francis Farrell was born in Co. Mayo, Ireland on September 23, 1930 and studied for the Priesthood in St. Patrick College, Carlow. He was ordained to the Priesthood on June 5, 1955 for the Diocese of Natchez, in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow, Ireland. As a Priest he served in the following parishes as Associate: St. Richard-Jackson, St. Paul-Vicksburg, St. Mary Cathedral-Natchez and as Pastor at Assumption- Natchez, Sacred Heart-D’Iberville, Our Lady of the Gulf-Bay St. Louis and his final assignment as Pastor was to Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Biloxi until his retirement on December 31, 2000. As well as these parishes, he also served as Dean of the West Coast Deanery, Diocesan Building and Real Estate Committee and on other diocesan boards and councils. Fr. Farrell was elevated to Monsignor on July 9, 1989. Since his retirement he has resided at Our Lady of Fatima and assisted there as long as his health permitted. Msgr. Farrell was predeceased by his parents John & Margaret Roche Farrell of Westport, Ireland, His sisters Anne and Theresa Farrell of Galway, Ireland and Kathleen McLoughlin of London, England. He is survived by his brother Patrick ‘Paddy’ Farrell of Lecanvey, Ireland, his nieces Margaret Bentaleb, Catherine Hunt and Mary Bennebri and their families, of London, England, and numerous cousins around the world. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 17 from 6 to 8 pm in Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2090 Pass Road, Biloxi, with a Vigil Prayer Service at 7 pm. Visitation will resume Friday, August 18 from 10 to 11 am in Our Lady of Fatima Church, followed by Mass of the Resurrection at 11 am. Burial will immediately follow the mass at the Biloxi City Cemetery at the priests’ plots on Caldwell Avenue. In lieu of flowers, Msgr. Farrell requested that donations be made to any of the following charities: Fatima St. Vincent de Paul Society, P.O. Box 4098, Biloxi, MS 39535; Catholic Extension Society, 150 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606 or; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.