Sister Mary McGuinness, MSC

Nearly ninety-one years to the date on November 14, 1926 the Lord gifted Francis McGuinness and Loretta Wolfe McGuinness with a daughter, Mary. Mary and her siblings—one brother and five sisters—grew up in a loving and faith-filled family in Brooklyn, New York.

Sr. Mary (AKA Sr. Mary Perpetua) entered the Marianites of Holy Cross on August 31, 1941 and pronounced perpetual vows August 11, 1948. She received a Master’s Degree in Education from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, Texas. She served in various positions in education in Catholic schools in Plaquemine, New Orleans, and Opelousas.  During a part of this time, she was a member of the Marianite formation team. After twenty years in education, she was the supervisor of maintenance and personnel at Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans. Later she ministered at Our Lady of Princeton Marianite Provincial House in New Jersey in community service. Following her time in New Jersey, she returned to Our Lady of Holy Cross College as a member of the library staff. Before moving to Opelousas, she was an assistant in the Congregational finance office in New Orleans. To each of her ministries, she brought a keen attention to details and a generous and steadfast commitment to the fulfillment of the many and various responsibilities entrusted to her care.

All who entered her life circle experienced a faith-filled woman of prayer whose fidelity manifested itself in kindness, gentleness, and compassion. She was eager to listen and generous in responding in whatever way she could. Her attention to others was evident, not so much in words, but primarily in her actions. Throughout her life, she lived in a spirit of gratitude always acknowledging even the smallest assistance rendered to her.

Sr. Mary knew that she was a beloved daughter of our loving God and as such, her final act of faithfulness was in response to the invitation, “Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one, and come!” Sr. Mary died at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Nursing Home in Opelousas, Louisiana at 4:30 PM on November, 12, 2017.

To celebrate her life, a wake service and Mass of the Resurrection was held on Thursday, November 16, 2017 in the chapel at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Nursing Home. Sr. Mary was laid to rest in the St. Landry Cemetery in Opelousas, Louisiana.