Fr. Martin Ruane

(December 20, 1938 - May 15, 2015)

Fr. Martin Matthew Ruane, 76, passed away May 15, 2015, at St. Dominic Hospital after a short battle with cancer. He was born in Menlough, Co. Galway, Ireland, on December 20, 1938, son of the late Martin and Margaret Ruane of Garbally House.

He was the second of seven siblings raised on a small dairy farm. Fr. Ruane attended the local school after which he went on to St. Jarlath’s Minor Seminary in Tuam. From there, he moved to the Major Seminary, St. Patrick’s College, Carlow, where he completed his philosophy and theological studies.

Fr. Ruane was ordained on June 8, 1963, at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Carlow, for the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson. He arrived in the diocese on September 4, 1963, and shortly thereafter took up his first assignment at Our Lady of Victories in Pascagoula. From there, he moved to St. Patrick in Meridian. In 1970, he was appointed the pastor of All Saints in Belzoni, where he served for ten years. Next, he pastored at Holy Savior in Clinton where he was best noted for leading the people in building their new sanctuary.

After spending two years at Annunciation in Columbus, Fr. Ruane moved to St. Jude in Pearl, where he served for twelve years, his longest tenure. He spent one year at St. John, Crystal Springs and St. Martin, Hazlehurst, before finally settling in at St. Peter, Grenada and its mission, St. John, Charleston.

In all, Fr. Ruane had 52 years of dedicated service, and each assignment brought him great joy in his ministry. He had an uncanny ability to touch the lives of many people because of his enthusiasm, energy and great love of the Catholic Faith.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Fr. Tommy and Paddy. He is survived by his brothers, John, Michael, and Larry (Maire), and his sister Annie “Sister Anthony.”

Visitation will be held at St. Jude Catholic Church, 399 Barrow St, Pearl, on Tuesday, May 19, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a Memorial Service at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, May 20, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Jude. Interment will take place immediately following at St. Joseph Cemetery in Gluckstadt.

Fr. Ruane will be greatly missed by a large number of people. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Priests’ Retirement Fund of the Diocese of Jackson and Biloxi c/o PO Box 2248, Jackson MS 39225-2248.