Sister Maura Feeley called to eternal rest

We pray for the eternal rest of Sister Maura Feeley, beloved Sister of Mercy and pioneering ministry leader in the Diocese of San Bernardino from its earliest beginnings. Sr. Maura was called home to God on May 17 at Mercy House in Roscommon, Ireland. She was 91 years old. Sr. Maura came to Inland Southern California in 1959, the year she made her final profession of vows. For the next 20 years she served in Catholic school and faith formation ministries at Blessed Sacrament parish in 29 Palms, Our Lady of the Assumption parish in San Bernardino and St. James parish in Perris. When the diocese was formed in 1978, Sr. Maura was called into important leadership roles by Bishop Phillip Straling, serving as Vicar for Religious Women and leading a new commission formed to address women’s issues. In 1986 she was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese, the first woman ever to hold the position in the diocese. She led St. Adelaide parish in Highland as its Pastoral Coordinator from 2002-2009. Her final years of active ministry were spent volunteering at Mary’s Mercy Center in San Bernardino and serving in leadership roles in her community. For her exceptional and long-standing service to the Universal Church, Sr. Maura received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award in 2009. She retired to Roscommon, Ireland in 2022 after 63 years of ministry in our diocese. Let us give thanks to God for the groundbreaking and steadfast ministry of Sr. Maura. ‘Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.’