Catholic Priest, Louie Lohan, Retires After 44 Yrs on Coast

Long time Catholic priest, Louie Lohan, is retiring this weekend. Father Louie has been serving the Gulf Coast for almost 44 years and Thursday night, the public got a chance to say goodbye.

Political leaders honored him with resolutions and even declared a Father Louie Day in Pass Christian and Long Beach. Many who spoke at the event Thursday night told stories of Father Louie’s role as spiritual leader to all after Hurricane Katrina. Lohan was instrumental in rebuilding St. Thomas the Apostle Church and helping Long Beach get back on its feet after the storm.

Lohan says, “It has been an incredible, fabulous experience of love, faith, hope, fun, ministry, and we did all of that in God’s name. Jesus came and said, ‘I came that your joy may be full.’ And my life has been great and I appreciate every single one of you.”

Father Louie will celebrate his last mass this Sunday, January 17th, at St. Thomas. He tells News 25 he is looking forward to returning to his home in Ireland where he will be relaxing and spending time with family.