Sister Lelia O'Sullivan, PBVM - Retired, volunteers as Eucharistic Minister and visitor to local hospitals, nursing homes, and parishioner's homes. She works with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Parish Music Ministry at St. John Church. Sister Lelia is also the Coordinator of the Associates.

Sister Teresa Baugh, PBVM is the Pastoral Associate at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church

Sister Consilio Buckley, PBVM is the Vocation Director for the United States Province. She is involved in Spiritual Direction and Retreat work. Sister Consilio works with the team that interviews candidates for the Priesthood.

Sister Mary Kealy, PBVM is the Pastoral Associate at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Gulfport.

Sister Katherine Fennell, PBVM is a member of the Provincial Council and the Provincial Bursar. She is on the Board of Director for Mercy Housing, and works with San Miguel School, Los Angeles, CA, on finances and budgeting.

The beams of Nano's lantern first shone on the people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in August 1961. Presentation Sisters from Co. Wexford and Co. Youghal (Ireland) arrived to staff St. John Elementary School in Gulfport and Our Lady of Fatima School, Biloxi. Our Sisters have ministered tirelessly and lovingly in varied ministries and in several places over the past 45 years.

Mississippi continues to be either the last or second to last in every national ranking of wealth or first or second in areas of poverty.

The racial - ethnic composition of the area is Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American. Many Vietnamese people have settled in this area because of the great fishing opportunities that are available in the area waters. Another major group of immigrants to the area are Hispanic people.

The Catholic population of the Mississippi Coast is about 9% of the total population.

The predominant industries on the Coast are military related activities, tourism, ship-building and fishing. Over the past ten years the tourism industry has experienced much growth due to the introduction of legalized gaming. Most of the people with whom we work are middle to lower-middle class with many on the poverty line and even below it. Homelessness has become an issue of grave concern for us, as has the increase in poverty and drug abuse, the break-down and abuse in family, and gambling addictions. Every day, our Sisters encounter and minister to those made poor.

Poverty in our area has jumped drastically with the terrible devastation of Hurricane Katrina last year. We have a whole new group of materially poor among us. When one sees over 40% of the homes in our area completely destroyed, about 25% with major damage and miles upon miles of work places gone, one can grasp a tiny glimpse of the suffering the people of our area are enduring. Our hope and prayer is that with the help of God we will be a beacon of light and a ray of hope for them at this time and as they try to put their lives together again. Hopefully, by being a supportive, prayerful presence, by actively pursuing fairness and justice for the most vulnerable among them, and by guiding people to where help is available, we can offer some solace in this time of darkness. May Nano's lantern continue to shine.

In the future, we see ourselves continuing to serve as we are... by being a supportive, prayerful presence; by actively pursuing fairness and justice for people; by compassionate listening and guiding people to where help is available. This is particularly true since Hurricane Katrina.