Age 94
Sister Mary Faith McKean, RSM, was an accomplished teacher, linguist, administrator, and mentor whose influence touched generations of students, colleagues, and friends.
Born in Washington, D.C., as part of a Marine Corps family, she moved frequently throughout her childhood, developing an adaptability and appreciation for people and cultures that would enrich her life and ministry.
Her love of languages inspired a distinguished academic career. She earned bachelor degrees in French and Spanish from Mount Saint Agnes College in Baltimore, Maryland, followed by a master’s degree in romantic languages from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a doctorate in languages from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In addition to French and Spanish, she enjoyed studying German, Russian, and Gaelic, reflecting her lifelong intellectual curiosity and appreciation for learning. She also held a master’s degree in health administration from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
At the age of 23, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Baltimore, Maryland, beginning a religious vocation that would span more than seven decades. Sister Mary Faith served on the faculties of Mount de Sales Academy and Pacelli High School in Georgia; Mount Saint Agnes College in Maryland; Virginia Union University in Virginia; and Alabama Lutheran Academy and Junior College in Selma, Alabama. She was widely respected as a gifted educator whose concern for the well-being and success of her students was always at the forefront of her work.
Her leadership gifts led to increasingly significant responsibilities within both the Sisters of Mercy and the Catholic Church. She served as provincial administrator for the Province of Baltimore and, in 1982, was named chief executive officer of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. During her ten years as chief executive officer, she guided the institution with wisdom, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to excellence in health care.
In 1993, she was appointed chancellor of the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia, a position she held for nine years. She leaves a legacy of faith, joy, friendship, generosity, humility, and service. She will be remembered not only for her many accomplishments, but also for her kindness, her personal interest in others, her love of learning, and her unwavering commitment to the dignity and well-being of every person she encountered.
After a life dedicated to prayer and ministry, Sister Mary Faith retired to Mercy Convent in Savannah, Georgia, where she continued to live the values of Mercy that had shaped her entire life.