It took me a total of four years of seminary to accept the call and the gift, but when I did, I felt a great peace enter my soul, a peace like I’d only felt in one place before: Medjugorje. On May 30, 2009, I was ordained in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and today I am a happy priest. I absolutely love what I do, and I tell people so all the time. Was I called earlier in life? Yep, the phone was probably ringin’, but I was so caught up in the world that I not only didn’t answer it, I couldn’t even hear it. The Good Lord had to send me to his mother through Medjugorje to get my attention, and then to seminary, to Creighton, to Msgr. Esseff, and to the picture, which hangs on my wall as my special relic to this day. I may be late in gettin’ here, but I’m here nonetheless. To be a priest for Holy Mother Church is what I was made to do, and I couldn’t imagine doin’ anything else.

- Excerpt from Fr. Mark Beard’s Biography “Caught in My Own Trap”

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Phone: 601-202-3137

For Campus info, please email grounds@ourladyofhopems.com For Retreat booking, please email us at retreats@ourladyofhopems.com
Physical Address: 3167 Old Highway 51 S. Osyka, MS 39657
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 130 Osyka, MS 39657

Our ‘Hope’, if you will, is to build & design a Shrine to Our Lady with the simple goal of educating our families in the Teachings & Traditions of Holy Mother Church. The grounds, with numerous gardens, are directed to the Understandings & Wisdom of our Catholic Faith. The Shrine will also offer opportunities to stay the night(s) for contemplative discernments, Catholic retreats or simply, to be still and pray.