Mark Beard (Pastor)
Mark Beard | |
|---|---|
| File:Fr. Mark Beard (Portrait).jpg Beard in 2009 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Diocese of Baton Rouge |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 30, 2009 by Robert William Muench |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Mark Bryan Beard |
| Born | 1961 Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Died | (aged 62) Osyka, Mississippi |
| Buried | Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, Louisiana |
| Education | |
Mark Bryan Beard[1] (born 1961) was an American Catholic priest praised for his bold and direct preaching style.[2] He served as the pastor for the St. Helena's Catholic Church in Amite, Louisiana for twelve years.
Early life and education
Mark Bryan Beard was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Harold Beard and Florence (née Mariotti) Beard.[1] Beard had one brother named Gary who later become a Louisiana State Representative and filmmaker. Beard would later attend Louisiana State University where he received a Master's of Business Administration.
While working for his father's wastewater equipment manufacturing company, Beard Engineering and United Industries, Beard received a patent as the inventor of a turbulence control system.[1]
Priesthood
In 2000, Beard took a trip to Medjugorje. This trip has been accredited for "[sparking] thoughts of priesthood."[3] After four years of discernment, Beard entered Notre Dame Seminary.[1] Beard was ordained on May 30, 2009 by Robert William Muench of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.[1]
Beard served as an associate pastor for the Most Sacred Heart in Gramercy, St. Joseph in Paulina, St. Michael the Archangel in Convent, and Our Lady of Prompt Succor Chapel in Lutcher for two years.[1]
In 2011, Beard was named as the pastor for St. Helena's Catholic Church in Amite, Louisiana where he would serve for twelve years, until his death in 2023.[4]
Death and burial
At approximately 1:24 pm on August 2, 2023, Father Mark Beard's vehicle deviated off of Interstate 55 and struck a concrete culvert near Osyka, Mississippi. Corporal Craig James of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol told media sources that Beard was pronounced dead at the scene.[5]
Father Mark Beard's death was announced by Bishop Michael Duca on the diocese's website. Beard was buried at the Amite Memorial Gardens in Amite, Louisiana following both a public and parishioners' visitation held days earlier.[4][6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Fr. Mark Beard Obituary (1961-2023) - Amite, LA - The Advocate". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
- ↑ Meek, Richard (2023-08-10). "'He Loved and Served the Lord': Louisiana Priest Father Mark Beard Remembered". NCR. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
- ↑ "The Life and Legacy of Father Mark Bryan Beard". Catholic Share. 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "History". sth-mdc.org. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
- ↑ "Beloved Louisiana priest killed in car accident". Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
- ↑ "Fr. Mark Beard Obituary Aug 2, 2023". McKneely Funeral Home. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
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