About Our Lady of Victories · Pascagoula, Mississippi
Our Lady of Victories is a Roman Catholic parish in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and one of the oldest parishes on the Gulf Coast, established in 1855 under the leadership of Fr. Julian M. Guillou, the first pastor. Located at 503 Convent Avenue in the Diocese of Biloxi, the parish is currently served by Very Reverend Adam Urbaniak, V.G. (Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia of the diocese), with Fr. Peter Varghese, C.M.I. as parochial vicar, and Fr. Adam Frey also assigned to the parish. Our Lady of Victories describes itself as an evangelizing community called to build one another up in love, with open doors and a special care for those who are sick or in need. The parish offers a full weekly Mass schedule (including Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, and weekday Masses), a regular confession schedule, a CCD religious education program for public-school students, and sacramental preparation through its sacramental life office.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- Our Lady of Victories (Mary, under the title of Victory)
- Rector
- Very Reverend Adam Urbaniak, V.G.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Biloxi
Why belong here
Our Lady of Victories offers a complete schedule of Masses, with Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM, two Sunday Masses (8:30 AM and 11:00 AM), and a daily 8:00 AM Mass Monday through Friday, plus a 9:00 AM Saturday morning Mass, with confessions available before each Sunday Mass and on Saturday afternoon. The parish runs a CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) faith-formation program coordinated by Donna Harper, giving public-school children catechetical instruction and sacramental preparation. Care for the sick and those in need is a hallmark of the community, and parishioners regularly gather for fellowship, prayer, and worship at the historic Convent Avenue location. Anyone seeking a long-standing Gulf Coast Catholic community rooted in service, evangelization, and Marian devotion will find a welcoming home at Our Lady of Victories.
Mass times at Our Lady of Victories
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM (before 8:30 AM Mass)
- Sunday: 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM (before 11:00 AM Mass)
- By appointment
History of Our Lady of Victories
Our Lady of Victories was established in 1855 with Fr. Julian M. Guillou as the first resident pastor of Pascagoula. For decades before then, Pascagoula Catholics had only been served by visiting priests from Mobile, New Orleans, and Biloxi, and had Mass only at Easter. After Fr. Guillou's short stay, Fr. F. Pont was appointed in 1858 and built a small chapel on property donated by Mr. Baptiste. Through a succession of pastors that included Father Constantine Vandemore, the Jesuit Father Benausse (sent from Spring Hill College), Fr. L. Bissey, and finally Fr. Charles Van Queckelberge (who took charge on August 1, 1869), the parish grew steadily. By Christmas 1871 a new chapel had been built and was already in use, and on July 13, 1872 Fr. Van Queckelberge informed the bishop that the new chapel had been given the name Our Lady of Victories — the name the parish still bears today.
- 1855 – Parish established under Fr. Julian M. Guillou
- 1843–1846 – Attended from Mobile and New Orleans
- 1847–1854 – Fr. S. Guinand of Biloxi made regular visits
- 1858 – Fr. F. Pont appointed; chapel built on Baptiste property
- 1868 – Fr. L. Bissey assigned from Bayou La Batre
- 1869 – Fr. Charles Van Queckelberge succeeds Bissey (Aug. 1, 1869)
- Christmas 1871 – New chapel in use
- July 13, 1872 – Chapel named 'Our Lady of Victories'
Welcome from the Parish
Our Lady of Victories describes itself as one of the oldest parishes on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, now grown into a 'wonderful community of faith.' The parish calls itself an evangelizing parish that strives to build one another up in love, a 'home with open doors' where people know and care for each other, especially those who are sick or in need. The parish invites visitors to explore its website and to join in worship and fellowship, presenting itself as 'a family among families' open to bearing witness to faith, hope, and love in today's world.
- Identified as an evangelizing parish
- Emphasis on care for the sick and those in need
- Open to all who seek worship and fellowship
Clergy and Parish Leadership
The parish is currently led by Very Reverend Adam Urbaniak, V.G., who serves not only as Pastor of Our Lady of Victories but also as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia of the Diocese of Biloxi. Assisting him as parochial vicar is Reverend Peter Varghese, C.M.I., and Reverend Adam Frey is also assigned to the parish (per the Diocese of Biloxi clergy listing). Fr. Urbaniak is the principal point of contact for all sacramental requests at the parish office.
- Very Reverend Adam Urbaniak, V.G. – Pastor; Vicar General, Diocese of Biloxi
- Reverend Peter Varghese, C.M.I. – Parochial Vicar
- Reverend Adam Frey – assigned to Our Lady of Victories
- Parish office phone: 228-762-1653
Sacramental Life of the Church
The parish website's Sacramental Life page states that anyone wishing to receive any of the Sacraments of the Church should contact the pastor, Fr. Adam Urbaniak, at the parish office number 228-762-1653. Sacraments available include Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony, with the parish office coordinating preparation and reception for each.
- Baptism – contact Fr. Adam Urbaniak
- Confirmation – contact Fr. Adam Urbaniak
- Eucharist – celebrated at every Mass listed in the schedule
- Penance – Saturday and Sunday listed times, plus by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick – contact Fr. Adam Urbaniak
- Holy Orders – encouraged through parish office
- Matrimony – contact Fr. Adam Urbaniak
CCD – Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
Students of Our Lady of Victories who attend public school receive their Faith Formation through the parish CCD program, which combines classroom study with preparation for the reception of the sacraments. The program's goal is to enable and encourage students to learn more about their faith, and its catechists strive, in fidelity to the Catholic faith, to instill in the students a love for God, others, and self through catechetical instruction and the sacramental life of the Church. The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine itself was an association established in Rome in 1562 to provide religious education; today the term 'CCD' refers to a Catholic religious education program normally designed for children.
- Coordinator: Donna Harper (228-762-1653)
- Program for parish children attending public school
- Includes sacramental preparation (e.g., First Communion)
- Goal: catechetical instruction and growth in love of God and neighbor
- Rooted in the historic Roman Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (founded 1562)
Catholic Schools Connection – Resurrection Catholic School
Our Lady of Victories is one of the parishes connected to Resurrection Catholic School (RCS) in Pascagoula. The pastor of Our Lady of Victories, Very Reverend Adam Urbaniak, serves on the RCS Advisory Board, which is composed of one member from each supporting parish (including Holy Spirit, Sacred Heart, St. Peter the Apostle, St. Mary, St. Joseph the Worker, and Our Lady of Victories). The advisory board works with the principals to develop procedures, recommend purposes, plan and approve the yearly financial budget, review the school calendar, and recommend changes to handbooks, all in accordance with the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi's Handbook of Catholic School Policies.
- Pastor sits on Resurrection Catholic School Advisory Board
- RCS draws students from multiple Pascagoula-area parishes
- Deacon Robert Illanne — KAIROS prison ministry and founder of Shepherds of Mary, supporting Holy Family Catholic School in Hopkins, Belize — also serves on the board
Visit, Contact, and Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office in person, by mail, or by phone. The parish office is located at 503 Convent Avenue, Pascagoula, MS 39567, and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The office phone number is 228-762-1653. The parish also invites visitors to follow its Facebook page for updates, and offers an online registration form for new parishioners.
- Address: 503 Convent Avenue, Pascagoula, MS 39567
- Phone: 228-762-1653
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Online: olvpascagoula.com
- Social: Facebook (linked from the website)
Diocese of Biloxi
Our Lady of Victories is a parish of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, which covers the southern part of Mississippi along the Gulf Coast. The Most Reverend Louis F. Kihneman, III currently serves as Bishop of Biloxi. The parish's pastor, Very Reverend Adam Urbaniak, also serves the diocese as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, working out of the diocesan offices on Popps Ferry Road in Biloxi.
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Biloxi
- Bishop: Most Reverend Louis F. Kihneman, III
- Vicar General: Very Reverend Adam Urbaniak (also pastor of OLV)
- Diocesan offices: 1790 Popps Ferry Rd, Biloxi, MS 39532
- Diocesan phone: 228-702-2111
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Julian M. Guillou1855
First resident pastor of the Pascagoula flock; established the parish in 1855 but did not stay long.
- Fr. F. Pont1858
Appointed pastor in 1858; built a small chapel on property donated by Mr. Baptiste; later transferred to Jackson.
- Fr. Constantine Vandemorec. 1859
Took charge after Fr. Pont's transfer; longest early tenure referenced in parish records.
- Fr. Benausse (Jesuit)c. 1859–1867
Sent from Spring Hill College in Mobile for Easter and Pentecost ministry during the vacancy.
- Fr. L. Bissey1868
Assigned from Bayou La Batre in January 1868; began plans to enlarge the church, recalled after a few months.
- Fr. Charles Van Queckelberge1869–
Succeeded Bissey on August 1, 1869; reported the new chapel in use by Christmas 1871 and named it Our Lady of Victories.