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Diocese of Lake Charles
LAKE CHARLES — Deacon Michael Beverung is surprised at how comfortable he is giving homilies. He knew it would be something he was going to have to get used to doing, but now says it has been one of his favorite things to do during his final year of seminary studies.
Beverung will be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lake Charles at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 22, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop, will be the ordaining prelate with Rev. Sam Bond serving as Master of Ceremonies.
“Giving homilies was something I was very nervous about, but I soon discovered that I love preaching!” Beverung said. “Once I began giving homilies after being ordained (a transitional deacon), it became second nature to me. I still get nervous from time to time but overall is something that I really enjoy.”
A parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, Michael is the 26-year-old son of Steven and Patsy (Gauthier) Beverung of Lake Charles and the only brother to his older twin sisters, Jennifer Heape and Jessica Duhon. He is a graduate of St. Louis Catholic High School and received his early education at OLQH School. He attended St. Joseph Seminary College and completed his theological studies at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans with a Master of Divinity degree.
Since first entering the seminary in 2013, Deacon Beverung has always longed to serve in a church parish. With each summer assignment, he fell in love with the ministry over and over again. This was especially evident during his diaconate internship last year at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Kinder amid COVID-19 restrictions and catastrophic storms.
“With the pandemic and back-to-back hurricanes, it was a trying time for many people,” Beverung recalled. “This made parish life look different than it usually is during any other time. It made me realize how much people need a priest to bring them the Sacraments when they are most in need. When I am in a parish setting, I am constantly reminded why the Lord has called me to this vocation in the first place.”
Deacon Beverung said his internship was particularly fulfilling because of extra responsibilities.
“Being able to have a more active role in ministry than in prior summer assignments provided more challenges,” he said, “and these challenges were good for me to grow into the priest that God is calling me to be.”
Beverung said celebrating the Sacraments, especially the Mass, is what he looks forward to most about being a priest. He describes a time in the seminary when he was greatly encouraged on his vocation journey.
“One of the moments I strongly felt consolation in my discernment was during the summer one year at CLI (a leadership camp hosted by the Office of Youth Ministry). We were supposed to celebrate Mass, but the priest did not show up,” said Beverung. “I could see the disappointment on everyone’s face when I had to tell them that we were not able to have Mass that day. It was in that moment that I desperately wanted to be a priest so that I could bring the Sacraments to those who yearned for them so much.”
Even though Beverung began hearing God call him to the priesthood at an early age, he said he did not start listening to the call until he entered high school.
“God’s calling became evident to me once I started deepening my faith. I remember spending many hours in the Adoration chapel at Our Lady Queen of Heaven during high school,” said Beverung. “That is where I felt God’s call the most.”
His advice to someone beginning to discern the priesthood: “Stay close to Jesus in the Sacraments. Do not be afraid of how God is working in your life. Talk to your pastor and the vocation director. Go to the seminary. One can only fully discern the priesthood in the context of the seminary.”
Several books that proved helpful during Beverung’s discernment process include Priests for the Third Millennium by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, To Save a Thousand Souls by Father Brett Brannan, and Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.
When asked how he can be a vessel to keep the Light of Christ shining for younger Catholics in the Diocese of Lake Charles, Beverung said, “Since I heard God calling me to be a priest at a young age, it can help other young people see how God can work just as much, if not more, in their lives.”
Before the conclusion of the Liturgy of Holy Orders, the first priestly assignment for Beverung will be announced.
