Hope After Tragedy
Miles for Mercy: A Marathon Run.
Photo by Pietro Rampazzo on Unsplash
On December 14th, I will run my very first full marathon in Gulfport, Mississippi. But this isn’t just about crossing a finish line. I’m running for something far deeper—for souls, for healing, and for hope.
This run is part of a mission close to my heart: to bring the Church’s message of mercy, compassion, and eternal hope to those affected by suicide and mental illness.
Why I’m Running: In today’s world, suicide and mental illness touch far too many lives—including my own family’s. I recently discovered that my great-grandfather took his life. That loss—and the silence surrounding it—ignited a desire in me to break that silence with something louder: the message of Divine Mercy.
Four years ago, on April 27, I started a small simple ministry that sends care packages to families and friends that have experinced the pains of losing a loved one to suicide so that they can understand, feel, and share the power of God's mercy and hope for their departed loved ones and themselves.
This ministry is in the honor of Marc Massery who worked with the Marian Fathers and lost his life to suicide so we called it Marc With Hope,
I’m working to share the truth that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy. There is hope after suicide. God never abandons His children, not even in their darkest hour.
The Church’s Catechism affirms this truth (CCC 2283), and it’s time more people heard it.
We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. the Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.
These Care Packages are faith-filled resources for families grieving a suicide, for parishes unsure of how to respond, and for ministry leaders seeking trusted, Church-based tools.
These packages are small acts of evangelization—bringing light into places often shadowed by pain and silence.
How You Can Help
I’m asking for your help: sponsor a care package—or a few—and help me reach others with the message of mercy. Here’s the twist: You only pay if I finish the marathon. It’s a small way to walk (or run!) in faith with me.
Each package can be dedicated in your name, or in memory of someone you’ve lost. Want to donate right away? That option’s available, too.
Running with Prayer and Intention
As I run this marathon, I’ll be carrying more than energy gels and water bottles. I’ll be carrying names—souls lost to suicide, and those who grieve them.
Each mile will be a prayer, each step an offering.
If you’d like me to include the name of a loved one in my race-day intentions, you can submit it privately. I’ll hold them close in prayer throughout the journey.
A Call to Mercy
This campaign is about more than fundraising. It’s about changing hearts, breaking silence, and sharing the message that hope is real, that mercy is waiting, and that God has not forgotten you. Let’s bring this message to families, parishes, and communities who need it most. -- Help us share the messagae of mercy and hope: Marc with Hope
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If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. Resources like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988 in the U.S.) are available 24/7. You are not alone, and there is hope.
About the Author
"Marc with Hope" is a compassionate initiative dedicated to bringing light and comfort to those affected by the tragedy of suicide. This ministry shares the profound message of God's mercy and offers resources for healing.
Through thoughtfully curated care packages, we aim to support individuals and families grieving the loss of loved ones, reminding them that hope and healing are possible. Each care package includes spiritual tools and materials to inspire faith, offer comfort, and foster a deeper connection to God’s boundless mercy. Join us in spreading hope and healing to those who need it most at MarcwithHope.com
About the Founder
Maria Cecilia Escobedo is a devoted wife, homeschooling mother of ten children—five on earth and five saints in heaven—living in the heart of South Mississippi with her beloved husband and their faithful corgi. She serves as the Adult Formation Director at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church, where she accompanies others in deepening their faith journey.
Maria is passionate about living life with purpose and perseverance. Whether it's running marathons or nurturing her family, she embraces every challenge as an opportunity to grow in grace and strength.
The Marc with Hope ministry was born from a place of deep sorrow and deeper faith. After the tragic loss of Marc Massery, a passionate promoter of the Divine Mercy message through the Marian Fathers, Maria felt called to take action. She recognized the urgent need to break the stigma surrounding suicide and offer hope and healing to grieving families. Her mission is to remind the world that even in the darkest of moments, God’s mercy is infinite.
Maria’s greatest devotion is to the message of Divine Mercy. She believes that while mercy is available to all, few truly beg for it—and that is where healing begins. Through this ministry, she hopes to encourage prayer for those who have died by suicide and to extend God's unfathomable mercy to every hurting heart.
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