About Villa Marie Center

  Villa Marie Center is located on 29 acres of pristine deep water    acreage on Isle of Hope; available for spiritual development, breathtaking inner views of one’s self, family and parish recreation and celebrations as well as, summer camps for children.

In 1935 newly ordained Catholic Bishop P.O’Hara purchased this piece of terra firma for use as an overnight camp for parish children and eventually for all Georgians. For close to sixty years this beautiful spot hosted the overnight camp, various religious groups, Girl Scout meetings, college sorority reunions, company picnics and even the locally-renowned “Miss Lillian’s Dance School” for young ballerinas. Bishop O’Hara, a native of Ireland who would later be ordained an Archbishop, envisioned a spiritual place where “landlocked” Catholic children from across the state could congregate on the coast and make new friends. During the Depression era there were far fewer Catholic families in Georgia, and the Diocese covered the entire state. Thus Camp Villa Marie allowed “far flung families” to come together and realize there were other people who shared their beliefs.

In 1959 the Diocese started a “minor seminary” on the grounds, naming it “St. John Vianney” after the patron saint of priests. High school-aged young men who expressed interest in joining the priesthood attended rigorous preparatory courses and lived onsite. The seminary graduated its last student in 1968. A multitude of people enjoyed use of the grounds over the preceding decades. Royce Learning Center rented space in one of the old buildings starting in 1991. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee held annual meetings on the premises, and the local knights of Columbus chapters hosted cookouts for its members. The diocese also welcomed many religious groups who enjoyed activities on the property. This tradition will continue with the opening of the new center.