In our constitution it is written: “The Founders of the Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary, are the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” This is our whole-hearted belief. This Order is a gift from Them, and it is only because They have wanted it and They have arranged, and guided, and protected everything, that it exists today.

One of the special principles of The Order is that we never seek glory for ourselves but always direct all praise to God. So when anyone asks us, “Who founded the Order?” we always point to our true Founders, The Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Some people are content with that, others say, “Yes, but who is the human founder?” Then we explain the story.

In 1995, a woman named Elizabeth Hague, was inspired by The Hearts of Jesus and Mary to begin a new religious community dedicated to The Two Hearts. She began this mission by starting a prayer group with a few other women where she was living in Nevada. These women came together daily at one of their homes, responding to the urgent call of Our Lord and Our Lady for prayer in these challenging times. Together they prayed the Rosary, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Litany of the Blessed Mother, and seven Our father’s, Hail Mary’s, and Glory Be’s; they each signed up for adoration in their parish; and they ministered as volunteers in various organizations that reach out to the sick and dying, the poor, the needy, and the helpless. They offered all this, and all their prayers, works, joys, and sufferings for all of the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as well as for a specific intention for each day of the week. They were living the very charism of the Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary in seed form.

About a year later, Elizabeth had to move to Oregon. There she met a Benedictine Monk, Father Benedict Suing. She told Father Benedict about this mission of The Two Hearts. Soon, he too, became enthusiastic about what was then just a seed for the foundation of a religious community. Shortly thereafter, Elizabeth and Father Benedict came into contact by phone, with a professor of Theology and Mariology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. They told the professor about their desire to start a new religious community dedicated to The Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The professor was very enthusiastic about this idea, so he came out to Oregon to meet with Fr. Benedict and Elizabeth. It was clear to all that there was a special plan, and so the discussion of establishing a community of internal and external members began. Guidance from the Church was sought, the charism, mission statement, and constitution were written, and they were ready to begin.

What was the next step? Where could this new Order be established? Father Benedict and Elizabeth were hoping that they could begin right there in Oregon. Fr. Benedict was born and raised, professed a religious, ordained and served many years as a priest in Oregon. Starting here would mean being on familiar ground with many established connections that could help this little community flourish. His own religious community could be a great source of inspiration, guidance and support. Elizabeth also had ties in Oregon, since she was involved in hospice work, knew quite a few people, and loved all the patients she was ministering to. But often our ways are not God’s ways. Providence opened another door and they both understood that they were called to leave the State of Oregon. Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother were asking them to travel three quarters of the way across our nation to bring what would become The Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary to Ohio.

Once in Ohio, the professor told them about a piece of property that had long been on the market and was reasonably priced. It was located in the outskirts of the small town of Hopedale. None of them had the funds with which to purchase this property. But once again, The Hearts of Jesus and Mary proved that this was Their work and They provided a generous donation through a wonderful couple that had previously been supporting the professor in an apostolate for Our Lady.

The blessing of the Bishop of Steubenville and his permission to begin were promptly sought. They found the Bishop to be supportive and wise, truly an instrument of Jesus and Mary. He came out to the property on August 19, 1997, and with his blessing, in the presence of a very few, the Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary officially began.

All along the Two Hearts had been guiding, as They continue to do so. During the spring and summer of the following year, They started to bring other people who were open to becoming a part of this community that had barely begun. There was a religious sister from a local Franciscan community, a religious brother from a Camaldolese Hermitage in nearby Bloomingdale, a student from the Franciscan University, and a priest from Holland, as well as the professor. On August 19, 1998, the internal and external community of the Order was established and the long awaited dream was beginning its fulfillment…The Hearts of Jesus and Mary had founded Their Order.