Rev. Marcus Mallick

I was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 4, 1972, during a snow and ice storm.  My father and grandfather were born in the same city, as well.  I am the third generation, born in the United States, of Lebanese descent on both sides.  My mother was born in Kansas City, MO and moved to Forth Worth upon marrying my father.  I have two living siblings and one deceased brother.  I am the eldest, followed by my sister who is married and has two daughters, and then my brother who is a self employed investor.

I attended Catholic education all my life except for pre-school and kindergarten when I attended Montessori.  From the earliest years of my life I have had the desire to be a priest.  The desire increased when I began to serve as an altar boy in fifth grade.  I served at Mass, from fifth grade until I was ordained a deacon in September, 2005, regardless of where I went or studied.  It has always been a great privilege and joy for me to serve at the Blessed Lord’s altar. 

I attended St. Andrew’s Catholic School where I had the privilege of winning the American Way Award.  It is an award given to one eighth grader, chosen by the teachers and principal, who exemplified Christian and civic virtue and character. 

I attended Monsignor Nolan Catholic High School where I earned my high school diploma, was a member of the chess club and debate team.  It was during my high school years that I was an assistant basketball and baseball coach for four years.  It was during this time, as well, that I earned what is one of the greatest achievements in my life - the Eagle Award in Boy Scouts.

During my senior year of high school, I inquired about joining the seminary, but waited until I received my B.A.  I attended a wonderful four year Liberal Arts Great Books program in New Hampshire called Magdalen College.  I earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts and a Pontifical Catechetical Diploma from Rome.  During these years, my desire to be a priest intensified, so that upon graduation I entered Holy Apostles Seminary in Connecticut for one year.  While studying at the Holy Apostles, I met a missionary group called the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity and joined them.  I went to their novitiate in Belen, New Mexico, took religious promises for one year with the new name of Brother Marc of the Sacred Heart.  During my stint with the Society, I traveled to Mexico to learn Spanish and helped at an orphanage.  The Society then sent me to Toledo, Spain to continue my theological formation.  After five months, I was brought back to south Texas to serve in a parish for six months. 

I decided to leave the Society in the summer of 1998 for the monastic life.  A dear friend of mine, Father Cassian Folsom, O.S.B., was beginning a new priory in Rome.  I moved to Rome for two years where I lived as a Benedictine postulant and novice.  It was a wonderful and grace-filled time since one of those years included the Jubilee Year of 2000.  It was a grace-filled period to study in Rome at the great universities of the Church, to explore the great museums and basilicas of Christendom, visit the catacombs and the various shrines and altars of the saints, and to be so close to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II.  In addition, with Catholics there from all over the world, it was a blessing to have the first hand experience of the Church and know what we mean by “universal.”  After two years in Rome, the Lord led me back to the diocesan priesthood.  So I returned to the United States in the summer of 2000.

I applied to the Archdiocese of Denver and His Excellency Charles Chaput graciously accepted me after I had lived in Denver for one year.  In the one year before I entered Saint John Vianney Seminary, I taught at Colorado Catholic Academy.  I taught grades fifth and sixth grades.  If God had not called me to be a priest, I would have been a teacher, but then again a priest is a teacher and more!  I had the honor of being ordained a priest on December 3, 2005 and to celebrate my first Mass on my birthday, December 4, 2005, when I turned the holy age of 33; holy because it is the same age when Our Blessed Lord celebrated His first Mass and died on the Cross.

I love to play the guitar, particularly in the classical style.  I enjoy racquetball, tennis and hiking for exercise.  I have a great love and devotion for Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. Peter the Apostle and St. Augustine, for whose phrase sums up my life, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.”  I also have a great devotion to Padre Pio (Saint Pio of Pietrelcina), St. John Vianney and St. Benedict to name a few.  Two of the Americans I greatly love and respect are Archbishop Sheen and Dorothy Day.  I daily pray for their canonization.  I very much enjoy movies, especially the classics with Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne.  My favorite movie is It’s A Wonderful Life.  I love to read fiction, especially the great epics like The Brothers of Karamazov or Les Miserable, historical literature, works on theology and philosophy.  Some of my favorite authors are Archbishop Sheen and Benedict XVI.  Two of my great passions are the liturgy and music, especially singing. Being a bass I love to sing Ol’ Man River.  I love Gregorian chant and polyphony.  For secular artists I enjoy listening to Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, John Denver and Van Morrison along with much of the folk and folk rock of the United States.  My favorite cuisine is Lebanese.  Who can live without the food???  I loved living in Italy, and love the country of France for its beauty and history.  She may not reflect it right now, but she is still the “Daughter of the Church.”  Our Lady will bring her back!!!!

A favorite passage of mine: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20     

Saint Thomas More is my first assignment as a priest.  I beg for your prayers and patience as I learn about what it means to be a priest of God for His Holy Church our Mother.