Mark Summers, while preparing to be ordained a Deacon
Ordained a transitional deacon June 6th, 2009 in his preparation for priesthood.
"Our life in Christ is a life in the community which is the Church.” This quote, from the work of Justin Hennessey, O.P., summarizes how Mark envisions his future role as a diocesan priest.
Mark Summers, age 50, a Zanesville St. Nicholas parishioner, describes himself as one who is “sensitive and empathetic.” His journey to the priesthood differs somewhat from the journey of his seminarian brothers who are years younger.
Mark, the oldest of six children, studied Economics at John Carroll University, attended the University of Notre Dame Law School, and entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) when he was in his 20s. “After two years with the Jesuits, when my class was up for vows, I didn’t feel ready for a life-long commitment,” said Mark.
Though he left the Jesuit novitiate, Mark still felt called to serve God as a priest, but he was no longer sure if that meant serving as a religious or as a diocesan priest. “I felt, in some ways, like I had turned my back on God after leaving the Jesuits. I was spiritually troubled. I felt I was supposed to be a priest, yet I had walked away,” said Mark.
Mark, who has a life-long love of learning, and thoroughly enjoys the academic environment, did decide that he had no interest advancing his law career. Looking for some focus and direction, he considered pursuing an academic career, and enrolled at The Ohio State University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to pursue a doctoral degree in Economics. But Mark still felt continuously and inescapably called to the priesthood. He left Ohio State without taking a degree.
Commenting on the years that followed Mark says, "Well, life happens. I am not the same man at 50 that I was at 25." Eventually Mark was graced with the courage to answer God's call. "All in God's time," said Mark.
In 2004, Mark entered the Pre-Theology program at the Pontifical College Josephinum as a seminarian for the Diocese of Columbus. "I loved the Josephinum and I will always love the Josephinum. I appreciated the academics there. It is a great place and I dearly loved my classmates – those 14 Pre-Theologian friends are all great men,” said Mark.
“My father died during my second year of pre-theology at the Josephinum. Everyone there was wonderful to my mother and me,” said Mark. “Many of the priests from the Josephinum concelebrated at my father’s funeral and many, many seminarians were excused from classes to attend.”
Mark is now at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland preparing for ordination to the diaconate June 6th, 2009 and ordination to the priesthood in May, 2010. He is currently working on a Master's of Divinity and an additional Master's of Arts in Systematic Theology.
Mark appreciates the priestly formation he is receiving at Mount St. Mary’s. “The seminary formaters make a concerted effort to balance the four pillars of formation: the spiritual, pastoral, intellectual, and human.”
When asked to describe his spirituality, Marks states that he is “a blue-collar Catholic.”
“My spirituality is incarnational. I am drawn especially to reflecting on the earthly life of Jesus Christ, on the unfathomable mystery and incomprehensibility of God becoming man. My spirituality ascends from the dirt heavenward. I do not begin with the transcendent Absolute. Like Robert Frost, "earth's the place for me" (from the poem Birches).
“God created this place to be good and he loves his creatures, including each and every one of us, no matter what our foibles, absurdities, and sins,” said Mark.
Mark has enjoyed his summer assignments in the Diocese; this summer Mark is assigned to St. Andrew parish. His past summer assignments include: St. Francis De Sales (Newark); the Perry County Consortium (St. Rose of Lima, New Lexington; St. Bernard, Corning, Church of the Atonement, Crooksville; and St. Patrick, Junction City); St. Matthew (Gahanna); and St. Cecilia (Columbus). "Each has been “richly rewarding, energizing, and life-giving."
Mark is quite happy. “I have been increasingly affirmed in my vocation to the priesthood while a seminarian. It took a lot of years for me to find the courage,” said Mark. “But all the indecision and doubt has evaporated. I have not had a single day of second thoughts since I was accepted as a Seminarian for the Diocese of Columbus.”
When asked about preparing for the diaconate, he says that he is excited and not nervous. “I realize now that everyone’s path to their vocation is different and it is very individual,” said Mark.
His advice to those discerning their vocational call is this, “Take a lot of alone time in order to hear the small, quiet whisper of God passing by. You need to be comfortable, peaceful, and happy in the solitude of being."
Mark, who is a big believer in retreats, suggests that everyone, no matter their age or vocation, take that time away to be on retreat. “My favorite time of the year occurs in the first week of the second semester at school when we have a week-long silent retreat. I really recommend both a directed retreat experience of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola and non-directed retreats at the Abbey of Gethsemane in Kentucky.”
In his free time, Mark enjoys reading “better fiction”. He also likes to run, play piano and guitar, and watch some television.
Mark’s favorite saints are St. Francis of Assisi and St. Bernadette Soubirious.
“Mary's life-long Fiat to God has become the image central to my spiritual life,” said Mark. “Currently, my very favorite scripture is Luke 1:46 (the opening two lines of Mary's Magnificat): ‘MY SOUL PROCLAIMS THE GREATNESS OF THE LORD; MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOR.’ This verse will inspire my priestly life-long goal of growth in holiness, greater love, and service to the people of God.”
