Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / Deacon Mark Peter Prill
Deacon Mark Peter Prill
to be ordained for the Archdiocese of Detroit
Published May 9, 2008
Age: 27
Parents' names and hometown: Maynard and Mary Anne Prill, Lapeer
Education: Pearl Lane Elementary school (K-3); Lynch Elementary school (4-6); E. T. White Middle School (7-8); Lapeer East High School (9-12); Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
Parish(es) where you grew up and your current home parish: St. Anne Parish in Warren and Immaculate Conception Parish of Lapeer. Current home parish is Immaculate Conception Parish of Lapeer.
Masses of Thanksgiving:
• Immaculate Conception, Lapeer
12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 11
• Divine Child Catholic Church, Dearborn
9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 18
• Holy Trinity Parish - St. Stephen Church, Port Huron
4 p.m. Saturday, May 24
• Holy Trinity Parish - St. Joseph Church, Port Huron
11 a.m., Sunday, May 25
Briefly describe your route to the priesthood:
Growing up I always attended Mass. When I was in the fifth grade I started to serve Mass, after my parent's encouragement. I fell in love with being around the altar and assisting the priest. I even played priest as a child. However, it was not until Fr. Doug Terrien came to Lapeer and became pastor that I seriously thought about becoming a priest. He took me under his wing and in seeing his love for God, the love for the Church, and the love for the people of God; he inspired me to join the seminary after high school in the fall of 1999. Without his positive influence and friendship along with my parent's support I would not be where I am today. I owe them many thanks for all that they did for me.
Having decided you had a vocation, did you ever have second thoughts about it? How did you resolve any doubts or fears?
During my college seminary years, doubts crept up as I was watching my friends get married and starting to have a family. I wondered, was I missing out on something? Should I get married? Through constant prayer and by having good holy spiritual directors, I came to realize how beautiful the sacrament of marriage truly is, but God is calling me to something else. I realized that I wasn't missing out on anything. I knew I would make a good husband, but I realized that I would be happier and more fulfilled by serving God and His Church. It was not something that came over night, but through constant prayer and conversation. Now I am the happiest I have ever been in my life.
What are the greatest challenges you see facing the Church? Where do you see the greatest hope?
The greatest challenges that are facing the Church in my opinion are secularism, relativism, and ignorance of the faith. The greatest hopes to address these problems and others in the world are found in the New Evangelization that was called for John Paul II and the renewal of devotion and love for the Eucharist by the faithful.
What are your hopes for your priestly ministry?
The hopes I have for my priestly ministry are simple. I hope to be a holy and faithful priest of God and of the Church in service to his people. I also hope that I can bring many people to truly see God and that my little part of being a priest will bring them just a little closer to God.
What about your priestly ministry do you anticipate will be the most rewarding?
The most rewarding part of my priestly ministry will be able to celebrate the sacraments and by conferring these sacraments the faithful will be able to receive Christ into their lives. The second one would be the interaction and being a part of people's lives through the good times and bad and showing them that Jesus does love them no matter what.
Lee Acervo | Charles Altermatt | Clint McDonell | Sama Muma | Mark Prill
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