On Sunday, May 6, 2018, our friars celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the Ordination of our confrere, Fr. Mark Szany, OFM Conv., at our pastoral ministry of St. Lucie Catholic Church, in Port St. Lucie, FL, where he has served as pastor, since 2007.
Friar Mark hails from Buffalo, NY and spent his time in Novitiate at St. Joseph Cupertino Friary, in Ellicott City, MD. He first professed his Simple Vows on August 15, 1969 and his Solemn Vows exactly three years later. He was Ordained to the Priesthood May 6, 1978 in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Albany, NY, by Most Rev. Howard J. Hubbard, DD, the ninth and longest serving bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.
After his ordination, Friar Mark began his ministry in Baltimore City as a teacher at our ministry at Archbishop Curley High School, later serving there as Assistant Principal. In 1985, he moved to our ministry at St. Francis High School, in Athol Springs to serve as Assistant Principal and then down to Ft. Pierce, FL to serve as President of John Carroll High School. Starting in 1997, Friar Mark began his pastoral ministry, in one of our Florida parishes, St. Mark Catholic Church, in Boynton Beach. After a break to serve in Provincial Leadership, Friar Mark returned to Florida to serve in our parish in Port St. Lucie. Over his years as a Franciscan Friar Conventual, he has served on the Education Ministries and the Parochial Concerns Commisions, as well.
We congratulate Friar Mark on his 40th Ordination Anniversary!
Friar Mark’s 98-year-old Mother, Mrs. Alice Szanyi, flew from Buffalo to participate.
Mrs. Alice Szanyi carried the same chalice in the offertory procession that she presented to Friar Mark at his Ordination 40 years ago.
Procession during the 2016 Corpus Christi Celebrations at St. Lucie Catholic Church
St. Lucie Council of Catholic Women 2013 Christmas Craft Fair
