Deacon Mark Hughes is in the final days before his ordination to priestly life. He joined Catholic Diocese of Sale News for a chat to talk about his vocation journey and his hopes for the future.Deacon Mark Hughes will be ordained by Bishop Greg Bennet on Saturday 15th October at 11am at St Mary's Cathedral Sale. Go to Livestream: https://youtu.be/3kaLblyO5vY
Mass of Thanksgiving will take place at St Agatha's Cranbourne at 10.45am on Sunday 16th October. Livestream https://youtu.be/7tefbM8pScQ
In 2012 when Deacon Mark’s niece Daniella was born he began to think about his life. It was a turning point of sorts. Challenged by the role of being a Godfather to her, he began a discern the meaning of, and God’s purpose for his life.
“Something sparked in me, what do I do for this child, what do I show this child, what kind of a Godfather am I going to be for this child…
“Her coming into the family actually sparked something in me…”
Despite considering if marriage may come his way, he still felt something was missing.
It was a calling to share God’s love with others.
Aged in his mid-30’s at the time and having forged a good 10-year career in intensive care nursing Mark was pretty comfortable financially with a nice home. But the Cranbourne local began wonder whether God might have another journey for him, a journey to the priesthood.
Deacon Mark was raised in India and migrated to Australia aged 26. He has an outgoing personality - loving music, singing and interior decoration. He has a Charismatic approach to his faith practice.
He likes to ‘warm to people’ with his friendly demeanour and considers this a handy gift for ministry.
When Deacon Mark told his family about his growing calling to the priesthood, a rather counter-cultural career change in today’s society, they queried ‘had he gone mad’.
They questioned why he wanted to join at a challenging time for the Church and when his life was so settled.
Deacon Mark said once he had made up his mind “there was no turning back”.
The pathway was shown by others ‘then it was easy”. The call was strong enough for the move to Corpus Christi College Seminary.
Deacon Mark is grateful for the supporters in the Diocese who aided his journey to priesthood especially Fr. Joseph Abutu as parish priest of Cranbourne and Fr Denis O’Bryan.
He has valued the support of Fr Francis Otobo as a fellow Charismatic worship leader. Another key mentor and friend, Fr Michael Gaikwad SDB, a Salesian Missionary based in Cambodia, has also accompanied Deacon Mark with support on the journey.
A connection between his previous vocation and his new one is not a clean break.
He has once had to check on a congregation member who fainted in church as the only person with medical training present!
Today it is more about spiritual health than physical. But again, there is recognition of the whole person in Deacon Mark’s approach to ministry. Both to others and what he wants to give of himself.
He sees particularly with older parishioners with chronic health conditions how they can bear witness to Christ through their physical challenges and how this impact on their faith journeys.
“With the many older parishioners my nursing experience does give me insight,” he said.
He has a strong connection to the Salesian order with his Aunty Sr. Marie Bastian SDB, being a role model throughout his early life.
Sr Marie had been wanting a vocation to come from her nieces and nephews and often told Mark to pray to St Joseph.
Deacon Mark said he was in his mid-20s at the time and pretty happy with what he was doing so praying to St Joseph for a vocation “wasn’t happening…I was pretty content then.”
After finishing at the seminary during the COVID pandemic Mark waited patiently in Sale for his Deaconate Ordination busying himself helping out around Cathedral parish with pastoral visits where possible, and assisting with the floral arrangements.
He describes this period of waiting as a challenging time, with a change of culture from the seminary to country life and ministry tasks limited before ordination.
“It was a time of stricter discernment… we weren’t sure when it (the ordination) would happen…
“It gave me the time to think. ..to pull everything back, when everything is gone what have I got left, to answer the question what is important what is my life.
“The real spiritual battles, what am I working for... In this stagnate space what is my life, what is my work.
“But it deepened and cemented my resolve this is where God wants me, come what may.”
He has had a good Diaconate ministry in Sale following ordination in Cranbourne last March. He has enjoyed finally being able to read the Gospel and lead ceremonies such as baptisms and funerals.
He is still keenly waiting for a couple to ask him to officiate at their wedding. But he knows the opportunity will come.
Deacon Mark says of himself, “I get bored easily. I like to move onto the next thing.”
So, it is with quiet anticipation and a bit little of excitement he feels ready for the next step to Priestly Ordination this month.
On his Ordination day Deacon Mark will have his Aunty, Sr Marie, looking down from above he suspects, happy that she has finally achieved her goal of having a family member answer God’s call to ordained ministry.
“When she wrote she would always say, you need to give your love to other people, you can’t keep it to yourself, you must share your love with others… that was always her mantra to us, to our annoyance…I guess she has had some hand to play in this (vocation)….” Deacon Mark said.
Whether in a small team in a larger parish in the West or as a solo pastoral leader in the South or East, Deacon Mark is keen to embrace whatever comes his way in his future Priestly ministry in the Diocese of Sale.
“I’ll adapt, I’ll go where God sends me.”
Interview by Liz Roberts
