Celebrating Saint Mark Seminary and the Patronal Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist
By Kristine Rilling05/06/2026
On April 27, the chapel at Saint Mark Seminary was filled with a quiet, joyful spirit as seminarians, joined by their families, friends and the clergy who guide their formation, gathered to celebrate the patronal feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist.
“Welcome to Saint Mark Seminary for the patronal feast of our seminary,” said the Most Rev. Bishop Lawrence T. Persico as he began his homily, setting the stage for a reflection rooted in purpose.
The presence of the seminarians’ loved ones made the celebration more meaningful. These were lives being formed, supported and shared.
Bishop Persico’s homily reflected on the life of the early Church, recalling how Mark walked alongside figures like Peter and Paul, helping to spread the Gospel amid uncertainty and persecution.
Bishop Persico reminded those gathered of Jesus’ command: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature”. In the chapel, those words felt less like history and more like a commissioning, especially for the young men discerning the priesthood.
There was also honesty about the cost of discipleship. The homily did not shy away from the reality of sorrow, but instead placed it within the promise of God’s faithfulness: “The God of all grace… will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you after you have suffered a little”. For families and friends, those words offered reassurance; for the seminarians, they carried both challenge and hope.
Yet the heart of the day was not hardship – it was joy. The example of Saint Mark himself stood as a reminder of what a life of faith can become.
“We celebrate the feast of Saint Mark because he did what he was called to do,” said Bishop Persico. “He joyfully and diligently spread the Gospel. He was a visible person in the early Church who had a role in its growth and perhaps its recorded history”.
That joy was visible in the faces gathered: quiet pride from parents and fraternity among the seminarians.
As the homily concluded, the chapel became a place of sending. Bishop Persico’s closing prayer seemed to gather everyone into a single mission: “May the grace we receive here on this feast day help us to do as Mark did and be a joyful evangelist for the Lord”.
After the Mass, guests came together for a warm and welcoming dinner marked by fellowship. The evening offered a meaningful opportunity to celebrate and encourage our seminarians while reflecting on the important role they are preparing to embrace in the life of the Church.
The evening was thoughtfully coordinated by Father Scott Jabo, rector and vocations director of St. Mark Seminary, along with Father David Renne, STD, vice-rector. 
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