By Tim Wenzl

Southwest Kansas Register

Capuchin Brother Mark Schenk, a native of Olmitz, renewed his religious vows at St. Patrick Church in Great Bend Aug. 14 before a congregation that included friends, family and friars.

Father Mike Scully, Provincial Minister of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America, officiated at the Mass and heard the renewal of profession. Father Charles Polifka, pastor at St. Fidelis, Victoria, was the homilist. Other Capuchin Friars who attended were Fathers Peter Meis and Felix Petrovik and Brothers Augustine Rohde and Robert Barbato.

Father Charles shared the following in his homily: "Everyone who knows Mark knows what a good man he is. It was that good Olmitz air that he breathed and the dirt he played in, and his wonderful mom and dad, and delightful sister and brothers that formed him. The Capuchin community is very fortunate to have him as a brother, and to have had him formed in your family.

"Mark has for 25 years lived the brotherhood of Jesus. When Mark first decided that he would be brother, I was confused. My thoughts were: He’s a brilliant man, a good theologian, a gentle friend. What is going on here? Why isn’t he going to be ordained?

"Over the years Mark has shown me what it means to be brother, a religious brother. I don’t think we ever had a conversation about his decision. But he has been brother, and in that vocation as brother, he has shown me more of the Gospel than any preaching or study has shown me.

"In the Capuchin community it is not the priests who are the prophets. It is the brothers who are the prophets. It is the brothers who give the community its wholeness and identity as a Gospel community.

"In some ways, Mark has challenged the Capuchin community and the Church in his 25 years to recognize live what it knows and says to be true: We are brothers -- and sisters -- to one another. Through his commitment to being a brother, he has, over these 25 years found personal wholeness and healing in his own life.

"And our community, too, has moved from political correctness to prophetic correctness as the vocation of brother has been embraced and restored. Much of this has come from brothers like Mark who have gently pushed the envelope not by eloquent and clever preaching but by dedicated and committed living."

Brother Mark is the son of Bernard and Mary Jo Schenk, parishioners in Great Bend. He is the second of four children. His brothers and sister are Richard and Gregory of Great Bend, and Denise Hunt of Laguna Hills, Calif.

Brother Mark attended St. Ann’s Grade School at Olmitz. He went to high school at Thomas More Prep in Hays. He earned a B.A. degree in Philosophy at Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Mo; a degree of M.Div. and M.A. Theology from Aquinas Institute in St. Louis; and an M.B.A. from Regis University in Denver. He made his first profession in 1980 and final profession in 1983.

His assignments have taken him from Hays, where he served in faculty and staff positions at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, to Rome where he served as General Secretary of the Capuchin General Curia and other posts, and from St. Louis where he was Province director of post-novitiate formation and local superior of St. Crispin Friary, to Denver where today he serves as treasurer and vicar of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America and Executive Secretary of the North American Capuchin Province.

Brother Mark shared his call to the religious life and his service in ministry in the following interview:

SKR: When did you feel called to a religious vocation?

Brother Mark: "My first thoughts of a religious vocation occurred when I was in the seventh grade. Two Capuchins, Father Michael Scully and Brother Michael Suchnicki (now a priest) gave a vocation talk at St. Ann’s Grade School."

SKR: Why did you choose to be a Brother?

BM: "While I felt the call to give my life to God as a religious, I never felt a certain call to the priesthood. I waffled a long time over the choice between priesthood/brotherhood. In fact, I put the decision off as long as I could. After much discernment with my directors, I finally decided that being a wholehearted Brother would be better than a halfhearted priest. Besides, since St. Francis himself never became a priest, it seemed a natural choice to me."

SKR: What did you find most interesting and/or rewarding in the 10 years you worked at Capuchin General Curia in Rome?

BM: "Without a doubt, it was the chance to meet and interact with Capuchins from all over the world. Working there greatly expanded my horizons. It challenged many of my beliefs and understandings, but in a good way. It also showed me that I had true brothers scattered all over the world. There were always opportunities to learn about the challenges facing the Church in other parts of the world and about unique responses to those challenges."

SKR: Were you witness to any significant Church events while in Rome?

BM: "I was in Rome in 2000 for the Jubilee Year and for World Youth Day. I was also present the year Padre Pio of Pietralcina was beatified, which was impressive for the sheer numbers of people who came from all over the world. For me, however, the most significant historical event of the time I was there was the first meeting between Mikhail Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II. I stood for a few hours along the Via della Conciliazione leading up to St. Peter’s Square in order to catch a glimpse of a Soviet president coming to greet a Polish pope. There was electricity in the air."

SKR: After 25 years, what do you find most rewarding about your vocation?

BM: "I have always found fraternal life to be most rewarding, although it can also be challenging, at times. For the most part, however, I have felt great respect and support from my fellow Capuchins. I feel this has given me great opportunities for personal growth. Although much of my ministry has been in some form of administration, I never felt this was in any way inferior to being ‘in the front lines’. I am content to provide a support role for those who are ministering in parishes, schools, (and) homeless shelters."