Father Lynn shares his unique path to the priesthood

Parent of three ordained in December
By Josh Tng
The B.C. Catholic

Father Edwin Lawrence “Larry” Lynn was ordained a priest Dec. 4, 2015. A parent of three, Father Lynn spoke of the unique life experiences which led him to his ordination, including marriage and loss, fatherhood, and a career in the film industry.

The B.C. Catholic: Why did you decide to become a priest?

Father Larry Lynn: I did not decide; no one decides to become a priest. One answers the call. All Christians are called for something, some mission in their lives, and it’s up to us to be attentive, to be listening, to be watching for the signs God is putting before us.

We respond to the call, and that’s what happened to me at a very late stage of my life. I didn’t see it coming, but God gave me a strong sensation that, inexplicably at 62 years of age, I might be being called to the priesthood.

I tried to shake off this idea, but once I recognized it was real and spoke with a priest about it and prayed about it, things started to move quickly in the direction of confirmation of the calling. It was amazing.

If anyone thinks they might have a vocation to the religious life, they should try to be in touch with those signs that are letting them think that way and not push them out of their heads as not serious thoughts. Follow those thoughts and pray.

BCC: How did your wife’s passing influence your decision?

FLL: My wife’s passing was the catalyst, because I couldn’t even think about being a priest while my wife was alive. Before she died, maybe a couple weeks before, we were talking about what I would do with the rest of my life.

At one point she said, “You should become a monk.” I thought it was pretty funny, and I gave it a lot of serious thought, as whatever God wants me to do, I’m open to.

That’s the key with every calling. It’s about being open to God’s will. All the things you want to do and all the things pushing you to go this way, when you’re open to God’s will, you start to hear what you’re really meant to do.

BCC: What led you into the film industry? What types of film did you work on?

FLL: I was a biology major studying animal behaviours, and I wanted to make films about animals. I started looking into film, as I was already a photographer. I took a communications degree instead, and started into the film industry and learned about storytelling.

I’ve worked in different parts of the industry during my career. I’ve been a camera operator on big American films, but in Canadian and American films and TV series I’ve been the director of photography.

BCC: How does it feel to be a priest with not just children, but grandchildren as well?

FLL: Two of my children live in Montreal, and one in Los Angeles. They are proud of who I am and what I’m doing. It took them by surprise that I decided I was being called to the priesthood and that I said yes, but they are very supportive of what I’m doing.

It’s a great thing; in fact, I was just up in the Northwest Territories shooting a film for Bishop Mark Hagemoen. I brought my son with me, who is a film-maker like me, except better.

We had a wonderful bonding experience up there shooting this film. So there I am as a priest, a film-maker, and a father to my son, and it was a beautiful experience for me, and an eye opener to him.

The grandchildren are lovely; we Skype. It’s lovely, though I’d love to be more in their lives. They live far away, but I see them once a year at least.

BCC: How have all those life experiences prepared you for the priesthood? Is it anything like what you expected?

FLL: I’ve had a long, full, active life in which I was married and have raised three children. I am a profound sinner. I have done many things that I regret, and I’ve done many things that have been good for other people.

Working in the film industry, I have seen and been part of excessive behaviors: too much, too fast. I’ve travelled a lot of the world and I’ve been on film crews with many wonderful people, great and loyal workers, famous people, not-so-famous people. In other words, I have a lot of experience “in the world.”

All that experience has been preparing me for the priesthood. My whole life has been in preparation for the priesthood.

Raising my children, being a dad, taking care of a family, owning a house, walking with my wife through her seven-year bout with cancer, being with her as she breathed her last breath and “let herself go into the mystery,” grieving and healing and being blessed by God: everything has been preparing me for ministry, for administering the sacraments, especially the sacrament of reconciliation, and consoling the afflicted.