Father Mark McGuckin ordained just a few months ago
By Josh Tng
The B.C. Catholic
Father Mark McGuckin was ordained a priest May 14, 2016. Despite being raised in a Catholic family, Father McGuckin tells The B.C. Catholic about his distance from the faith, his experiences in a blue comedy television show, and his reawakening in Christ.
The B.C. Catholic: What was your childhood like?
Father Mark McGuckin: I certainly fit the mould of a Catholic boy going through prep classes Tuesday nights, attending Mass on Sunday, and looking forward to confirmation, though this was not because of the sacrament, but to have my Tuesday nights free.
I was looking forward to putting my faith on cruise control. I was the god of my life, and I was serving me. It was from this that my whole lifestyle sprouted.
My dad has been a Catholic rock for the family in a special way. He would always be calling me on Mondays to ask if I had been to Mass on Sunday. I’d begrudgingly check in and check out on Sundays. At the root of the darkness, was me wanting to live how I wanted to live, and be the god of my life.
BCC: What led you on the path to becoming a priest, then?
FMM: I went through a reawakening experience in 2009. I was coming out of a pretty dark period in my life, as I had just finished a TV show a friend of mine and I had produced for three years. It had taken a lot of energy, working hard during the week and partying harder during the weekend.
I thought I could be happy pursuing anything I wanted. After the dust settled, there was a longing for more, as this wasn’t really a freedom-giving lifestyle that I was living. It was a counterfeit freedom, self-enslavement.
In 2009, for the first time, I was searching for something more. I was looking up different religions and philosophies, trying to move away, but I’d keep being pulled back.
When I started going down that rabbit hole, I couldn’t get enough. I needed more truth and beauty, and also to develop an informal prayer life with Our Lord. By the grace of God, I just snowballed from there.
I had a pretty dramatic reawakening experience. At the time, I knew I was called for service to serve God and the Church, and I knew I had to give back to God with my own love, passion and words.
I felt an inkling to go to the priesthood, but I didn’t know for sure, so I went to Madonna House in Ontario, and felt a call to attend the seminary and become a priest. I wasn’t being forced, but there was a yes I needed to respond to, and was compelled with the grace of God.
BCC: You mentioned you worked with various films. What types of films did you work on?
FMM: I graduated with a degree in film production from UBC in 2004. While I was a student at UBC, I was heavily into improvisation theatre. So I continued practicing my improv after I graduated, working in the film industry in Vancouver as a production assistant.
A production company I was working with at the time encouraged staff members to pitch show ideas, so a friend of mine and I came up with a bunch of fun quirky shows.
One of them, my producer liked. The show was called Road Hockey Rumble, a blue-humour reality series. It was about pitting civic rivals in games of road hockey, and the winning team would get bragging rights and beer, being Canadian.
The losing hosts, either my buddy or myself, would get painful punishments as a result. I would not recommend anyone watching it; it was nothing like the films we watched in the seminary. That was a major project that I worked on, along with other smaller projects, like short films and comedy.
BCC: Have you continued film-making since going to the seminary? Do you have other hobbies?
FMM: At the seminary there were little opportunities to have fun. We’d have a talent show night, with one Spirit week dedicated to fostering community.
We put on a sketch for the community, and it was here that I got to exercise a little (of my improv). I spent one summer working with Salt and Light as a cameraman and editor, and it felt good to exercise those muscles, but year after year, I’ve come to miss film less and less.
I’ve become more excited about being a priest. I think it’s good and valuable to connect with people, bring them closer to God, and use humour to do so. I’m excited about the future and what it holds. Whether or not film becomes a part of that, I don’t know, and I won’t seek it out, but it will be good.
BCC: How is priestly life so far? Do you have plans?
FMM: It’s been pretty incredible. I’m still in the honeymoon phase, as many priests describe it, but it’s difficult to put into words. It’s much more than I could ever have foreseen.
It’s the richness of fatherhood, and the spousal connection to the Church. There’s a magnitude of mystery, beyond me, beyond words. It’s a deeply affective experience, an honour and privilege, and it brings a sense of unworthiness and thankfulness.
I’ve had highlights already, surrounding celebrating Mass and in the sacrament of reconciliation. Just journeying with so many daughters and sons of the Father who need to be healed has been overwhelming in a good way. It’s also a gift for me, with the relationship with the penitent and God.
In a few weeks I’ll be beginning my first assignment at St. Paul’s in Richmond, serving alongside Msgr. Dennis Luterbach. I’ve come to realize a need to embrace wherever the Lord places others in my life. The people that God has placed in our lives are there to help us get to heaven, and for us to help them get to heaven.
BCC: Is there anything you’d like to add about becoming a priest?
FMM: I’ve come to appreciate community life in these past four years. Being welcomed in a way I’ve never thought I could be is something I find so special.
I took (community) for granted before, especially when it came to developing strong relationships with those in the seminary. I found something so absolutely essential, not just in priestly ministry, but in the human experience.
I recommend everyone to receive these people God places in our lives, and receive their gifts. Live your lives not in isolation, but as a community.
