Mastin ordained to diaconate SOUTHAVEN — Mark Mastin, a member of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJs), was ordained to the diaconate on June 30 at Christ the King Parish by Bishop Joseph Latino
Mastin, 50, did a year of ministry at the parish during the 2005-06 academic year. He returned to Chicago last fall to complete his master’s degree in theology at Catholic Theological Union.
Originally from Cincinnati, Mastin initially began studies with the Sacred Heart priests in high school. He attended the community's minor seminary in Donaldson, Ind., and spent several years in formation.
However, in 1979 he returned home to attend to a variety of family needs. While working, he completed a degree in theatre from Loyola University and a second in business at DePaul University. He assumed his vocation was outside of ordained ministry.
“But after spending some 20 years in the corporate world, I decided to find a more fruitful way to live my life,” said Mastin. He revisited his earlier call to the church and applied to be a priesthood candidate with the Diocese of Joliet, Ill.
As Mastin was preparing for diocesan priesthood, he became reacquainted with the Sacred Heart priests. The bishop of Joliet decided to send Mastin to Sacred Heart School of Theology since the seminary has a program specially designed for second-career vocations. The school is owned and operated by the Sacred Heart priests.
“I wanted to know what kind of education I was going to receive and how the SCJs had developed as a community since I last knew them,” said Mastin.
Admittedly looking for “some chink in the armor of the SCJ congregation — I read as much literature about them as possible. I wanted to know who these people were who were going to be forming me as a priest,” he said.
But in his search for flaws, he instead re-connected to his love for religious community. “I found so many parallels in the SCJs’ spirituality and my way of life,” he said.
“It dawned on me that God had brought me back to the SCJs via the diocesan path.”
Mastin professed his first vows with the Sacred Heart priests in 2003, and his final vows last June.
Following his ordination, Mastin will join the pastoral team at St. Martin of Tours Parish in Franklin, Wis.
Parish by Bishop Joseph Latino 