Father Mark was born in Buffalo, NY on April 14, 1950. He attended Catholic elementary schools and high school in the Buffalo area and joined the Conventual Franciscan Friars immediately after graduating from high school in 1968. He made his first profession on August 15, 1969, and professed his solemn vows on August 15, 1972. Father Mark attended Saint Hyachinth College and Seminary in Granby, Massachusetts, from 1969-1973 and graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy. From 1973-1974 he spend his apostolic year teaching English and Religion at Kolbe High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Father Mark studied theology at Saint Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, NY, from 1974-1978, and was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, NY on May 6, 1978. That same year he graduated from the seminary with a Master of Theology Degree. From 1978-1981 Father Mark taught Religion and English at Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, Maryland, and from 1981-1985 served as Assistant Principal of the school while continuing to teach English. From 1985-1987 Father Mark was Assistant Principal and English teacher at Saint Francis High School in Athol Springs, NY. Having spent his summers pursuing an English degree, Father Mark received his M.A. in English from Boston College in 1986. From 1987-1997 Father Mark was President of John Carroll High School in Fort Pierce, and from 1997 until 2005, pastor of Saint Mark Parish in Boynton Beach. At the Provincial Chapter of the Franciscan Friars held in 2005, Father Mark was elected Vicar Provincial of his province, a position he held until 2010. Father Mark was installed as pastor on December 9, 2007.