Fr. Carrier Biography

 

Rev. Mark Francis Carrier

Born in 1962 in Washington D.C., Fr. Carrier was the first of three children.  During childhood he lived in D.C., Maryland, Montana, and Virginia.  Graduated from Benedictine High School in 1976.  Worked as utility man at a Red Lobster, in Richmond, VA for thirteen years during and after high school.  At the same time, with his father, he owned and operated a hog farm.  This was almost the craziest thing he ever did. During this time on extended vacations, he was a live-in volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity in D.C., at a hospice for AIDS patients. 

Fr. Carrier studied at VCU for five semesters from 1991-93, majoring in philosophy and history.  Was accepted as a candidate for seminary studies in 1993 by Bishop Keating.  Took a B.A. in philosophy at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary College, in Philadelphia, in 1995.  Earned an M.Div. and M.A. in systematic theology at Charles Borromeo School of Theology, and was ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Arlington in 1999, by Bishop Loverde.  First assignment at St. Leo the Great in Fairfax City.  Transferred to Holy Family in Dale City in 2002. Transferred to St. Louis in Alexandria.  He is still there. 

Favorite saints: The Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Anthony of Padua, and Blessed Damien of Molokai.  Favorite sports team: The Boston Red Sox.  If I could be any other person in the world, I’d be “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair.  Hobbies: translating medieval Church writings from the Latin, listening to the operas of Richard Wagner, watching Godzilla movies with friends, collecting pulp magazines, and astronomy.  Favorite activities as a priest: offering the holy sacrifice of the Mass, hearing confessions, helping the homeless.                   

 

 

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