Soldier, teacher, actor, priest – Mark’s inspired journey

Sydney
4 November 2001

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Soldier, teacher, actor, priest – Mark’s inspired journey

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Soldier, teacher, actor, priest – Mark’s inspired journey

By Nicole Roberts

Mark Sexton studied at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, served in the Army Reserve for 17 years, taught at high school and appeared in the movie Gallipoli before he made the decision that would change his way of life forever.

He was inspired in his decision by the life – and death – of Oscar Romero (pictured), Archbishop of San Salvador, who was assassinated in March 1980.

Mark was then still a relatively new teacher at Millicent High School, South Australia.

But the work of Archbishop Romero, a prominent champion of El Salvador’s peasants and working class and outspoken opponent of injustice, was to have a profound and lasting influence.

Oscar Romero had served 23 years as a priest before he became a bishop in 1970.

But, with that appointment, he turned his back on his own humble origins and the poor people with whom he had so easily identified and, instead, associated almost exclusively with the rich, becoming a harsh conservative opposed to the socially progressive ideals of other priests.

He had long ceased to be a friend to the poor and needy by the time he was appointed archbishop.

But the murder of a Jesuit friend led him to reevaluate his position. He opened his eyes to the brutality, violence and exploitation that were being inflicted on the peasants and working class.

He championed human rights and social justice in his 90-minute homilies, which were broadcast each week on radio (until the station was blown up by his opponents) and heard by two-thirds of the populace.

The archbishop acquired some powerful enemies. They had him silenced with a gunshot as he celebrated mass on March 24, 1980.

But his call for people to challenge injustice had left its mark on Mark Sexton.

It led him, eventually, to undertake six years of study for the priesthood at St Francis Xavier Seminary.

He was called to be a “shepherd and a friend of the people”, the Archbishop of Adelaide, Archbishop Leonard Faulkner, said at Fr Mark’s ordination at St Francis Xavier Cathedral.

The new priest thanked the Sisters of St Joseph for demonstrating to him as a child “that a human being can be a priest”.

He also thanked his family and friends and the parishes of Millicent, Woodville-Findon, Croydon and Newtown. Someone had once written that “it takes a village to raise a child”, Fr Mark said. “I believe it takes a diocese to raise a priest.”