I was born in Boise, Idaho on the 20th of October 1959 to Gordon Huntington and Patricia Ann Merrigan. I am the oldest child in the family and I have three sisters. As a young child we moved to Oregon where I attended grade school in Knappa and High school in Hermiston. My faith first developed because of the example of my parent's commitment to the Catholic Church. I became active in youth groups and other activities such as Eucharistic Minister and Lecture at Our Lady of Angles Catholic Church in Hermiston. After graduation from high school I completed an associates degree in Laboratory Medicine and a Bachelors in Microbiology.

My first contact with Maryknoll was in Seahurst parish in Seattle, Washington. There I met Maryknoll Fathers Jim Lee, Phil Wallace and Pete Burns. These priests were very helpful in my discernment and in 1992 I joined the Maryknoll Lay Mission program known today as the Maryknoll Mission Association Of the Faithful. From 1993-1998 I worked in Bura Tana a rural parish in east Kenya near Somalia. I worked in various projects such as development work, food relief, community health projects, youth work and other parish activities. The joy that I received working in a cross cultural setting as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner and the witness of the hospitality and faith of the Kenyans, through God's grace helped me to discern my vocation as a Maryknoll Brother.

I am currently in my fourth year of formation. I have started to learn Portuguese as I have been assigned to Mozambique for my overseas training program. In my first year of formation I assisted the Chaplain department at Cabrini Hospital in New York visiting patients. Also I have completed a Masters degree from Boston University School Of Public Health in the department of International Health. We looked at many health issues that are important for developing countries. I look forward to the challenges and blessings that I will encounter in Metangula, Mozambique, as I develop my language and culture skills and assist the parish activities that address both faith and health issues at the grassroots level.

Mark's Reflections             Mark's Ministry

Visit the other Maryknollers who were in Mozambique