Chaplain with a heart for vocations

Former vocations director Fr. Larry Marcille continues to nurture vocations in Toronto . . .

Fr. Larry Marcille

Fr. Larry Marcille
Toronto Chapter

Ordained in 1996 for the Archdiocese of Toronto, Fr. Larry Marcille served in parish ministry until 2000, before being appointed vocations director by the late Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic. One of the highlights of his priesthood was serving in the vocations ministry during World Youth Day in Toronto in 2002 — that and meeting Pope John Paul II in Rome during the Jubilee Year. Following Fr. Marcille’s official vocations ministry, he has been pastor at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Toronto.

Tell us about your call to the priesthood.

The first sign of a vocation came around my high school years. I suppressed it. Later on I had a career in human resources management. Then one day back in 1991 my pastor invited me out for a lunch that became a lightning rod for my vocational call. He invited me to think about entering the seminary and asked about my call as I’d heard it throughout my life. Well, I decided that if God was calling me to consider the priesthood, this was the time to answer. So I entered the seminary later that summer. The personal invitation from a pastor to consider becoming a priest is extremely important.

How did you become acquainted with Legatus?

I’d heard of Legatus through Fr. Tom Rosica, the Toronto chapter’s founding chaplain. Archbishop Thomas Collins appointed me chaplain about three years ago. I’m very happy to serve in this capacity. I was also pleased to discover that a good number of Legates were my parishioners at Blessed Sacrament!

What impact has Legatus had on the archdiocese?

The members of Legatus are very generous here. They give of their time, talents and treasure, doing all sorts of things in service of the archdiocese and, well, everyone. They’re witnesses of Christ in their workplaces. And of course they strive to live the faith personally and pass it along to their children. I am very impressed by the members and their practice of our faith and support of the Church in so many ways, public and private.

How would you like to see the chapter progress?

First of all, I suggest our members leave themselves open to the wondrous workings of the Holy Spirit. In our chapter the Eucharist and rosary are the summit of our gatherings. Retreats and pilgrimages play an important role, too. I’m their chaplain, and I pray that I can assist them in becoming holier people.

Do note that the Toronto Chapter is ever seeking to increase its membership and seems to be doing so. It’s very important to make people aware of Legatus. We’re the only Canadian chapter, you know. So that’s all the more reason we need to make ourselves known throughout the Church in Canada. I believe we will continue to see growth as we continue to witness to the world. All of us must answer the call to the New Evangelization. Each one of us must be a bearer of the Good News.

How can Legates fulfill their role as Christian witnesses?

I mentioned that as a former vocations director, my heart reaches out to God to send laborers into the field. We must pray for vocations, we must encourage vocations within the family. We must support any person possibly discerning a religious vocation and take that bold step to invite these young men to actively consider the priesthood — and young women to consider religious life, too. It’s our responsibility, each and every day, to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. And let me tell you, our prayers will make a difference — just as they already have and, actually, continue to do at this very moment.

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