• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Mark Marozza is the longtime sacristan of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

‘Face of the Basilica’ provides welcoming presence

November 30, 2017
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Faces of Faith, Local News, Urban Vicariate

When visitors arrive at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, Mark Marozza is the man they are most likely to encounter.

“People share their stories with him – their pains and struggles and everything from sicknesses to you name it,” said Father James Boric, rector. “He prays with them. He listens to them. He takes care of them.”

The longtime sacristan’s welcoming presence isn’t confined to the walls of the grand neoclassical church that was established as the first cathedral in the United States after the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.

Walking the streets of downtown Baltimore, Marozza greets everyone with a smile – including the poor and homeless who are more accustomed to averted gazes.

“Mark treats them like human beings with respect and dignity,” Father Boric said. “He knows their stories and prays with them. The people on the street know Mark has a tremendous heart and that there’s nobody he wouldn’t help.”

Now the longest-serving current employee of the Baltimore Basilica, Marozza has been a fixture at the historic site for more than 20 years. Although Marozza’s official title is “sacristan,” Father Boric refers to the 57-year-old parishioner as the “face of the basilica.”

Born in Baltimore and raised in St. John the Evangelist Parish in Severna Park, Marozza’s faith is fueled in large measure by his devotion to Carmelite spirituality and its focus on simplicity and contemplation. His grandmother became a Discalced Carmelite nun in Rhode Island following the death of her husband. Marozza remembers visiting her and other nuns, speaking to the fully-habited cloistered sisters from behind a grill.

In his 20s, at the invitation of his mother, Marozza joined the Discalced Carmelite secular order. He served as its president for two terms.

Marozza’s association with the basilica began in 1994. The graduate of Archbishop Spalding High School had been attending daily Mass at the Cathedral Street shrine for about half a year when a basilica employee asked him if he was interested in working there.

Beginning on a part-time basis while keeping another position, Marozza helped clean the building, waxed the floors, served Mass, gave tours and tended to other daily needs.

Now working fulltime, Marozza is responsible for making sure the liturgies run smoothly. He prepares in advance – laying out vestments, tending to candles, making sure there are lectors and extraordinary ministers of holy Communion, ordering flower arrangements, keeping incense and other liturgical items in stock, placing missalettes in pews, among a host of other duties.

“There are more things in that sacristy than anybody in the Archdiocese of Baltimore knows about,” Father Boric said, “but Mark knows where everything is. He has it all organized.”

Organizing and preparing the celebrant’s vestments is one of Mark Marozza’s regular responsibilities as sacristan of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Marozza is the altar server at the 12:10 p.m. daily Mass and the 5:30 p.m. Saturday Mass. He attends wedding rehearsals and is present at all marriages to make sure the celebrations go smoothly.

“I’m detailed-oriented,” said Marozza, sitting in the basilica’s sacristy during a recent break from his many duties. “It’s the little things that kind of count. I like to keep the place looking good.”

Marozza, a soft-spoken man who had seriously considered becoming a Passionist or Carmelite priest before discerning that religious life was not for him, has had a love for his faith from an early age.

“Since childhood, I just knew – always – that it was the true faith,” Marozza said. “I’ve always felt that the Catholic faith is the truth and that it’s the only way I’m going to get to heaven.”

Being at the basilica has given Marozza the opportunity to serve Mass for cardinals and archbishops. He’s also taken advantage of recent spiritual offerings such as a Discovering Christ series and the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Congress, which inspired him to commit to praying the rosary on a more regular basis.

Marozza does a Tuesday holy hour in the basilica’s undercroft adoration chapel and fills in for other hours when no one is present with the exposed Blessed Sacrament.

“He prays for the mission,” Father Boric said. “That’s what Mark naturally does.”

Marozza said he values the many friendships he’s made among the basilica’s staff over the last two decades. He views his service at the cathedral as a blessing in his life.

“I think it’s special to work in God’s house,” he said.

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org. 

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

George P. Matysek Jr.

George Matysek, a member of the Catholic Review staff since 1997, has served as managing editor since September 2021. He previously served as a writer, senior correspondent, assistant managing editor and digital editor of the Catholic Review and the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

In his current role, he oversees news coverage of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is a host of Catholic Review Radio.

George has won more than 100 national and regional journalism and broadcasting awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, the Catholic Press Association, the Associated Church Press and National Right to Life. He has reported from Guyana, Guatemala, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

A native Baltimorean, George is a proud graduate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex. He holds a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and a master's degree from UMBC.

George, his wife and five children live in Rodgers Forge. He is a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

Latest Local News

Baltimore Basilica temporarily closes as precaution in wake of Supreme Court ruling

Pro-life leaders in Archdiocese of Baltimore respond to Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade

Cardinal says renewing Vatican II’s spirit can carry the church forward

Leadership transition coming to Baltimore Basilica as Father Boric prepares to enter Carmelite hermitage

Archdiocese of Baltimore concludes Year of the Eucharist with special Corpus Christi Mass

Latest World News

Outside high court, joy, defiance and insults after Roe is struck down

Welcoming court’s decision, leaders say it’s time to build pro-life culture

Supreme Court overturns Roe in anticipated Dobbs decision

Hope must prevail over Mafia culture of fear, pope says

Pope to visit Canada, limiting participation to one hour at various events

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Baltimore Basilica temporarily closes as precaution in wake of Supreme Court ruling
  • Outside high court, joy, defiance and insults after Roe is struck down
  • Welcoming court’s decision, leaders say it’s time to build pro-life culture
  • Pro-life leaders in Archdiocese of Baltimore respond to Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade
  • Supreme Court overturns Roe in anticipated Dobbs decision
  • Pope to visit Canada, limiting participation to one hour at various events
  • Hope must prevail over Mafia culture of fear, pope says
  • Cardinal says renewing Vatican II’s spirit can carry the church forward
  • Michigan center is among latest pro-life facilities vandalized across U.S.

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2022 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED