Fr. Larry Marcille: Fond Memories of Serra House

When Fr. Larry Marcille reflects on his time as vocations director at Serra House from 2000-2004, he can’t help but be moved by the number of men he journeyed with as they discerned their calling to the priesthood.

But he also remembers rather whimsically how each summer right before the start of the university academic year, he would invariably have a number of young people enter the doors of Serra House downtown, not to inquire about discerning for the priesthood, but to ask if Serra House was a fraternity house.

“I’d always think ‘well yes it is, but not the way you’re looking at it,’” Fr. Marcille says with a laugh.

Building a sense of fraternity and brotherhood united in Christ has always been an important aspect of Serra House, he remembers, as men discerned their calling to the priesthood. In the period when Fr. Marcille was vocations director, Serra House was still a separate entity from St. Augustine’s, although it worked closely with the Seminary. Serra House officially united with St. Augustine’s in 2017.

While its mission has evolved from its earlier days as a sort of pre-seminary residence, its importance in the formation process of seminarians has only grown. Although they did not refer to it as such then, Serra House today places a strong emphasis on Human Formation, a key pillar in the formation process.

Reopening of the building

After the downtown building was closed for renovations in 2017, Serra House is expected to officially reopen early in the fall. When finished, the downtown location will accommodate seminarians who are in the initial stage of formation (discipleship stage – philosophy and undergraduate studies).

“What a place we have at Serra House,” says Fr. Marcille. “It’s a gem. It’s nearby the universities and the Toronto School of Theology. It is a perfect satellite location. I’m really looking forward to the re-opening of the new building.”

Ordained a priest on May 11, 1996, Fr. Marcille is an alumnus of St. Augustine’s Seminary and is currently pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in Toronto. He never attended Serra House as a seminarian, but is grateful for his time as vocations director.

“The greatest highlights as vocations director were my times with the men that lived at Serra House, a good number who are now ordained priests. I watched them grow spiritually like sons. There are so many, like Fr. Ivan Camilleri, now Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese, Fr. Edward Curtis, Chancellor of Spiritual Affairs for the Archdiocese, Fr. Frank Portelli, the Rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral and Basilica. These are all men who were at Serra House when I was there. There’s so many more.”

He says it was such a blessing to have shared part of their journey.