My name is Marco Lazzaron, I am originally from Milan where I was born and bred in a Catholic family. By the grace of God, I was ordained to the Priesthood on June 24th on the Solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist in Westminster Cathedral. I take advantage to thank all those who were present on that joyful day!
After receiving all the Sacraments, at the age of 13, encouraged by my parents, I joined the Neocatechumenal Way which is an itinerary of formation to re-discover the beauty and importance of Baptism.
Before joining the seminary, I studied first IT and then got a bachelor’s degree in Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. I worked for two years as a Food and Hygiene Quality Inspector. At that time I preferred to look for my own fulfillment in my career, in my studies, and in having a job. But God helped me to realize that all these things cannot give me lasting happiness. How? Through the Word of God and concrete people, my parents, a team of catechists who helped me and sustained my vocation during this time, and brothers and sisters of my community in the Neocatechumenal Way. Little by little over the years I discovered that my only desire is to build my spiritual house only on Jesus Christ and not on my personal desires.
In 2013, I was invited to a World Youth Day which was held that year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There the Lord was waiting for me. I received a strong encouragement during the Mass with Pope Francis; he said: “Jesus is calling you to be a disciple with a mission! Go, do not be afraid, and serve”.
Here in London, after one year of learning English (a task still to be improved and probably never-ending), I studied two years of Philosophy and three of Theology, with a gap of three years doing missionary work helping local churches, in Israel, Italy, and northern countries of Europe (in particular in Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland).
In the seminary, you can encounter a large array of people. There is plenty of nationalities, with a wide range of age. Each one of us has his own vocation story. It all reflects the Catholicity, which is the universality of the Church, a variety of people who may be called to the priesthood in our parishes. Our training is based on academic studies of theology and philosophy, gaining pastoral experience in parishes, schools, prisons, and hospitals. Community life, leisure (playing football or board games), and work (like cleaning and tidying up our rooms and the kitchen), are also not missing in the life of the seminary.
I am grateful to the Lord for all the good things that he has prepared for me and I am happy to begin my pastoral experience in St Joseph and the English Martyrs taking care of the people of God in the parish and helping Fr Peter Harris and the Catechists’ Team in whatever way I can. I ask you to pray for me in this time while I assure all of you in my daily prayers.