Fr. Francis has deep ties to CTU, where he prepared for priesthood (as a classmate of the future Pope Leo XIV), taught as an assistant professor and professor, and then served as president.

Fr. Mark Francis first met the Viatorians when he attended Saint Viator High School. As a student he enjoyed all the benefits of a Viatorian education, from its rigorous academics, to its rich faith tradition and fine arts activities. Yet, it was the Viatorians themselves – his teachers – who made the lasting impact.

Upon graduating from Saint Viator in 1971, Fr. Francis attended Loyola University Chicago where he earned a history degree in 1975. He entered the novitiate later that year and then professed his first vows as a Viatorian in 1976. Fr. Francis continued his studies at Catholic Theological Union, gradauting in 1982 earned a master’s in divinity and a master’s in theology as a classmate with Robert Prevost, OSA, who was elected pope in 2025.

After being ordained later in 1982, he ministered in Colombia for the next two years, as chaplain and leader of the scholarship program at Colegio San Viator in Bogotá and as formation director for the foundation.

In 1984, Fr. Francis went to Rome to study at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of St. Anselm, where he obtained a Pontifical License (1986) and Doctorate (1987). He returned to CTU in 1987 as assistant professor of liturgy and taught there for 12 years, before being promoted to full professor of liturgy in the Spring of 2000.

Shortly after his promotion, Fr. Francis was elected Superior General, the leader of the worldwide Viatorian Community. He served two, six-year terms, until 2012, followed by a sabbatical at Santa Clara University.

Fr. Mark Francis with members of the Provincial Council: Fr. Thomas von Behren, Fr. Edgar Suarez and Br. Michael Gosch (not pictured: Fr. Richard Rinn)

In the spring of 2013, he was elected President of Catholic Theological Union. Fr. Francis led CTU for the next seven years before stepping down in 2020 and taking a short sabbatical.

“Being president of CTU has been a wonderful and life-changing experience,” Fr. Francis said at the time of his election. “I will remain forever grateful to God for the privilege of this ministry. I have often said that I have had three incarnations in this institution: as student, faculty member, and president. CTU has been an integral part of my religious and ministerial life since 1978.”

Midway through his tenure as president of CTU, his brothers in the province elected him a provincial councilor in 2017. Near the end of Fr. Dan Hall’s term as Provincial, the election in November 2022 resulted in Fr. Francis being elected Provincial Superior.

More on Fr. Francis from Viatorians.com:

Updated July 9, 2025 by Associate Dan Masterton.