Support Mark

Who am I?

My name is Mark Akert, and I am a seminarian with the Diocese of Gary, IN. A little about me, is that I am born and raised in NWI, I grew up in Chesterton IN. I enjoy walking at the Dunes State and National Parks, and I enjoy spending time with friends and family in local coffee shops. I am a recent convert to the Catholic Faith, I was confirmed, and I recieved my first communion in 2023 in Deerfield IL.

I recently spent a year as a missionary in the Bronx, NYC with Seton Teaching Fellows. I was the Multilingual Learner Specialist for 5th-8th grade and I taught 6th and 7th grade catechism. I will be eternally grateful for the time that I spent in NYC and for the relationships that I made with the other fellows and with the children and their families.

I will be starting the propaedeutic year at Sacred Heart Major Seminary on August 19th, 2026.

The Diocese of Gary is providing for all of my academic expenses (tuition, books, room and board) but that still leaves me with any personal expense I need to cover (phone, travel, etc.). I would be very grateful for any support that you could offer, as I try to follow God's will for my life.

A Little About Me

Confirmed in 2023

I was recieved into Full Communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in 2023, halfway through my college.

Choir

I joined a Concert Choir in college, and fell in love with both Men's and Mixed Choral singing. Here is a picture of my senior class during graduation.

Operatic Baritone

Amidst my vocal training escapades, I decided to join an opera workshop, and my senior year, I had the chance to play the Big, Bad Wolf in a production of "Little Red's Most Unusual Day."

Altar Server

During my time in the Bronx, I had the opportunity to start an Altar Boy Guild for 5th-8th grade boys in El Camino. Here is a picture of us serving the First Communion mass, with two of the El Camino Disciples flanking me with torches.

Family Man

Here is a picture of my family, to whom I owe my upbringing and the trajectory that I am on today.

Why be a Seminarian?

I decided to join the seminary because God uses every experience in our lives to draw us closer to himself. All throughout my live, even before my conversion, I have felt to call to ministry of some kind. And after I was recieved into the Catholic Church, I was graced with the ability to see my past experiences in a new light, and I have determined that this is the next step for me to continue to follow God's will for my life, and how I can best serve him with the gifts and talents he has given to me.

How Can You Support Me?

First and foremost, your prayer support would be of greatest help to me. Cardinal Henry Manning (1808-1892) said in his book The Eternal Priesthood, "They who pray most will receive most; they who pray less will receive less... there is nothing good that He will not give us, for to pour out His gifts upon us is His bliss."

I would greatly appreciate your financial support as I continue on this path. You can Venmo me or send cash/checks to the seminary at the following addresses.

Venmo: @markakert3

Mailing Address: 2701 Chicago Blvd, Detroit, MI 48206

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If you enclose/mention any prayer requests in this Google Form, I will take the time to pray for your specific intentions.

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