BRISBANE priest Fr Marty Larsen was remembered by family, friends, students, parishioners and colleagues as a warm priest who had a “great sense of fun and a wonderful spirituality” at a Funeral Mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral yesterday, April 18.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge celebrated the Funeral Mass, and was assisted by Deacon Peter Devenish-Meares.
Toowoomba Bishop Ken Howell, Brisbane auxiliary Bishop Tim Norton, Vicar for Administration Fr Peter Dillon, Cathedral Dean Fr Anthony Mellor, Director of Clergy Life and Ministry Fr David Pascoe, and friend Fr Gerry Kalinowski concelebrated the Mass.
“Ten years ago, in this cathedral, we ordained Marty Larsen to the priesthood, and now we bid him farewell, but we do so in the light of Easter,” Archbishop Coleridge said in his welcoming remarks.
“We commend him to the Lord whom he served and we trust in the promises made by Christ in baptism.”
Martin Phillip Larsen was born one of triplets, with brothers Andrew and Simon, on July 10, 1975.
The triplets were born in Brisbane to mother, Enya Rub.
In his homily, Fr Kalinowski said Fr Marty “was very gracious, and allowed Andrew and Simon to go first”.
“He grew to be known as ‘Mister Happy’ in the family,” he said.
He is one of eight children with the others being Janina, Henry, Anna, Marek and Peter.
A young Marty went to St Joseph’s Primary School and Shalom College in Bundaberg.
He later moved to Brisbane and finished his secondary education at St Joseph’s Nudgee College.
Following his schooling, he entered Holy Spirit Seminary where he began his studies towards a bachelor of theology and formation for the priesthood.
On completion of his degree, Marty took time for further discernment and finished post-graduate studies in education to become a teacher.
He taught at St Rita’s College, Clayfield, Good Counsel College, Innisfail, San Sisto College, Carina, and Siena College, Sippy Downs.
“He enjoyed being a teacher,” Fr Kalinowski said.
“Marty ended up teaching that much religion and working on the prayer and liturgies of his school, that he realised he wanted to share that enthusiasm for the Gospel as his life.
“That led him back to the seminary.”
He felt the call to return to priestly discernment and finished a Masters in Theology.
In January 2014, he was ordained a deacon and served in Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Caloundra.
He was ordained a priest on June 27 the same year at St Stephen’s Cathedral.
His first priestly appointment was at Stella Maris Parish, Maroochydore, as associate pastor.
This was followed by appointments to Hervey Bay parish and Jubilee parish before he became parish priest at Holy Family Church, Runaway Bay.
Along with parish ministry, Fr Larsen also served as associate director of Vocation Brisbane and chaplain for the Sisters of St Paul de Chartres.
“The joy of the Gospel was his mission,” Fr Kalinowski said.
“Marty had… sayings – one of them was, ‘alive, alert and enthusiastic’.”
Fr Kalinowski said his enthusiasm was infectious for the children he ministered to in schools.
In response to a dry “good morning” from a sleepy classroom, he said Fr Larsen would get the children to “wave your hands in the air like you just don’t care”.
“In his ministry, God’s spirit of creativity flourished,” he said.
He said Fr Larsen was a “glass half-full kind of guy”.
“He did go after the positive,” he said.
“Marty go eagerly as a son and heir into God’s glory.
“And as he walks into Heaven, Marty would be wearing his beloved Converse sneakers – if you don’t know what they are, ask a young person.
“Colourful as he could, to make sure that even God looked and noticed.
“For ourselves, we come as Mary Magdalene with our tears and the courage on that first Easter morning to look into death and deal with what we encounter.
“We take note of the messengers in white; not to be fixated on death, that we miss God rolling away the stone, but for God to break in upon us.
“Not to cling to the past but open ourselves to what the Risen One is calling us to, to be witnesses to the joy of the Gospel.”
Close friend of 30 years and Rockhampton priest Fr Bill Senn said their friendship was characterised by “our sense of, and commitment to, our priestly vocation”.
“In this journey we both encouraged and supported one another, throughout the course of almost three decades,” he said.
“Marty absolutely loved creating and extending a sense of welcome and hospitality for his friends; and this generous hospitality, many of us experienced during a night out to share a meal, conversation, stories, laughter, and general good times together.
“I will certainly miss these occasions, and I look back on many of these memories with great joy.”
Fr Senn extended his condolences to Marty’s family and friends, especially his mum Enya.
“May we be consoled by our happy and joyful memories of a true and dear friend, as we entrust Marty into the care of our loving and ever-faithful God,” he said.
“Marty, my brother, may you Rest in God’s Peace. Amen.”
