Brother Mark Orcutt O.S.B.

Br. Mark (Jacob) Orcutt, O.S.B. was called to the Father's house on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. His passing was the result of heart failure, following a surgical procedure the previous day. Brother was 82 years old, a professed monk for 13 years.

Br. Mark was born in Detroit, MI on May 6, 1943 to J. Earle and Dorothy Orcutt and had one brother, Michael. He attended St. Scholastica Grade School and Benedictine High School, both located in Detroit. Upon graduating from high school in 1961, he entered the Novitiate of the Sylvestrine-Benedictine Order at St. Benedict Monastery in Oxford, MI.

Br. Mark left the Order after two years. Over the next forty years, Brother married, raised three children, completed college studies in photography and accounting, and had a successful career with Chrysler Motor Company. During this time, Br. Mark never lost contact with the Sylvestrine-Benedictines and in 2004, two years after retiring from Chrysler, Brother rejoined the Order, first as a Regular Oblate and then as a monk, professing Simple Vows August 25, 2012 and Solemn Vows on September 5, 2015.

Br. Mark served his monastic community in many ways, primarily as Oblate Director or Associate Oblate Director and as Priory Secretary. Over the years Brother helped out in various capacities including cooking, bursar, porter and sacristy duties, giving tours of the monastery chapel and grounds, assisting with our Subiaco youth retreat ministry, and chairing the Annual Benefit Dinner.

In all things, Br. Mark was a stable and prayerful presence. He was an elder in the community known for his devotion to prayer, organizational skills, quick wit, sense of responsibility and genuine concern for his brothers.

Br. Mark's main ministry outside the monastery with Guest House in Lake Orion, MI, working with priests, deacons and male religious suffering from the disease of addiction. Brother was also a trained spiritual director, completing the Ignation Internship at Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Bloomfield Hills, MI. He assisted with Right-to-Life Lifespan's prolife activities and was a member of the Fr. Thomas Carey Council #4764 of the Knights of Columbus and the 4th Degree Msgr. A.X.M. Sharpe Assembly #477.

When not busy with his duties Br. Mark enjoyed listening to classical music and the occasional Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert or trip up to Frankenmuth. Brother maintained close ties with his family, celebrating holidays and important family events with them.

Br. Mark was preceded in death by his parents, his grandson Corbin Jones and his granddaughter Elaina Petlichkoff. He is survived by his brother Michael (Ginny) Orcutt; his three children, David (Patti) Orcutt, Cheryl (David) Petlichkoff and Lisa (David) Moraniec; his monastic community; six grandchildren, one great-grandson, several nephews and nieces, and many loving family members and friends. Visitation will take place on January 29th at the Chapel of St. Benedict Monastery, 2711 E. Drahner Rd., Oxford MI, from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. with Rosary at 7:00 p.m., and half-hour before the Funeral Mass, which will be on January 30th at 11:00 a.m. in the monastery chapel.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Benedictines of Detroit, or Guest House, Inc. in Lake Orion, MI. www.guesthouse.org