St. John Neumann parishioner ordained Holy Cross priest

By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic

MIAMI | Matthew Hovde, a member of St. John Neumann Parish and graduate of its parochial school, has been ordained a Holy Cross priest at his alma mater, Notre Dame University, in the presence of family, friends, former teachers and the parish youth minister who helped him discern his vocation.

Father Hovde is the youngest of three children of Robert and Cynthia Hovde. He graduated from St. John Neumann School in 2003 and became a peer leader for the parish youth group. The youth minister at the time, Susan Vanderwyden, worked with him throughout high school as he discerned the calling to priesthood. Also instrumental in his discerning: Father Jose Alfaro, now pastor of Blessed Trinity Church in Miami Springs, and Father Curtis Kiddy, now pastor of St. Jerome Parish in Fort Lauderdale.

The vocation-confirming moment for Father Hovde came when Vanderwyden and her volunteer ministers took the youth group to Notre Dame University for a program called NDVision, whose aim is to help young people from all over the country discern God's call in their life. That's where he first met with a Holy Cross priest regarding his vocation.

"Matt returned to NDVision after his junior year in high school, with his youth group, and researched the process a person would need to follow if they were interested in becoming a Holy Cross priest," explained Valarie Lloyd, dean of students at Msgr. Edward Pace High School and one of St. John Neumann's volunteer youth ministers at the time. "His mother joined the youth group and looked into everything herself as well."

Hovde was accepted to both the Holy Cross Congregation and Notre Dame University after his senior year in high school in 2007. He professed first vows July 28, 2012 and earned his Master of Divinity from Notre Dame in 2015.

Vanderwyden and Lloyd were among those in attendance when he professed his first vows in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as well as his ordination to the diaconate at Notre Dame.

They also attended his ordination April 2 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus, along with: two of his fellow peer leaders, Michael Carrier and Kevin Kleponis; Deacon Bob Binder, who baptized him at St. John Neumann, and his wife, Margaret; Myriam De Hainaut, his kindergarten teacher (and current religion teacher at the school); Anja Greaux, his former music teacher; William Vanderwyden, the organist at St. John Neumann; Betsy Sykes, former parish secretary; and Father Kiddy, who was among the concelebrants who laid hands on the newly-ordained priest.

In comments for the website of the Holy Cross Congregation, Father Hovde expressed these hopes for his ministry: "I hope to continue to grow in my love of Jesus Christ. Uniting myself to His Cross and being a herald of his resurrection is the joy of my life. I hope that I can continue to live out the beautiful mystery of our vows with joy and zeal. I hope that I continue to minister alongside my brothers faithfully. I hope that one day when my ministry on this earth has ended, there are more Holy Cross Religious than when I entered, spreading the Gospel and building up God's people in holiness.”

Father Hovde celebrated his first Mass April 3 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. He will celebrate a Mass at St. John Neumann at a yet-to-be-determined date.

"We have another fellow studying in Massachusetts who will be ordained next year," said William Vanderwyden.