NOTRE DAME, Ind. With joy and thanksgiving, the Congregation of Holy Cross celebrated the final profession of vows of two men at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame.
Rev. Thomas J. O’Hara, C.S.C., provincial superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross, U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers, presided at the Mass and received the vows of Matthew E. Hovde, C.S.C. and Dennis A. Strach II, C.S.C.
Rev. Mr. Matthew Hovde and Rev. Mr. Dennis Strach II tookthe vows of chastity, poverty and obedience according to theConstitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross. For the past several years, they have been in a period of temporary vows, which they renewed annually. On Aug. 29, they committed their lives and work to the communal life and ministry of Holy Cross.
They were ordained to the Order of the Deacon at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015, in the Moreau Seminary Chapel by Most Rev. Daniel R. Jenky, Bishop of the Peoria Diocese.
Matthew Hovde is the youngest of three children of Robert and Cynthia Hovde of Miami, Fla. He graduated with a B.A. in history/theology from the University of Notre Dame in 2011, where he earned a M.Div. in 2015. Matthew entered the Congregation of Holy Cross in 2007 as an Old Collegian. He made his first profession of vows on July 28, 2012.
During his formation, Matthew served at the Center for Social Concerns, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind. (2012-2013); at St. Joseph Parish (Summer 2013); St. Pius X Parish (2013-2014); the Shrine of Basil Moreau, LeMans France (Summer 2014); and as assistant director of the Old College Undergraduate Seminary, Notre Dame, Ind. (2014-2015).
Matthew will serve his diaconate year as assistant rector of Sorin College, University of Notre Dame and in Campus Ministry, University of Notre Dame.
Dennis Strach II is the only son of Dennis and Carla Strach of Rochester Hills, Mich. He graduated with a B.A. from Oakland University, Rochester, Mich., in 2010, pursued graduate studies at the University of Notre Dame in 2010-2011 and earned his M.Div. from the University in 2015. He entered Holy Cross in August 2010 as a postulant and made his first vows on July 28, 2012.
During his formation, Dennis served in Confirmation prep at the Office of Campus Ministry, University of Notre Dame (2010-2011); completed a summer assignment at St. Adalbert Catholic Church (summer 2011); served as chaplain of spiritual care at the Penrose and St. Francis Hospitals, as well as the Namaste Alzheimer Center his novitiate year (2011-2012). Dennis then served at La Casa de Amistad, South Bend, Ind. (2012-2013); Fe y Alegria School, Canto Grande, Peru (summer 2013); Marian High School, Mishawaka, Ind. (2013-2014); and served in marriage preparation at the Office of Campus Ministry, University of Notre Dame (2014-2015).
Dennis will serve as a deacon at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in Austin, Texas.
More about Holy Cross
The Congregation of Holy Cross was founded in 1837 by Rev. Basil Moreau, C.S.C. and has served the Catholic Church for more than 175 years. Today there are approximately 1,200 Holy Cross religious working to educate both the hearts and minds of believers of Jesus Christ in 16 countries and on five continents.
The United States Province of Priests and Brothers is a community made up of approximately 500 priests, brothers, and seminarians and is headquartered in Notre Dame, Ind. The United States Province fulfills Blessed Moreau’s vision in its education, parish and mission settings around the world.
Education
The priests and brothers are educators in the faith at the Province’s four colleges and universities: the University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, Ind., 1842), University of Portland (Portland, Ore., 1901), King’s College (Wilkes-Barre, Pa, 1946.), and Stonehill College (Easton, Mass., 1948).
Parish
There are 13 parishes in the United States, from Vermont to Texas to Oregon to Florida, as well as 10 abroad.
Mission
The Province’s ministries/apostolates includes Andre House (Phoenix), which serves the homeless and working poor, and Saint Andre Bessette Catholic Church (Portland, Ore.), a parish which also provides a soup kitchen and other services to the marginalized. Ave Maria Press in Notre Dame, Ind., is one of the oldest Catholic publishing houses. Holy Cross Family Ministries in North Easton, Mass., encompassing Family Theater Productions, Family Rosary and Father Peyton Family Institute, promotes the power of the Rosary and the spiritual well-being of the family. Holy Cross Retreat House, also in North Easton, is a retreat facility run by Holy Cross religious and lay staff.
The Province’s international mission work reaches into Districts of Chile, East Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania), and Peru, as well as the region of Mexico. Globally, the U.S. Province’s Holy Cross Mission Center supports the international mission work of the worldwide efforts of the Congregation of Holy Cross, spanning 16 countries on five continents. But it also directly supports those international locations for which the U.S. Province has direct jurisdiction, and those countries with which the U.S. Province has a special relationship.
To learn more about Holy Cross, visit www.holycrossusa.org.
To learn more about discerning a call to religious life in Holy Cross, please visit www.holycrossvocations.org.
