2006 graduate who does a ‘spot-on’ voice impersonation of Fr. Strasz says Notre Dame Prep was instrumental in journey to the priesthood.
Dennis Strach, a 2006 alumnus of Notre Dame Preparatory School, was one of two men ordained as priests in the Congregation of Holy Cross Saturday, April 2, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.
The Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades, D.D., Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, conferred the Sacrament of Holy Orders on Rev. Mr. Dennis Anthony Strach II, C.S.C., and Rev. Mr. Matthew Earle Hovde, C.S.C.
Deacons Strach and Hovde professed perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience on Aug. 29, 2015, and committed themselves to the common life and apostolic work of the Congregation of Holy Cross.
In the video below, check out Fr. Strach's first homily as a priest. It's a winner!
In acknowledgement and celebration of their ordination, Rev. Thomas J. O’Hara, C.S.C., provincial superior for the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province, reminded Deacons Strach and Hovde of Constitution 2:12, that states, "As disciples of Jesus we stand side by side with all people. Like them we are burdened by the same struggles and beset by the same weaknesses; like them we are made new by the same Lord's love; like them we hope for a world where justice and love prevail." Fr. O'Hara further reminds them that “our Holy Father has challenged all priests to go forth to serve and not to be served.”
Strach, who is the son of Dennis and Carla Strach of Rochester Hills, Mich., served his diaconate at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in Austin, Tex.
Strasz impersonation
Strach says his high school time at Notre Dame was very important in his journey to the priesthood.
At Notre Dame, he had many conversations about his vocation to religious life. He said he turned to one of his former teachers, Ms. Ellen Tessada, often for support and she continues to be a very good mentor and friend. Participating in the school choir at Notre Dame also provided a good foundation that continued to solidify as he led the choir’s Praise and Worship group.
“I believe that music has been a way for me to share myself through the church while growing and learning through experience,” he said.
Looking back on his high-school experience, Strach fondly recalled a few special memories. He talked about how he would imitate the Marist priests in school. He said he can perfectly imitate Fr. Joe Hindelang and remembers how he once made an announcement to the whole school in Fr. Strasz’s voice: “Classes are cancelled for the rest of the afternoon.” Following this false announcement, Strach heard a familiar and somewhat scary voice saying, “Strach! In my office!” Needless to say, Fr. Strasz wasn’t impressed by Strach’s impersonations, even though they were spot-on—or perhaps it was because they were spot-on!
Overall and more seriously, Strach said that the learning experience at NDP’s Catholic community was a tremendous asset for him. “I saw my academic life through the lens of faith. Though both extremely valuable and important, Catholicity came before academics, which is something many don’t appreciate until much later. The Catholic faith teaching extended far beyond religion class and was shown in all that encompassed ND Prep.”
Excited and surreal
Before the ceremony, he summed up his ordination to the priesthood by saying the whole thing is pretty surreal.
“But I'm excited,” he added. “While I've been preparing for this moment for the past six years in a very intentional way, I've really been preparing for it in small ways throughout my entire life. There have been so many people along the way: my parents, friends, teachers at my Catholic grade school and at Notre Dame Prep, professors in college, parishioners back at home, who have inspired me and challenged me to do God's will and to use my gifts to serve others.
He said he’s happy to have found a vocation that makes use all of his talents and that provides him with a deep sense of joy and fulfillment, and a vocation that continually calls him to be better than he currently is – that is, he said, to live as God has created him.
“I am most excited to preside at the Eucharist. It will be such an incredible experience to offer up to God the gifts, prayers, and concerns of my brothers and sisters, and to act in the person of Christ, mediating God's love and mercy to those I encounter through this Sacrament. It's an awesome responsibility and an indescribable grace.”
Extensive resume of service
Prior to his diaconate year, Strach served as small group leader, Confirmation Preparation Program at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind.,; at St. Adalbert Catholic Church and School as Acolyte at Spanish-language sacraments, playing music for mass and benediction, planning the parish anniversary celebration, and teaching music to fourth-grade students. Before this he was at Penrose-St. Francis Hospitals, Colorado Springs, Colo., as chaplain of the Namaste Alzheimer’s Care Center and minister of music at Sacred Heart Tri-Community Parish.
Prior to this, he spent time at St. Ignatius Martyr Church, Austin, Tex., as a student teacher at La Casa de Amistad upon his First Profession; then as teacher at Colegio Fe y Alegría Nº25, in Lima, Peru, (middle school and high school English; lectures in religion and history classes; after school tutoring). During spring break 2013, Strach was on the pastoral team at Parroquia Nuestra Madre Santisima de la Luz, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. As a Second Year Professed (2013-14), he was a student teacher at Marian High School in Mishawaka, Ind. That same year, he preached at the Academy of Preachers National Conference, Indianapolis, Ind., where he had his homily published.
During the summer of 2014, Strach studied at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem, Israel, before serving in marriage prep at the University of Notre Dame in its Office of Campus Ministry (2014-2015). He then served as a pilgrimage leader with students to France during fall break (2014) with the University of Notre Dame, where he accompanied undergraduates to Le Mans (the Holy Cross Shrine and the tomb of the founder of Holy Cross, Bl. Basil Moreau).
Strach earned a bachelor’s degree in music with a minor in Spanish from Oakland University, Rochester, Mich., in 2010 and received his M.Div. from the University of Notre Dame in 2015. He entered formation with Holy Cross as a postulant in 2010. He made his First Profession of Vows on July 28, 2012.
Fr. Strach celebrated his first mass as a priest on April 3, 2016, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, Ind. He also will celebrate mass followed by a reception at his home parish, St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Lake Orion, Mich., at 4:30 p.m. on June 11.
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.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.