We invite readers to send short stories about the ways in which their lives have been personally blessed by the life and work of priests and religious in our diocese.

By Karina Fabian

Many of us only see our parish priests at Mass on Sunday, but a priest’s – and the Church’s – influence is much farther reaching, as Father Matthew Huber attests both with his experiences and in his life.

Father Huber said that the quiet encouragement of the priests around him inspired him to think of a vocation in the Church. His family was part of the Cathedral of St. Helena parish in Helena, and his parents often invited the priests over for dinner.

Later, when he graduated and went to Carroll College, he would continue to befriend the priests teaching there. As he rattled off name after name of good friends and mentors at the college, he said it was their friendship and wonderful example that got him thinking he could make a life of the priesthood.

After graduating from Carroll, he went to the North American Seminary in Rome with studies at Pontifical Gregorian University then University of St. Thomas Aquinas for his master’s. In 1987, after a memorable year as a deacon in Rome, he was ordained, but that was not the end of his education. After serving at St. Anne’s in Butte and St. Rose of Lima in Dillon, he was sent to Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., to get his canon law degree. After getting his degree, he was sent to Holy Family Parish in Missoula, where he is today.

His parish work is not his only duty, however. He is a judge on the diocesan tribunal, and serves on the diocesan pastoral council, the personnel board, and the College of Consulters (a group of six to seven priests who assist the bishop in the operation of the diocese and who elect an administrator if a bishop is transferred). He also serves on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Board and the Montana Catholic Services Board.

“They try to keep me pretty busy. But as a Catholic church we have a comprehensive ministry to our people. It takes on many forms and many outreach programs. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development, for example, is just a truly wonderful and life-giving thing, promoting social justice in communities and the nation. Nonetheless, in each and every one of those areas (the Church is involved in) you can see how the Church reaches out to bring healing, reconciliation, and comfort, and works to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.

He spoke with joy about his work helping to heal marriages, bring children to families (through adoptive services), provide pastoral care to all parishes, and bring about the greater mission of the Church in a coordinated and comprehensive way.

Nonetheless, his greatest joy is to gather with the community for Eucharist on Sunday. “To celebrate the Eucharist, to celebrate the sacrament and to announce the Good News in a very tangible way to the community and through that witness to grow together in the knowledge of faith – it’s the greatest privilege I have,” he said.

Father Huber said he loves his life – and he has the priests he’s known and worked with to thank. “You think of priests in the background, but how these guys have truly given themselves is just powerful to see. I’ve always admired them. I have been really privileged to know such a fine group.”


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 21, No. 8, September 16, 2005.