After 32 years, ‘Father Mike’ says goodbye to Providence

Clark County

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June 27, 2009

By CHRIS MORRIS The News and Tribune Sat Jun 27, 2009, 01:07 AM EDT

The Rev. Mike Hilderbrand says he has finally graduated. Others have a different story.

“One of the kids at Providence said I’ll be a real priest now,” said Hilderbrand, with a laugh.

The man who has provided spiritual and academic guidance over the past 32 years at Providence Junior-Senior High School is leaving to become pastor at St. Mary’s Lanesville.

It will definitely be like starting over for Hilderbrand, who was assigned to Providence shortly after being ordained. He has never been assigned to a church full time.

“It’s a career change,” he said. “A lot of people these days are forced to do that. I’m fortunate ... I’m not leaving the area.

“I feel very fortunate to get this assignment.”

Hilderbrand has celebrated Mass at numerous churches in the New Albany Deanery over the past three decades, but said he has never spent much time in Lanesville.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” he said.

He also said with the shortage of priests, he knew this day would come.

“It was a luxury they [archdiocese] could no longer afford,” he said. “A lay person can take over the counseling duties. I’m not bitter or angry.

“You just get very comfortable doing the same thing for so long. I see this as an opportunity to grow and stretch my wings.”

Hilderbrand, 61, called Providence a special place. Not only was he a spiritual director and guidance counselor, he also served as traffic cop after school each day — directing traffic out of the school lot.

He also could be seen roaming the sidelines during football games as the team’s chaplain — a task he said he will continue to perform this season.

“It [Providence] molds the people who are there after a while — students and faculty,” he said. “It was a great fit. I was teaching at a Catholic high school in Indy and didn’t know what to expect.

“I was fortunate to be involved with some great people. I was able to stand on the shoulders of some very good, strong people when I got there.”

Hilderbrand said former Providence Principal Bob Larkin and Dean of Students Gene “Spider” Murphy were a great help to him when he first arrived at the school.

“He definitely wore many hats here,” said Providence President Joan Hurley. “We are excited for Father Mike. He will still be close at St. Mary’s. And we will be able to look for him during any football game in the fall.”

Hilderbrand said he was fortunate to be able to merge education and the priesthood for the past 32 years. He also taught four years at Bishop Chatard school before coming to Providence.

“As with anyone in education, I hope I have touched them in a positive way,” he said of his time at Providence. “I’ve just been very fortunate.”

Ben Hornung has been a teacher at Providence for the past 24 years and a coach for 30. He said the school will seem strange without Hilderbrand.

“I don’t know what it will be like without Mike there,” said Hornung, who assists Hilderbrand with traffic control each afternoon after school. “Not only is he a great priest, but he was a great counselor.

“He’s going to be great for St. Mary’s Lanesville, but it’s going to be a great loss for Providence.”