By Allison Roorda
Community Post
Father Vince Hoying is celebrating 50 years in the priesthood this month. A considerable accomplishment when one stops to realize Hoying considers himself “backed into the priesthood.”

Hoying was first introduced to missions when the rector of the Precious Blood Fathers' Brunnerdale High School Seminary in Canton came by to talk to parents and students about recruiting for seminary.
“He caught me in my overalls and straw hat and bare feet, and he thought I was Tom Sawyer,” chuckled Hoying.
After the rector spoke with his parents, and his parents spoke to him, Hoying decided, “I think I'll try it.”
So, Hoying went off to join a class of 60 future seminarians, none of whom he knew. Hoying spent two years at St. Joseph College in Indiana then attended St. Carles Seminary, where he took four years of theology. He was ordained on June 1, 1958.
After his ordination, Hoying and his classmates went to Detroit for a year of tirocinium. The recent graduates taught high school and junior high classes. They were also responsible for helping out with Mass and confession as well as “door duty.”
“If someone came by, we took care of whatever showed up,” explained Hoying. Those duties included counseling someone who had a death in the family or anointing the sick.
“It was a good year for us,” Hoying said.
Hoying's first assignment as a priest was at Our Mother of Good Counsel in Hazard, Ky., where he got involved in hospital ministry, visiting patients.
“A lot of it was simply saying hi to people,” said Hoying, “making the prescence of the Lord felt.”
After three years, Hoying moved back to Detroit as an assistant. He spent two years doing parish work before he became a vocation director, recruiting for the priesthood. He covered 13 states from Texas to North Dakota.
Hoying's next calling was to the Sacred Heart parish in Sedalia, Mo., a calling he didn't want at first.
“They had a high school and a grade school,” explained Hoying, “and I didn't want to be a beggar all the time.”
But Hoying spoke of his admiration for the Sacred Heart parish after he got to know it better. The first pastor opened the parish in May of 1882. By September of the same year, the new school had 70 students.
“I thought that was great,” Hoying said. “That he had that many students in just four months.”
After Sacred Heart, Hoying spent eight years in Tulsa, Ok.
“It was 109 degrees the day I got there,” said Hoying. “They did not have rain from July to October.”
Towards the end of the summer, Hoying explained that they were allowed to wet the foundation of their building from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.
“If you wanted to get up that early,” Hoying laughed. “It was just a different situation.”
Hoying then went into hospital ministry fulltime.
“I went into hospital work mainly because there were so many meetings in church work,” admitted Hoying.
Hoying spent 12 years in hospital work, starting out at Providence Hospital in Cincinnati. He was then assigned to St. Mary parish in Centerville, Iowa, before returning to Ohio at Mercy Hospital in Toledo and St. Rita Hospital in Lima.
“I've always enjoyed hospital work,” he said. “I like the people, and it's a chance to do a lot of good spiritual work—bringing people back, or at least suggesting that they come back. Working with hospital personnel was also a plus. God is always there, and He does the hard part. But a little bit of kindness goes a long way.”
In 2004, Hoying volunteered to go back to Sedalia. Having built relationships with many of the people there, Hoying has been part of class reunions and growing families. Last September, a heart attack and bypass surgery forced Hoying to slow down, which resulted in his retirement, effective last week.
“This is my last move,” Hoying announced. He still plans to try to help out on Sundays at various local parishes. After over 20 years away from Ohio, he is also glad to be able to enjoy the brothers and priests at St. Charles Center, where he currently resides, as well as his family in the area.
Hoying can sum up his experience in the priesthood in one word.
“Well, it's basically people. Helping people grow in their religion, being hospitable and kind, for example. Making the Lord's presence known and felt.”
There will be a Mass of Thanksgiving for Hoying on Sunday, June 29 at Sacred Heart Church in McCartyville at 10 a.m. A dinner will follow at 12 p.m., followed by an open house for Fr. Hoying at the Minster K of C Hall from 2 to 4 p.m.