By Rocio Granados - La Voz Catolica
PALMETO BAY | Trinitarian Father Daniel Houde died Oct. 11, 2024, at OpusCare Hospice in Palmetto Bay. He was the pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard Parish in Palmetto Bay.
Father Houde was born in Holyoke, MA on August 5, 1950, the son of Raymond and Florence Houde. He entered the novitiate of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives in 1978. He made solemn vows in 1984 and he was ordained a deacon on 1985, in Washington, DC. In September 27, 1987, he was ordained to the priesthood at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Asbury Park, NJ.
Father Houde battled pancreatic cancer for several months but worked until the very last moment. “He stopped celebrating Mass about a month ago just because he wasn't breathing well," said Coraly Maldonado, office manager at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard Parish.
Photographer: FILE PHOTO
Father Daniel Houde: Born August 5, 1950; ordained, September 27, 1987; died Oct. 11, 2024.
“He couldn't celebrate Mass, but he was fully aware of everything that was happening in the parish. He was doing administrative work, making decisions, signing documents all the way to the very last moment,” said Maldonado.
He went to hospice on Thursday, Oct. 10, and died at 4 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 11.
“It's such a shock,” said Trinitarian Father Kevin McGrady, parochial vicar of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard.
“Even with all of his battling (cancer), he was absolutely in his leadership position until the very last moment,” added Father McGrady.
“He was the most dedicated priest in the entire Archdiocese of Miami,” said Maldonado, who added, “He didn't take a day off. He never took vacation while he was here. He was always available for confession and anointing of the sick.”
Anointing the sick and celebrating funeral Masses were his favorite things to do. Several times a week, he visited a hospice facility to give a good service and attention to all people there.
“And I think he was born a priest,” added Maldonado, recalling a story Father Houde told her some time ago. As a kid, he made other kids kneel while he distributed crackers as Holy Communion at the school bus stop.
Father Houde loves his priesthood ministry. In “his homilies, he always puts together a little bit of everything, a little bit of history, a little bit of life of the saint of the day, and then the interpretation of the Gospel,” said Maldonado.
Maldonado met Father Houde about 10 years ago, when he came to the church as a parochial vicar and she was in charge of the liturgical environment ministry, doing decorations in the church. Father Houde “loved having the church looking beautiful. He would put on his shorts and his T-shirt and do decorations,” Maldonado recalls.
Although in 2017 Father Houde left the church for a few months, he returned in 2018, and when Father William Sullivan, the former pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard, was elected Trinitarian Provincial in 2021, Father Houde became the pastor of the church, a month before that, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“And he didn't start his treatment until June of 2022, just because he felt the responsibility of being available for Christmas and Easter celebrations,” said Maldonado. “He gave his whole life to the Church, to the parish. Basically, in a way, he laid down his life for the parish. He served in the same way that Jesus did,” Maldonado noted.
During his years as a priest, Father Houde served in parish ministry at churches in several states, including Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Asbury Park, NJ; St. Ann, Bristol, PA; Our Lady of Mount Carmel- St. Benedicta, Staten Island, NY; Incarnation-St. James Church, Trenton, NJ; Sacred Heart of Mary and St. Rita in Baltimore, MD; Our Lady of Sorrows, Victoria, TX; and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard Parish in Palmetto Bay.
He also served as a Member of the Provincial Council and as the National Director of the Trinitarian Laity. Father Houde started the Third Order of the Trinitarians in Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard.
“Father Daniel will always be remembered for his inspiring preaching, care for the sick, hospitalized and homebound, concern for persecuted Christians, and his dedication to religious life and priestly ministry. He served God’s people well, and often expressed gratitude to the Most Holy Trinity, to the members of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and the Captives, and to his family for the blessings he received during his lifetime,” reads the obituary signed by Father Sullivan, O.SS.T. Minister Provincial of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives.
Father Houde is survived by his brother Paul, cousin Leona Doyle, and the priests and brothers of the Trinitarian Order.
FUNERAL SERVICES
- Viewing will take place at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard Parish, 7500 SW 152nd Street, Palmetto Bay, on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, from 4-7 p.m. A Funeral Mass, with Miami Auxiliar Bishop, Enrique Delgado presiding, will be celebrated on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Center.
- A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Monastery, 1400 Underwood Road, Sykesville, MD, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at New Cathedral Cemetery, 4300 Old Frederick Road, Baltimore, MD.
