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Dear Saints Peter and Paul and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parishioners,

I can’t explain how excited I am to be your new pastor. I look forward to working with you and growing in the Lord together. Many have asked what I would like to be called. You may call me Father, Father Matt, Father Matthew, or Fr Robben…I’m flexible! With that said, here are a few details about my history.

On February 17, 1972, I was born the 13th of 14 alphabetically named children. As a child, I grew up on a working holstein dairy farm milking as many as 250 animals. I attended St John the Baptist Church and grade school in Harrison, Ohio. I graduated from Elder High School and attended 1 year at the University of Cincinnati. Starting when I was 16, I worked in the restaurant business. First, with LaRosa’s and then as general manager for Pizza Hut for 3 years. At that point, I switched to managing at several Jersey Mike’s locations. I returned to UC in 1999 and graduated with a BA with honors in History with the intention of teaching high school. Lacking the funds to pay for graduate school I was able to get a job at Thomas More College in Northern Kentucky working in the maintenance department and taking education classes at the same time. It was at Thomas More that my vocational call was reawakened. I entered Mount Saint Mary Seminary where I earned a Master of Divinity and was ordained a priest on May 19, 2012. My 1st assignment was as chaplain and teacher at Chaminade Julienne High School in Dayton Ohio where I taught Scripture (I am currently working on my thesis for a Masters of Biblical Studies). My weekend assignment was to St Peter Parish in Huber Heights, Ohio. Earlier this year, due to the medical retirement of the pastor, I was named co-administrator of Region 12 (St Peter, Holy Cross, Our Lady of the Rosary, St Stephen’s, and St Adalberts). Other ministries I have been involved with include Project Rachel and the Respect Life Office. In my spare time, I like to play most any sport, especially basketball, ping pong, golf bowling or just walking in the woods. I also like to play cards (Pinochle with Euchre a close second), watch movies, and cook (baking in particular). I love volunteering each year for the FAM OHIO convention usually held in Columbus dedicated to helping educate those with bleeding disorders. I also like volunteering for the Over the Rhine and Walnut Hills Soup Kitchens as an active board member. Finally, I like to spend time with family and friends. I hope this gives you a snapshot of who I am, the rest you will learn in time.

God’s blessings to all,

Fr Matthew J Robben

Deacon Tom Lynd is a retired teacher, counselor, and administrator that came to work as the first business manager of SSPP in 1998. The following year he agreed to begin studies in the diaconate program with the approval of Fr. Jim Willig and parish council. Tom was ordained a permanent deacon in 2004 and has enjoyed serving the parish for the past 10 years.

Deacon Tom’s Pastoral ministries are many. Along with diaconating a mass each weekend, he preaches, baptizes and marries, leads prayers at cemeteries, and assists with the RCIA program, especially guiding our young catechumens through the process. Tom can be found many days visiting and praying with the sick and homebound, teaching at PREP on Monday nights, or breaking open the Word with parishioners.

I was ordained a deacon April 30, 2016. I am a family man, married to Linda for 48 years (July 2016); she has been very supportive-an important requirement. We have two children and two grandchildren. As a lay person I was involved in numerous ministries-visiting the sick, Eucharistic minister, lector, RCIA catechist, adult formation, etc.
I graduated from The Ohio College of Applied Sciences, Xavier University, and The Athenaeum of Ohio. I served six years with the US Army reserves. During my working career I was employed by several foundries and manufacturing plants in the Cincinnati area. I retired from manufacturing after 48 years, as a Quality Assurance Manager, to concentrate on my deacon formation studies.
Deacons are called to serve in a special way but I have always felt called to serve in many other ways – service to family, the Catholic Church, my country, and the community have all been part of my life’s work. I look forward to serving the priests and parishioners of Sts. Peter and Paul and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.