Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

At the Chrism Mass held on April 14 at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln, Father Matthew Vandewalle was among the priests honored for their jubilee anniversaries of ordination. Father Vandewalle is approaching the 25th anniversary of his ordination as a priest, having been ordained on May 27, 2000, by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz for the Diocese of Lincoln.

Father Vandewalle was raised in Lincoln, son to Jack and Sandra Vandewalle, and is an alumnus of Pius X High School, where he graduated in 1988. His academic journey towards priesthood began after he decided to pursue a seminarian life with the Diocese of Lincoln. He started his collegiate education at St. Philip’s Seminary in Toronto, after which he attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, graduating in 1999.

His early years in the priesthood saw him serving as the assistant pastor at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Plattsmouth. By 2002, he returned to Lincoln as the assistant pastor at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ and began teaching theology at Pius X High School, his former school. That year marked a memorable event when he, alongside another priest, ran beside the popemobile during World Youth Day in Canada while Pope St. John Paul II was present. This and other experiences have contributed to what he describes as a sense of "brotherhood" with fellow priests.

In 2005, Father Vandewalle's work took him to Saunders County, where he served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Colon and St. Mary in Cedar Bluffs for nine years. During this period, he also taught theology at Bishop Neumann High School and took on the additional role of assistant principal in 2011.

His current assignment began in 2014 when he became pastor of St. John Nepomucene Parish in Weston and its mission, St. Vitus in Touhy. Alongside his pastoral duties, he serves as principal at St. John Nepomucene School, a role he deeply values, often enjoying the unexpected humor from the children.

Father Vandewalle shared anecdotes from his experiences, from children's candid remarks to finding joy in spontaneous laughter with congregants during Mass. He described the significance of both lighter moments and more somber times in prayer, witnessing the mercy of God and feeling encouraged by others recognizing his vocation.

He reflected on moments when spiritual counsel brought hope and comfort to the struggles of others, validating his sense of vocation. "I have appreciated when people have told me exactly that, after they have received some spiritual inspiration," he mentioned, emphasizing the impact of providing support during their challenges.

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