Rock-and-Roll Priest Creates Chart-Worthy Music Alone

Father Maximilian Mary Dean, a hermit from southern Pennsylvania, devotes his days to prayer and music. He shared, “My primary vocation is prayer. And then flowing from that is the music.” He attracts over 60,000 listeners annually and more than 500,000 streams a year. Father Dean’s music has received recognition, including being a finalist for the best rock song category and winning “Best Marian Song” at the recent “Catholic Music Awards” in the Vatican. He crafts and records his rock music layer by layer in his St. Joseph Hermitage studio, where he has a recording booth and a digital audio workstation.

Father Dean’s music embodies a vintage sound influenced by ’70s and ’80s music. Uniquely, his music sounds vintage without any conscious effort, as he has abstained from listening to secular pop and rock music since 1988. This dedication to classic sounds is rooted in his musical upbringing. Father Dean learned to play the piano at 9, then the guitar at 10. In the 1980s, he played lead guitar in a rock band. While attending DePaul University in Chicago on a classical guitar scholarship, he underwent a significant conversion back to his Catholic faith, leading him to the priesthood. His budding Priesthood was marked with a deeper realization that material success and earthly pleasures could not fulfill his innermost needs. This awakening urged him to pursue his vocation to serve God.

Father Dean later pursued studies in philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville. He completed his studies in 1991 and was ordained a priest with the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate in 2000. His ordination marked the beginning of his journey towards a life of prayer and service to God. Despite focusing on his pastoral duties, Father Dean never abandoned his love for music. Although his shift towards priesthood meant leaving behind rock and roll in his professional life, he continued to play and record sacred music even while serving with the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.

In his current role as a hermit, he seamlessly blends his love for prayer and music, bringing spiritual and musical solace to his listeners. The creative process unfolds within the walls of his hermitage, where he meticulously composes and records his rock music. Father Dean’s latest album, “The Lord’s Will is Most Beautiful,” showcases his musical prowess influenced by the resonant tunes of previous decades. Despite exuding a vintage sound, his recordings reflect a timeless quality that captivates his audience.

Father Maximilian Mary Dean’s story serves as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of his spiritual calling and musical passion. His commitment to both prayer and music shines through in his compositions, resonating with a vast audience of listeners who find solace in his heartfelt music. As he remains secluded in the hills of Pennsylvania, Father Dean continues to create chart-worthy rock music that strikes a chord with his listeners and nourishes their souls.