Responding to the Call: Rev. Maximillian Hottle, OFM dies at 86.

Fr. Maximilian (“Max”) Hottle, O.F.M., passed away on June 22nd after a courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his brother Franciscans along with a close friend who had been caring for him at San Xavier del Bac Friary.

Fr. Hottle was ordained as a priest of the Order of Friars Minor in St. Barbara, California on December 23, 1961.. After one year, he was sent to the Philippines where he his zeal as a missionary proved invaluable. Whether serving as a parish priest, the Director of Formation at seminaries in Quezon City, or teaching sociology his compassion and love for Christ and the people of the Philippines was steadfast throughout his 23 years of service there.

In 1987 Fr. Max returned to the United States in to serve as a staff member in the Franciscan Mission Office in Silver Spring, Maryland preparing lay Catholics to become missionaries nationally and internationally. He especially loved the impact mission work had on the missionaries. As he stated:

“When we come back, we have changed. And of course, that was the main idea. We in turn will sort of become like missioners back home. So all of us are missioners to others around us.” Fr. Max Hottle


In 1991, he was called tothe Tohono O’Odham Nation at the San Solano Mission in Topawa. Fr. Max was beloved by the people he served faithfully until 2009 when he was transferred to California.

While in the Diocese of Tucson, Fr. Max served two terms as the Vicar Forane for the Pima-West Vicariate. He was appointed by Bishop Emeritus Gerald Kicanas, D.D. to the College of Consultors for the Diocese of Tucson serving from 2005 to 2009. While in California, he was appointed to represent the Commissariate of the Holy Land for the
Western Region in San Miguel, California.

In 2016, Fr. Max returned to Arizona to assist his brother Franciscans
with their ministry to the Tohono O’odham people while residing at the San Xavier del Bac Friary. His passing leaves a large whole in the community. As expressed by Fr. Manuel Viera, O.F.M., J.C.L.: “Max was definitely one of the good ones and is greatly missed.”

Funeral plans are being made by the Order at this time. Details regarding a local funeral liturgy will be announced when available.