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A HISTORY OF ST. MATTHEW CATHOLIC CHURCH
1964 The Archdiocese of Atlanta purchased the Matthew Public School building and property for the purpose of establishing a mission church. The building was in dire need of repair. 1965 The mission church was dedicated in the Spring of 1965 by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin and was originally designated as a mission of the parish of St. Joseph, in Athens. There were nine original families that were involved in the early years. The original parishioners for the mission were the James Cohron family, Armand Cody, Joseph Graceau, Iva Grant, the James Lord family, the John Nastro family, Evelyn Olson, the James Taylor family, and Betty Wall. 1972 The mission was transferred to St. Anna Catholic Church in Monroe. Over the next three decades, many repairs and upgrades were made. 1991 The mission was again transferred to St. Oliver Plunkett in Snellville. At this time, it was served by the missionaries of LaSalette – Rev. Thomas Carroll, M.S., Rev. Michael Flanagan, M.S., and Rev. Clifford Hasler, M.S. 1992 Major renovations to the sanctuary, the social hall and the classrooms were undertaken. The work was completed in 1992. At this time, stained glass windows were installed, having been hand-crafted by the monks at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers. The side widows were purchased from St. Joseph’s Infirmary when it moved from downtown Atlanta. The stained glass windows across the back of the mission were added later by the Beaupre family. 1992 Sister Arcaro and Sister Clara Mahoney, Cenacle Sisters, became members of St. Matthew Catholic Mission. 1994 Sister Barbara Young and Sister Alice Weckerle joined the mission when Sister Clara retired. St. Matthew’s faith community continued to grow. 1997 A new Religious Education building was added behind the church to serve the growing community. 1999 June 24, 1999, a decree of establishment was issued Archbishop John Francis Donoghue establishing the parish of St. Matthew and fundraising plans were made to build a new church. Reverend Reyes was the founding pastor. 2004- 2007 A Capital Campaign was initiated and groundbreaking for the church and office facility was held in 2006. Reverend Father Jaime Barona was the pastor during this time. The building was completed in June of 2007 and the first mass was held on the weekend of June 24th. 2007 On September 22, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory dedicated out new church and office facility. The old church was renamed Hedges Hall in honor of our long-time parishioners and benefactors, Fred and Virginia Hedges. It became a social hall for the parish. 2012 The Reverend Gilbert Exume assumed the role of pastor and the parish has continued to grow in number of families. The parish continues to focus on the spiritual growth of its membership, safety and security of parish property and parishioners, and fiscal responsibility to ensure stability and growth. 2025 The mortgage for the church building is paid in full! A parish-wide celebration was held on June 22, 2025, to rejoice as one for the accomplishment of paying off the mortgage. -
Altar Crucifix and FixturesThe crucifix hanging above the altar has an interesting story. The wooden framework for the crucifix was modeled after a crucifix designed and painted by the Florentine painter and mosaicist, Cimabue. Cimabue's crucifix, commissioned by the Franciscans, is a large distemper on wood and hung in the Basilica de Santa Croce (Forence)since the late thirteenth century. Cimabue's crucifix was damaged by the great flood in Florence in 1966 and underwent 10 years of restoration.
Like Cimabue's crucifix, the paintings at each end of Jesus' outstretched arms represent the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist. The painting on the wood was done by a local Georgia artist. The woodwork by done by a local cabinet shop. The construction of the cross by the cabinet shop brought such joy that they could not place a price on it, thus they donated it to our parish.
The figure of Jesus was originally purchased by another parish. Once they received the figure, it was determined it did not fit their decor, and they offered to sell it to St. Mathew for the price they paid for it. This price was agreed to by both parties. However, when the team from St. Matthew went to pick up the figure, the seller indicated that there were also shipping charges from Italy! The St. Matthew team stood fast to the original terms and the seller relented.
The altar, ambo and altar chairs were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hill, members of the parish. There items were constructed by Paul and David Tate. The altar is constructed of hard male. The wood inside the arches is bird's eye maple and the top if marble. The chairs and the ambo are also constructed of hard maple with the inside of the arches bird's eye maple to match the altar. If you look closely at the ambo, you will find two small insets of walnut. This was a personal touch from the builders. -
The Evolution of Our Stained Glass WindowsSince the dedication of St. Matthew in 2007, it has been a dream to install stained glass in the windows. This dream lay silent for seven long years.
In early 2014, the pastor was approached by Paul and Mary Hill who wished to donate a stained-glass window in honor of the baptism of their grandchildren. They chose to complete the diamond shaped window above the altar. This started the process of finding and retaining an artist specializing in stained glass windows at a reasonable price. A local artist was highly recommended and selected to design, manufacture, and install the window. This first window was installed in June 2014.
Upon completion of the first window and growing interest in completing more, it was established that each window would carry a message along with the image. The Blessed Mary and Saint Joseph windows would be on their respective sides of the altar. Along the right side of the church (while facing the altar) the twelve apostles would be depicted, with the middle four windows containing the four gospel writers. The apostles would continue to the rear left side, with other selected saints completing the left side. The lower rectangular windows would start on the right side (while facing the alter) with the seven Sacraments and continue around the church with Bible stories from creation to redemption.
The second window commissioned in November 2014 was of St. Joseph and donated by the Shekey family in honor of Joseph Shekey. In addition to to St. Joseph, this window portrays three additional scenes: the angel appearing to St. Joseph; the Holy Family flight to Egypt; and St. Joseph with the boy Jesus in the workshop. The window was installed in February 2015.
The third widow commissioned in April 2015, was of St. Matthew, the first of the gospel writers. Janet Ueberschaer expressed her desire to have the window completed and installed prior to her death. This was not in God's plan, yet her family donated the window in her memory. The window shows St. Matthew with his symbol, the angel, sitting on his shoulder facing forward rather than whispering in his ear as so many other illustrations. The smaller window below illustrates the fifth sacrament: Anointing of the Sick. The window was installed in October 2015.
The fourth window, installed in February 2016, depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary and was donated by Roy and Mary Carter in memory of their families. This window also illustrates the Annunciation, the Visitation, and the Nativity.
The fifth window, installed in February, 2016, is of St. John the Evangelist. Note the eagle, the symbol of St. John on this window donated by Bob and Mary Tardif in loving memory of their parents, the Shuchart and Tardif families. The smaller window below illustrates the first event of the creation to redemption series mentioned above.
Additional windows have been added as follow:- 2017: St. Luke/Sacrament of Matrimony from Jorge Mancillas and Women's Bible Study
- 2017/2018: St. Mark/Sacrament of Holy Orders from Deacons Jaime Agudelo, Tim Kirksey, Larry Welsh, and Dan Buckley
- 2017: St. Lucy/Healing of the Lepers from William Marder
- 2018: Our Lady of Guadalupe/The Last Supper from Elva Rodriguez
- 2018/2019: Dove/Holy Spirit from Ray Beaupre in memory of George Artelli
- 2019: St. Peter/Sacrament of Baptism from the Hill Family (Peter, Paul and Mary)