Rev. Carl J. Matthews S.J.

Father Carl Joseph Damien Matthews died peacefully in Rouge Valley Hospital, Ajax-Pickering Ontario on the 26th September, the Feast of the Canadian Martyrs, 2012 in his 81st year of life and 62nd year of life in the Society. Carl Matthews was born on 23rd February 1932 in Kingston, Ontario, son of Charles Matthews and Florence Casey. He attended Regiopolis College in Kingston, and then on the 14th August 1951 entered St. Stanislaus Novitiate, Guelph. After first vows and two years of Juniorate he studied Philosophy at Regis College (the Jesuit Seminary,) 403 Wellington Street, Toronto. He returned to Regiopolis for two years of teaching and then Special Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. During Theological Studies he was ordained a priest on the 4th June 1966. He returned to the University of Toronto to study Education which led to a long ministry in Education which included being a consultant to the Catholic Education Association, a Trustee of the Catholic School Board and Chairman of the Toronto Catholic District School Board. He wrote several books on Education in Ontario at this time. During this period he practiced pastoral ministry at Martyrs’ Shrine, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Good Shepherd Parish in Thornhill and St. Michael’s Cathedral. For a while he worked as an editor for The Catholic Register in Toronto. On March 2nd 1994 he became the Pastor at St. John the Evangelist Church in Waubaushene, ON and St. Francis Xavier Mission on Christian Island. During this time he offered lectures at St. Augustine’s Seminary and did considerable writing and editing. He worked there until 2010. He then became the Chaplain at St. Joseph’s Motherhouse in Toronto. As his health deteriorated, he moved to the La Storta Community in Pickering, and then to the Rene Goupil Infirmary. Carl was a dignified and gracious priest who cherished his clerical role and related warmly but formally with his companions. Carl was very interested in politics and enjoyed recounting a good story. He will be missed by his family and his companions.

Friends are invited to visit at St. Ignatius Chapel, Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Centre, 2325 Liverpool Road North, Pickering, on Sunday, Sept 30, from 2 – 4 p.m. and at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel, 467 Sherbourne St. on Sunday Sept 30 from 7 – 9 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 520 Sherbourne St. on Monday Oct. 1, 2012 at 10:30 am. Interment in the Jesuit Cemetery, Guelph, ON to follow at 2:30 p.m. In memory of Father Mathews, donations may be made to the Jesuit Development Office, 43 Queen's Park Crescent East, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C3.