Deceased Friars

Alvin Matthews, OFM

Alvin Matthews

1920 – 1988

Fr. Alvin Matthews, OFM, was born April 9, 1920 in Hartford, Conn. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., and entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1943. Fr. Alvin professed temporary vows one year later, made his solemn profession in 1947 and was ordained in 1949.

His first assignment was to Siena College, where he taught philosophy. He spent an academic year at Laval University in Quebec, and returned to Siena as a member of the philosophy department until 1962. After one year at Christ the King Seminary, Fr. Alvin went south to serve as diocesan director of the Newman Apostolate for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. In 1969, he was appointed pastor of Holy Cross Church in Callicoon and served there for six years.

He returned south and ministered for three years at St. Augustine Parish, Thomasville, Ga., and for five years at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Atlanta. Fr. Alvin’s final assignment was to Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford, Mass.

He died on April 8, 1988 in the Provincial infirmary at Warwick, N.Y. Fr. Alvin was 67 years old, a professed friar for 43 years and a priest for 38 years.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

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Alvin Matthews, OFM

Alvin Matthews

1920 – 1988

Fr. Alvin Matthews, OFM, was born April 9, 1920 in Hartford, Conn. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., and entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1943. Fr. Alvin professed temporary vows one year later, made his solemn profession in 1947 and was ordained in 1949.

His first assignment was to Siena College, where he taught philosophy. He spent an academic year at Laval University in Quebec, and returned to Siena as a member of the philosophy department until 1962. After one year at Christ the King Seminary, Fr. Alvin went south to serve as diocesan director of the Newman Apostolate for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. In 1969, he was appointed pastor of Holy Cross Church in Callicoon and served there for six years.

He returned south and ministered for three years at St. Augustine Parish, Thomasville, Ga., and for five years at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Atlanta. Fr. Alvin’s final assignment was to Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford, Mass.

He died on April 8, 1988 in the Provincial infirmary at Warwick, N.Y. Fr. Alvin was 67 years old, a professed friar for 43 years and a priest for 38 years.