(Matthew has travelled over 35,000 km in the past 11 months and here is his story! Eds.)
When and where were you born?
Born on St Patrick’s Day 17/3/1968 at the Longreach Base Hospital in Queensland.
Memories of your childhood/family/upbringing/schooling?
I was brought up on the family sheep property “Yarraman” 70kms north of Longreach. Went to the local primary school in Longreach, St Joseph’s Convent, run by the Presentation nuns and then went on to Nudgee Junior College and then for high school Nudgee College in Brisbane.
Being brought up on a sheep property was fantastic and living in the bush there are many stories and experiences. Going to boarding school, holidays were always a highlight lots of shearing, mustering, pig shooting and swimming in the dam. The years at Nudgee were also great experiences where lifelong friendships were formed, and experiences shared.
When/why did you decide to enter the Seminary?
I was asked as a senior at school if I interested in priesthood by our then school chaplain – who now is our Diocesan Bishop, Brian Heenan. As I look back, being asked was a big thing and very important. The example of the Christian Brothers and the example of how they lived their lives was also an important factor especially the late Br Lou Muldorf. A lot of water went under the bridge, working and living out in West Queensland before I slowed down to look at answering this importantquestion. Nearly 20 years later, in 1999, I eventually entered the seminary.
What are your memories of Seminary life?
My experience of Pius XII, Banyo and what is now known as Holy Spirit Seminary was challenging and very rewarding. There were times where I struggled and times which were life giving and very rewarding. Life at the seminary was a sacred time of formation and study which has helped me to discover and open many doors into who I am as Matthew and who I am as a priest called to serve.
When and where were you ordained?
I was ordained a Deacon at St Brigid’s, Longreach my home parish where the town came together and celebrated on the 28th of April 2004. I was ordained a priest at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Rockhampton on the 11/11/2004.
What areas of ministry have you worked in since Ordination?
I spent one year in Rockhampton at the Cathedral as assistant priest working with Fr Tony Mannix. I then spent three years ministering in Bundaberg with Fr Terry Loth and am now in Western Qld in the Parish of Blackall/Tambo. I share ministry in the Western parts of the Diocese with Fr Terry Stallard from Longreach.
What have been the highlights of your ministry to date?
Many highlights: working with many dedicated parishioners in their ministries; simple times where I have been allowed to listen to the stories of life and share in peoples sacred and life changing moments; sharing in special occasions with school-friends as they now get married and at baptisms of their children; times with family and sharing with them in sacramental moments as well.
What challenges have you faced in your ministry and how have these been overcome (if at all)?
With distances, peer support is an ongoing challenge. Having others to share the journey with is something which I find I have to work at doing and making the time to catch up my peers in ministry is something which distance can hinder at times. It’s ongoing. I now have a fast car and a bigger bull bar to get to places I need to.
What is the best advice you would pass on to future seminarians?
Keep looking at the big picture, don’t get bogged down in the daily grind, and hang in there and have fun.
What are your personal hopes for the future?
To try and be as authentic as I am able and to share that with others.
What are your personal hopes for the future of the Church in Australia?
So often there are divisions in the hierarchy of the church, between dioceses or even within parishes. My hope would be that we can be open with each other even in our differences and to be able to be open to other Christian faiths as well to bring the Gospel to all. We don’t have to be all the same – Unity in Diversity.
Who has been the most influential person in your life?
Certainly my parents, Bill and Jenny and Br Lou Muldorf cfc.
What was the last book you read or movie you saw?
The book I am reading at the moment is My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor. The last movie I saw in the cinema (we haven’t got one here) was Mao’s Last Dancer with friends in Tassie.
Your favourite travel destination?
Most recently Tasmania – fantastic, great wines too.
What hobbies/pastimes are important to you?
Drinking good red wine with friends and gardening.
A bit of fun – what would you like to the inscription on your headstone to read?
It doesn’t matter, long as there’s someone there to read it.
