Born: Devon, England, September 19, 1838.
Took the habit: Sicklinghall, May 30, 1857.
Vows: Sicklinghall, May 31, 1859 (No. 482).
Priestly ordination: Inchicore, April 27, 1862.
Dispensed from his vows in 1883.
Joseph Augustine Matthews was born in Devon on September 19, 1838. He entered the novitiate in Sicklinghall in March 1857, taking the habit on the following May 30 and made his vows on May 30, 1859. He began scholasticate studies in Montolivet in 1859-1860. In a letter to Father Boisramé, in Sicklinghall, dated July 7, 1860, the Founder wrote: “The novices whom you have sent us are quite charming. Unfortunately Brother Matthews (I have written his name badly but you will understand) has become overly tired at studies. It has been decided to send him back to England in spite of me.” In his report on the scholastics in May 1860, Father Antoine Mouchette wrote: “Matthews’ health has suffered; he needs to be cared for. He is quite good but impressionable; he has been sent back to England because of his health.” He completed his studies in Sicklinghall and was ordained priest in Inchicore, together with Robert Power, on April 27, 1862, by Bishop O’Connor, OSA, Bishop of Saldes. He celebrated his first Mass in Inchicore on the following day assisted by Father Boisramé.
In the period 1862-1863 he was in Dublin, in the Oblate College of the Immaculate Conception, Upper Mount Street. The Codex Historicus of Sicklinghall says that he was afterwards with the juniors in Belmont House, which had been purchased in 1863. He was in Sicklinghall in August 1864. The entry for the 10th of that month says: “Fathers Matthews and Hennessy and about 12 juniors arrived here from Belmont House, Stillorgan, near Dublin. Lys Marie is becoming a juniorate.” The paragraph covering the period from February to May1865, says that he accompanied Father Arnoux to take part in the opening of the church of the English Martyrs by Cardinal Manning, and then he went to spend some weeks with his family. His presence in the juniorate is confirmed by the report of Father Arnoux published in Missions OMI, 1965. On page 582 we find the following: “Father Matthews devotes himself , body and soul, to the care of our juniors. He is their principal teacher and their spiritual director.” The text adds that “he is overwhelmed with work”. Father Thomas Dawson, o.m.i., was one of his pupils and in Father Dawson’s necrology note says that he studied in Sicklinghall under the direction of Father Matthews for whom he had a great admiration and to whose teaching ability he attributed his skill in the domain of writing.” (De Mazenod Record, 7 (1939), p. 55; see Missionary Record 7 (1899), p. 402). After the Requiem Mass for Mr. Peter Middleton on June 8, 1866, Father Matthews gave a talk in the church in Sicklinghall, commenting on the text “Blessed are the rich who shall be found without stain” (Si, 31, 8-11). He was then taking the place of the superior, Father Arnoux, who was absent. An excerpt from this talk is quoted in Missionary Record 5 (1895), pp. 263-265. In another issue of Missionary Record 18 (1918), p. 431, Father Dawson states that Father Matthews was a professor in Autun before the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 and that he taught students about Newman’s The Grammar of Assent.
A greater challenge awaited him. In 1871 he was chosen to inaugurate the second House of Correction in the Province, that of Saint Conleth in Philipstown. He was there for only one year, 1872, and then he was appointed superior in Tower Hill, London. When the new sanctuary of the church of Holy Cross, Liverpool was opened by Cardinal Manning, on January 16, 1883, Father Matthews celebrated the solemn Mass. In 1875 he took part in the retreat for Provincials and superiors in Autun and in 1877 he had considerable success as the preacher of a retreat to the parishioners of Kilburn.
The last reference to him is in the minutes of a meeting of the general council on January 16, 1883 which says: “Father General told the members of the council that Father Matthews had asked Rome to be dispensed from his vows and he added that there was no reason to regret this poor subject; therefore he would not hinder the granting of the dispensation that had been requested.” His younger brother was a chaplain in the Boer War.
Yvon Beaudoin
and Michael Hughes, o.m.i.
