St. Matthew Catholic Church at 25 Wilkins Rd., Winder, GA 30680 US - History

In 1964, the Archdiocese of Atlanta purchased the Matthew Public School building and property for the purpose of establishing a mission church. The building, which was in dire need of repair, was dedicated in the Spring of 1965 by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin. The church was originally designated as a mission of the parish of St. Joseph, in Athens.

 

In 1972, the mission was transferred to St. Anna Catholic Church in Monroe. Major repairs and remodeling were begun and continued periodically throughout the decades of the seventies, eighties and nineties.

 

In 1991, the mission was again transferred and it became a mission of St. Oliver Plunkett in Snellville. 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 Conyors. A new Religious Education building was added behind the church in 1997 to serve the growing community.

 

On June 24, 1999, a decree of establishment was issued by Archbishop John Francis Donoghue, establishing the parish of St. Matthew, with the intent that a new church would be built as funds were raised.

 

In 2004, a Capital Campaign was initiated and groundbreaking for the church and office facility was held in 2006. The building was completed in June of 2007 and the first mass was held on the weekend of June 24^th. The new church building was officially dedicated on 

September 22, 2007, by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory. At that time, the old church was renamed Hedges Hall in honor of our long-time parishioners and benefactors, Fred and Virginia Hedges, and it became an enlarged social hall for the parish.

 

A number of wonderful priests have left their mark on this church community over the years – Father John Mulroy was the first priest to serve the nine families that attended the new mission church. Subsequently, our pastors included Frs. Harrison, Scherer, Burke, Gracz, Horan, Curran, Hogan, Danneker, P. Kelley, Henley, Carroll. Father Victor Reyes was the founding pastor at the time the mission became an independent parish. He served until the Fall of 2000. Father Guyma Noel served for six months and then in Jan. 2001, our current pastor, Father Jaime Barona, was appointed to serve our constantly growing parish community of 1200 families.