Fr. Vincent D. Mathews

Father Vincent D. Mathews, sixty-one years a Catholic priest and a resident at Berks Heim, passed away in his sleep in the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 2nd just ten days short of his 87th birthday. Father Mathews was born in West Reading on July 12, 1926, the son of the late John F. and Margaret A. (Nagle) Mathews. He was preceded in death by his brothers William J. and John F. Mathews Jr. as well as sisters Bernice D'Augostino, Mary Pietrowich and Sister Miriam Margaret Mathews of the IHM order of sisters. Surviving him are a brother, Thomas B. Mathews, sisters-in-law Ruth, Fern and Florence Mathews, along with many nieces and nephews in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Texas. Among his ministerial duties as a priest, Father Mathews served for many years as a clergyman in both the St. Louis and Washington, D.C. areas as well as for the D.C. Inner City Youth Center and as an assistant pastor and hospital chaplain. When visiting his family in the Reading area, he celebrated Mass at his mother's home parish of St. Josephs. Fr. Mathews was ordained at the Pontifical College in June of 1952 having completed majors in philosophy and languages proceeded by theological training at the college's Josephinum Seminary. Following his ordination, he enrolled at St. Louis University (1952-55 and 1961-62) earning a Ph.D in sociology as well as a degree in economics. In the course of those years, he returned to the Pontifical College to serve as an instructor in sociology and economics from 1956-61. At the same time he developed work and study programs for the college and served as a columnist and associate editor of a national Catholic newspaper. In late 1962, Father Mathews accepted a position as an assistant professor in the economics department at Catholic University where he taught for 6 years until accepting an associate professorship and chair of the sociology department at Trinity College, also located in Washington, D.C. During his tenure as a professor and department head at Trinity over the next quarter century Fr. Mathews further served in many other capacities including his work in both consulting and the development of training and community programs for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE); national office of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT); U.S Department of Justice; Pittsburgh's Department of Public Safety; U.S. Department of Labor and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, along with other work for the national Catholic Relief Services and YMCA. Detailed here are Fr. Mathews' development of an accredited undergraduate program in court management for the District of Columbia and the Sixth and Seventh Circuit Courts of Maryland; Projects Director for Pennsylvania's Allegheny County Diocesan OEO (poverty) program; a study of citizen participation in politics for the U.S. Justice Department; a further study for the Department of Justice in community-building strategies within developing nations; an extensive review and assessment of a Merit Promotion Program for the U.S. Department of Labor; as well as serving as a production consultant and author of screenplays for 8 training films on law enforcement issues and the development of a policy guide specific to on the scene judgment calls for law enforcement officers produced by the Pittsburgh Police Department. Further published materials and research by Fr. Mathews included studies on the attitudes of Juvenile judges toward the issue of probation; Community development within inner city neighborhoods, along with a large number of dissertations and training films on martial and domestic issues still in use today. Father Mathews was a member (past and present) of many professional societies counting among these his fellowship in the American Sociological Association; the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences; Industrial Relations Research Association; Catholic Economic Association; American Catholic Sociological Society; Academy of Religion and Mental Health; National Council of Family Relations and the American Association of University Professors. . Services will be held at Reading's St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Tuesday, July 9th with a visitation period at 10 AM followed by a funeral Mass at 11. Burial will be at Gethsemane Cemetery in Laureldale immediately following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: St. Peter's Parochial School, 225 S. 5th Street, Reading, PA 19602. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.