St. Matthew Parish: ‘Continuing the tradition’

Former parishioners and school alumni attend St. Matthew’s 50th anniversary celebration.

MARLENE QUARONI | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Posted: 06.29.09

MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Celebrating the 50th anniversary Mass for St. Matthew Parish, from left, Father James Quinn, current pastor, Archbishop John C. Favalora and former pastor Father Leonard Puisis.

HALLANDALE BEACH | In 1959, Father James Quinn graduated from high school and St. Matthew Parish was established in Hallandale Beach. Fifty years later, Father Quinn is the pastor of St. Matthew, which marked its golden anniversary June 14.

“Many things have changed since 1959,” Father Quinn said during the anniversary Mass. “This was a swampy field infested with land crabs when Bishop Coleman Carroll broke ground for the church in 1960, and Hallandale Beach Boulevard was a dirt road.”

In the beginning, a duplex served as the rectory and the carport was used for daily Masses. The first pastor, Father James Skehan, celebrated Sunday Mass in the Hallandale Recreation Center and later at the Plantation Restaurant, Father Quinn said.

In 1961, the new church, an L-shaped structure, was dedicated and St. Matthew School opened with 110 students in kindergarten through fourth grades. The school had added grades five, six, seven and eight by 1964.

“One part of the L was the church with a seating capacity of 500,” said Father Quinn. “The wing was divided into four classrooms with folding doors which could be opened to take care of the overflow of parishioners at Sunday Masses during tourist season.”

Pioneer parishioner Kathy Lohse was 12 years old when the parish was founded. All three of her children attended St. Matthew School, which closed in 1984. Her son, Roger Lohse, a WPLG reporter, graduated from St. Matthew School in 1982. He attended the anniversary Mass with his mother and sons, Jack, 5, and Wyatt, 3.

“We’re continuing the tradition at St. Matthew Church,” said Kathy Lohse.

Archbishop John C. Favalora pointed out that 1959 was a very active year for establishing new parishes in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

“I think that Bishop Carroll established 10 to 12 new parishes,” he said.

As he usually does at anniversary Masses, the archbishop asked those in the congregation how long they had been parishioners.

“How many of you have been here 50 years, 25 years, 10 years, five years, one year?” he asked. “It’s so good to see the continuation through the years,” he said as various people stood up to be recognized. “What hasn’t changed through the years is the nature of parish life.”

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