PART OF HISTORY

100 years: Editor Mike Matvey: Being the editor of The Evangelist has been a joy

Two of the favorite stories of editor Mike Matvey's time at The Evangelist: the election of Pope Leo XIV and the Ordination Mass of Bishop Mark O'Connell.

In late December 2018, I was still looking for a job after I had been let go from the New York Daily News. I had worked there since 2004, splitting time between an apartment in Queens and a house in Niskayuna. I had been in the newspaper busi­ness since 1994 and it was looking like a distinct possibility that I would have to find a different line of work.

But then I saw an ad on Indeed for managing editor at The Evangelist. I knew my in-laws, who are parishioners at Immaculate Conception in Glenville, read the paper, but I didn’t know much about it.

I sent my resume to Mary DeTurris Poust, then the communications director as well as the associate publisher of the paper.

The Spirit must have been guiding me because Mary and I hit it off and after meeting Father David LeFort, who was on The Evangelist board at the time and full of energy, I got the job and have not looked back.

The goal I wanted to bring to the paper when I started was to feature one issue on the cover and make it more of a magazine feel. We wanted to feature timely, newsworthy events be it in the Diocese, around the U.S. or from the Vatican. And I wanted to highlight photography as a way for readers to break into the story. The other goal was to modernize our website (that took longer than I thought, I guess I can blame COVID) and publish stories as soon as we could on Twitter (now X), Facebook and Instagram. 

I would like to think that we have accomplished those goals in the last six-plus years. The paper is still going strong, the website never looked better and stories are being posted online in real time. 

But of all the things that I am most proud of is that I have learned more about my faith than I could have ever imagined. I went to Catholic schools through high school in Pittsburgh, but unless you are living the faith — and living out your faith — every day, it can get away from you.

And that means all parts of the faith, the good and the bad.

Under the guidance of Bishop Ed and now Bishop Mark, who both have the title of publisher of the paper, we have not shied away from covering “good” stories and ones that people don’t want to hear. I have been called too liberal and too conservative and not liberal enough or not conservative enough. I usually respond and say, “I am not liberal or conservative, I am Catholic.” In reading the “God’s paper boys” story on page 7, I got a laugh when Father Jillisky said he was called “radical” for simply covering Vatican II! So I guess I am in good company.

There are so many stories to mention but I wanted to pick out a few that are memorable to me.

When we were stuck in COVID times in 2020, St. Kateri in Schenectady started livestreaming Masses that March. At the Rosa Road location, it was just Father Bob, two pastoral associates working the camera, the lector, our photographer Cindy Schultz and me. It was eerily quiet before the Mass began, but there was also a feeling of spiritual serenity as well. When the Mass ended, Father Bob offered us all Communion. I still remember my feeling that I was not worthy to receive Communion while the majority of the faithful in the Diocese could not. 

In 2021, I will never forget meeting Father Des Rossi and Vince Pagano Sr., and his wife, Christine. Father Rossi had needed a kidney transplant and received the kidney of Vince Jr., who died in an ATV accident in Albany in 2004. Father Rossi — who at the time was parochial vicar at St. Madeleine Sophie in Guilderland and St. Gabriel’s in Rotterdam, and sacramental minister at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Rotterdam and St. Margaret of Cortona in Rotterdam Junction at the time — was walking through St. Adalbert’s Cemetery and he stopped and just happened to look down and see Vince Jr.’s grave. Eventually he met with Vince Sr. and Christine, and Cindy and I were lucky to be there. Voices cracked and tears streamed down faces as the group talked about their providential meeting and how the parents still anguished over their unfathomable loss. The meeting, which was 17 years in the making, showed that Vince Jr.’s memory will never be forgotten.

On a hot Sunday at the end of July 2022, Bishop Ed met with clergy abuse survivor Stephen Mittler in front of Corpus Christi Church in Round Lake, the same church where Mittler was abused. It took great courage for Mittler to meet with Bishop Ed, who also talked with him privately before they met the media throng. Bishop Ed, who I could always text if I had a question on a story, brought daylight and a level of transparency to the abuse crisis that was much needed.

Some people don’t like to read stories about abuse, but as our new Bishop Mark has said often that the Church will always carry the wounds of abuse with it, because as he told me in an interview before his Installation Mass “the moment we say the crisis is over is the moment that we become complacent, and I don’t think we can ever become complacent, nor should we.”

I would like to end on two positive stories that just brought joy to my heart.

When Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti said “Habemus Papam” on May 8, 2025, there was excitement in the air. But when he said Cardinal Robert F. Prevost would be the new pope and take the name Pope Leo XIV it was “Habemus Pandemonium!” Americans finally had a pope who was one of their own!

And, of course, I have to end with the Installation Mass of Bishop Mark! What a day to be Catholic! There was laughter, applause and just … happiness!

This excitement has certainly carried on to Bishop Mark’s first months in the Diocese as he gets out and meets the faithful.

My time at the paper has flown by since 2019. It truly is a privilege to be the editor and follow in the footsteps of Father William Jillisky, Father Kenneth Doyle, James Breig and Kate Blain. I am glad I got the nudge and sent in my resume!