Happy Trails to Father Matt Twiggs!

On Thursday, July 30th, members of the Department for Persons with Disabilities Family wished Fr. Matthew Twiggs farewell and good luck on his retirement. 

"I'll miss you Fr. Matt.  You always had the nicest things to say at mass," said Darlyn from DPD, Walsh House.   

Fr. Matt has been the longtime pastor of both St. Thomas the Apostle and St. John Vianney Parish.  

"Fr. Matt has been a friend, supporter of Catholic Charities, and advocate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  As a neighbor to DPD's main office and 4 group homes in Jefferson Township, Fr. Matt has always been there when we have needed him.   We wish him well in his retirement and will be rooting for him as enthusiastically as he roots for the Green Bay Packers," said Scott Milliken, CEO of Catholic Charities.   

Individuals from DPD's Walsh House presented with a crystal plaque in recognition of his years of service, alongside Catholic Charities Development Director Chris Brancato and Mr. Milliken. 

Father Matt will be moving out of state but promised the Walsh House residents that he would visit.  "DPD will always hold a special place in my heart.  Anthony, Robert, Darlyn and all of the wonderful people of the Department will never be forgotton, said Fr. Matt.   

Father Matt was honored as the DPD's Person of the Year at the 2019 Murray House Dinner Dance and with a Lifetime Achievement Award at their 50th Annual event in February of 2020.   

Father Matthew Twiggs Bio

Fr. M atthew J. Twiggs, Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle, Oak Ridge and St. John Vianney,  Stockholm, is the son of the late Patrick & Florence Twiggs and was born on January 22, 1948 in Jamaica, New York and lived in S. Ozone Park, Queens until 1954.  His family then moved to   Washington Twp., Bergen County. Fr. Matt had two older brothers: Thomas & Daniel (both deceased) and a sister, Patricia Marie now living in Sunrise, Florida. He attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Washington Twp., and attended St. Andrew’s Grammar School in Westwood, NJ.
 
Upon Graduating grammar School, Matthew felt the call to the priesthood and attended the Carmelite Jr. Seminary in Hamilton, Mass. After a few months of discernment, Matthew returned to New Jersey and Graduated from Westwood H. S. in Washington Twp. In 1965 Matthew’s ongoing call to the priesthood led him to Mt. St. Paul College, Waukesha, Wisconsin run by the Salvatorian Frs. Thus began his long time fanaticism with the Green Bay Packers. From Wisconsin it was on to Christ the King Seminary (1969-73) in Olean, N.Y run by the Franciscan Fathers. Fr. Matthew was ordained to the priesthood on May 5, 1973 by the late Bishop Lawrence B. Casey.
 
Fr. Matthews’s first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Monica’s R.C. Church in Sussex, N.J. where Msgr. Brendan Madden was his first pastor, and beloved mentor. During his five year stay at St. Monica’s, Fr. Matt taught Freshmen Theology part-time at Pope John XXIII H. S. In the fall of 1978 he became a full time staff member along with side interests that included:   freshman football, baseball, bowling, the Theater Arts, and inaugurated the Search Program.
 
Fr. Matt’s many years at Pope John were extremely memorable; teaching was important but the interaction with the students at various levels was and has been a fond memory. It was great working with Msgr. Kieran McHugh and the entire staff.
 
In June 1996, his next journey in his priesthood was his appointment as Pastor of St. John Vianney Church in Stockholm, NJ. by the late Bishop Frank J. Rodimer, following the death of Msgr. Stephen Dabkowski.  For the next seventeen years St. John Vianney became his home. During this time he    organized a new Knights of Columbus Council #12649, enlarged the parish Religious Education program, remodeled the Church interior and renovated Madonna Hall (the parish Social Center).

He started St. John’s annual Tag Sale, a major fundraiser for the Parish now in its 12th year. A highlight was that St. John Vianney was the host parish for the Diocesan celebration for the Year of the Priest 2009-2010 which was attended by Bishop Arthur Serratelli and Bishop. Frank J. Rodimer and many diocesan priests. This was a spiritual day of reflection and priestly fraternity for all.
 
Fr. Matt’s first introduction with Catholic Charities and the Department for People with Disabilities (DPD) came when members of various Group Homes (Frank, Robert, Anthony and Janet) came along with Don Rossi to help clean the Rectory at St. John’s once a week, it was an exciting time, indeed. Shadow and then Coco anxiously awaited their weekly arrival. Every Christmas the good parishioners of SJV would donate gifts to the DPD and Catholic Family and Community Services (CFCS). The Gospel Choir from Straight & Narrow, a part of Catholic Charities, would come and celebrate with the parish communities at St. John and St. Thomas on various Sundays throughout the year. They were warmly received by all and deeply appreciated the “witnessing” at mass by some of the residents.
 
On June 29 ^th of 2012 Fr. Matt was appointed as administrator of St. Thomas the Apostle Church which brought about the linking of St John’s and St. Thomas’ parishes. Both parishes had been blessed with the presence of Rev. Jhon E. Madrid and Rev. Dawid Zajecki as parochial vicars, one following the other, but equal in stature.
 
Fr. Matt, following the wonderful dedication of Msgr. John Fitzpatrick, has willingly continued the relationship with DPD by opening up the parish   Social Hall to the various parties sponsored by the DPD: Christmas parties, Christmas & Easter Ceramic sales; Monday Night C.A.R.E meetings, Special liturgies at Gruenert Center, and he has attended many functions held by the Catholic Charities and the DPD. Part of our ongoing relationship has been celebrating funeral Masses for the deceased residents of the various Group homes. These have always been sad, and at the same time joyful celebrations for the entire DPD family and friends.