SJ park named after former Gilroy resident
San Jose – The late Monsignor Matthew Sheedy, better known as
Padre Mateo, was honored this summer with the groundbreaking of the
new park,
”
Parque Padre Mateo Sheedy
”
, located at the corner of Locust and Floyd streets in San
Jose.
SJ park named after former Gilroy resident
San Jose – The late Monsignor Matthew Sheedy, better known as Padre Mateo, was honored this summer with the groundbreaking of the new park, “Parque Padre Mateo Sheedy”, located at the corner of Locust and Floyd streets in San Jose.
Once the one-acre plot is landscaped it will provide an area for rest and recreation for the families in the area, many of whom Sheedy served as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish from 1988 until his death in 2000.
While at Sacred Heart he lead efforts to retrofit and renovate the church building after its near destruction in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
He was also heavily involved in the creation of Sacred Heart Nativity School, which serves to educate socio-economically disadvantaged boys in sixth through eighth grades.
Especially interested in serving the Spanish speaking members of the community, Sheedy became a spokesperson for them, voicing the group’s concerns about justice and social equality.
Sheedy grew up in Gilroy where he attended Saint Mary church and school.
“He was always close to his roots and had a lot of respect for his community,” Saint Mary Reverend Dan Derry said.
The park was built under the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative which brings the City of San Jose and the San Jose Redevelopment Agency together to build attractive and safe neighborhoods supported by neighborhood organizations.
