San Jose
– Mateo Eugene Sheedy loved playing softball and spending time
in the great outdoors. So a city park seems the perfect tribute to
honor the memory of the Gilroy-raised Catholic priest.
San Jose – Mateo Eugene Sheedy loved playing softball and spending time in the great outdoors. So a city park seems the perfect tribute to honor the memory of the Gilroy-raised Catholic priest.
Sheedy actively helped many residents of the Latino neighborhood surrounding Sacred Heart Church in San Jose. At the grand opening ceremony Saturday of the Parque de Padre Mateo Sheedy, the South Valley family of the beloved priest will celebrate his life with those people whom he spiritually touched.
“I think it’s extremely appropriate that they’re naming a park in his honor because of the way he lived his life and his caring for human beings regardless of where they come from, who they were, and what their status was,” says John Sheedy, a Gilroy police officer and Mateo’s brother.
“My family is extremely pleased the city of San Jose and the parishioners of Sacred Heart are honoring him in this fashion.”
John will speak on behalf of the Sheedy family at Saturday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. Monsignor Sheedy died in 2000 at the age of 49. The almost half-acre square that will be dedicated to him is located at the intersection of Floyd and Locus streets a few blocks from Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The $1.5 million park has a central gazebo, barbecue pits, benches and jungle-gym equipment for children.
Sheedy was born Feb. 25, 1951, in Washington D.C. He was the oldest of six brothers and two sisters who grew up in Gilroy. He served as an altar boy at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and attended St. Mary School in Gilroy. His involvement in the local Boy Scouts troop developed his love for nature.
His mother and father were “old school Catholics” who encouraged their oldest son to consider a vocation in the priesthood, said Michael Sheedy, another brother who resides in Gilroy. A cousin who served as a priest also played a significant role in the young man’s decision to take his religious vows. He resolved to become a priest while attending St. Mary School.
After graduating from St. Patrick’s College, Sheedy entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in Mountain View in 1965. He was ordained in 1977. During his college and seminary years, Sheedy spent time working for the United Farm Workers movement. In his zeal to bring social justice to migrant field workers, he became good friends with Cesar Chavez and other UFW leaders, Michael said.
“That left an impression on him that carried through in the years to come,” his brother said. “He fought for people and their rights.”
Padre Sheedy came to the Sacred Heart parish in 1984 and was made its pastor in June 1988. He made sure the church served as a sanctuary for Latino immigrants, and he opened its doors to people in need, including undocumented workers.
After the Loma Prieta earthquake in October 1989, the Sacred Heart church building sustained damage and was condemned by the city of San Jose. Facing many obstacles, Sheedy raised $1.5 million to restore the damaged structure.
“People kept telling him there was no way he could raise the money,” said Maria Castaneda-Liles, a close friend who helped develop the park project. “Many people thought he was crazy because of the dreams he had for the community.”
Sacred Heart was the San Jose diocese’s poorest church. But Sheedy initiated fund-raising events such as festivals and made appeals for donations to benefactors. He raised the money and saved the church. Three years later, the priest raised money to aid survivors of a massive earthquake in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Castaneda-Liles remembers Sheedy was a very strong advocate of education for every child in his parish.
“He always said that the one way we can break away from the cycle of poverty is through educating the children,” she said.
In 2001, Sheedy helped found the Sacred Heart Nativity School for working-class middle school boys. This school is dedicated to helping kids with a grade point average of 2.0 or lower find their way to a better education. This year, the first class will graduate, and some of the students will find their way to college prep schools such as Bellarmine.
Castaneda-Liles herself was one of the young people Sheedy encourage toward a higher education. At the age of 9, she came to San Jose as a Mexican immigrant. She went through special education courses, and later spent six years in community college. But she felt lost without any educational focus.
“Father Mateo took me under his wings, mentored me, and told me what classes to take,” she said.
Sheedy approached Steve Privett, a priest friend at the Santa Clara University who was vice president of academic affairs. Through Privett, Sheedy encouraged a reluctant SCU to admit Castaneda. He believed in her so much, the college finally welcomed her as a student. She graduated from SCU, later earned two master degrees, and now is finishing her doctoral thesis in sociology at the University of California at Santa Barbara researching the effect of religion on Latinos.
“Had it not been for him, I don’t know what I’d be doing right now,” she said.
To help more neighborhood children use education to break from the poverty cycle, Sheedy encouraged SCU to create a full four-year scholarship for the community. Every year, the San Juan Diego Scholarship gives one Sacred Heart community child a chance at a four-year university education, she said.
In 2000, shortly before he died of lung cancer, the priest was given the title of Monsignor Sheedy, a high honor in the Catholic Church. So beloved was Sheedy to the Sacred Heart community that it’s now raising funds to put up at $60,000 statue of him in the city park. “For a working class community, it’s pretty difficult,” Castaneda-Liles said.
“But they want to feel that Father Mateo is still with us.”
Five years after his death, Sheedy still is spoken of with much respect by the parishioners he served. And many in the neighborhood around Sacred Heart will always remember him fondly whenever they visit the park dedicated him. He still is a much cherished hero to the neighborhood.
“For the Sacred Heart community, Father Mateo was like the pope,” Castaneda-Liles said. “He meant many things to the community. He always made everyone feel special regardless of religion or background or economics.”
The dedication
What: Dedication of Parque de Padre Mateo Sheedy
When: At 11:45 a.m., Saturday April 30, a procession will walk from Sacred Heart Church in San Jose to the park. A ribbon-cutting and special events from 1 to 4pm.
Where: Park is located at the corner of Locus and Floyd streets in San Jose.
Details: Carolina Camarena at (408) 277-2930.
