Father Matheu Dies in Miami, Communicator of Preaching to the People of Cuba

December 21, 2022

The Cuban-born priest, José Santiago Matheu Tirse, died this Monday in Miami after having been admitted to North Shore Medical Center hospital a few days ago. He was 80 years old at the time of his death.

The diocesan Catholic priest dedicated his life to serving God's people and to evangelization through the media in the United States.

Born on May 29, 1942 in the town of Torriente, belonging to the municipality of Jagüey Grande, in Matanzas. Father Matheu entered the Seminary "San Basilio Magno", in El Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, in 1964.

He enrolled in the Humanities program, a course that, as noted in a statement published by the Diocese of Holguín, was interrupted for several years when several seminarians were called to work in the Youth Column of the Centennial.

He later completed his studies in Philosophy and Theology at the Seminary "San Carlos y San Ambrosio", in Havana.

On October 24, 1975 he was ordained a priest by the laying on of hands by Msgr. Pedro Meurice Estíu, archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, until the creation in January 1979 of the Diocese of Holguín.

In that province he carried out his pastoral work in the communities of San Andrés, Banes, Antilla, Baguanos and Tacajó. Among his challenges, drawing from his accumulated experience, was that of encouraging young people amid problems and difficulties, encouraging them to grow in faith.

Father Matheu decided to settle in Miami in 1994, where he served in parishes such as Santa Agatha, Inmaculada Concepción, Santa Cecilia, Mother of Christ and Santa Catalina de Siena. He was also director of "Cursillos de Cristiandad", of the Archdiocese of Miami, and Spiritual Director at the National Shrine of the Virgin of Charity.

The priest wrote several books, among them: "José, María y la Navidad", an urgent call to keep Christmas alive, aimed at preventing at all costs that consumerism and the continuous proposals of society make people forget that God became incarnate in the innocence of a child to bring salvation.

His work "Personas y personajes" is a book steeped in memories that reflects the reality of the human being in itself; although it frames a specific era, its humanistic character makes it a timeless text.

"Cuaderno para la vida", a guide for the path, is a lamp in life from where "we can light our steps".

Priest with a vocation as a communicator.

Through the years he brought to the people of Cuba his preaching about faith, stimulating and promoting reflection on religious themes through Radio Televisión Martí, where he had his own program.

Every September 8, the day on which Cuban Catholics pay tribute to their patroness, the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, Father Matheu shared his reflections with listeners in Cuba.

He worked on the news coverage of the Apostolic visits to Cuba by St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI, as well as the election of his successor, Pope Francis.

Radio Católica Mundial, Radio Paz, television and print media were also platforms he used to evangelize.