The man who has the job of chaplain of the Newman Student Federation at Georgia Tech is as busy as a yellow jacket at nest building time.

He is the Rev. Alvin Matthews, O.F.M., and the nest he builds, that of providing all that the Catholic Church offers, to 823 Catholic students, represents a never ending job.

“It can become hectic at times,” he said grinning as is his way. “But it is rewarding work and that’s what counts.”

Father Matthews took over at the federation, now housed in a former dwelling house at 158 Fourth St., NW, about three years ago.

The work he does concerns not only the 823 students but also 25 of the faculty and about nine members of the school’s staff.

Activities of Newman at Tech are as numerous as those of a U.S. Army trainee and they are varied.

To give you an idea of what a workload Father Matthews faces here is a list of just the basic duties: * Say daily Mass at the center each evening and twice on Sundays, at the Y.M.C.A. on campus.

* Hear confessions at the center at the convenience of the students.

* Carry on Catechetical work. Interested non-Catholics, on the average of between 25 and 30, visit the center each month to inquire about Catholicism. Some are interested only in studying the faith objectively for a course. Others may be dating a Catholic girl and are seeking advice, and some are interested in conversion. Father Matthews said that regardless of why they come to him, there is the chance that they may be converted and at least have been exposed in some way to Catholicism.

* Moderate a weekly discussion group meeting which takes up subjects involving current theology and Liturgy. (Father Matthews is also chaplain at Agnes Scott and twice a month he brings six Catholic girls attending the school over to Tech for the discussion.)

* Moderates another weekly discussion group held especially for graduate and married students.

* Conducts a regular weekly meeting of Newman on the campus. Each meeting features a speaker. Some meetings see off campus persons, prominent in their field, addressing the federation, and on occasion leaders in Catholic secular groups will speak to the students.

* Directs the federation’s athletic program including intramural competition at Tech in football, basketball, swimming and ping pong. The priest said the Newman footballers this year have a two wins, no loss record.

* Plans and directs social events including dances, movies, picnics and suppers.

* Cares for the eight young men living in the Newman Center.

Aside from Mass and confession, Father Matthews said that the discussion group work does the most toward fostering the faith among Catholics at Tech.

This is the area which brightens the eyes of this Connecticut-born priest. “Its stimulating,” he said. “And it helps all who participate.”

Of course the meetings are not always quiet, intelligent talks. They can take on a hot, argumentative atmosphere and often do.

The 45-year-old Franciscan said, “Insofar that students have sufficient scientific knowledge, it is often difficult to integrate these facts into the teachings of the church.” “Sometimes this situation leads to a heated argument. Often it is because the person stimulating the debate is confused on some issue.” Father Matthews explained that in this case, the last thing he would tell a college student is that “you are confused.” He said, “If I told a student he was confused, I might as well tell him to leave.”

Rather, the priest said, “I try to counsel him and suggest other trains of thought to take, other than the one he is delving on. I might suggest books to read. This type of method is generally successful.” Another angle which makes it a tough job to keep the upper hand in one of these discussions is the intelligence and learning of the students attending.

“You must consider,” Father Matthews said, “That these persons are much more advanced than the same aged person would have been 20 years ago. I don’t mind in admitting it, they can get me in a corner sometimes.” He said, “I want to emphasize that the students don’t come to these discussions to scoff, but come in a search for themselves and their faith.” The priest added that one of the big reasons for the success of the interfaith movements on the Tech campus is the current work of the Vatican Council.

He said, “People visit the center here who 10 years ago wouldn’t have been caught dead in this place.”

Together with all the regular duties the priest must function in at Tech, rarely does a day pass in which he does not come in contact with some usual problem he must have a ready solution for.

“These are the challenges, these are what the spark to the work is,” he said.

For example the priest said once a boy came to him, beside himself with nervousness because he had no money to complete the remaining two years of school necessary to graduate. The youth’s father was an alcoholic and had squandered the money set aside for the boy’s education.

“He wanted desperately to continue with his education and had laid the problem at my feet,” the priest said.

When asked what he did to help the boy, Father Matthew smiled a wry grin and said rather off-handedly, “Oh we managed to get together a little money. It was really nothing.”

Incidentally, the youth paid the money back once he got on his feet.

The manner in which he dismissed the problem is one he takes with him throughout the day’s work in Newman.

A typical day for Father Matthews begins with morning prayers at Immaculate Conception Church at 6 a.m. Then he returns to work at the center.

“When I get back here from prayers, I can expect anything to have happened when I return. I can look forward to just about anything,” he said.

“It could be that one of the boys is telling me about a broken pipe in the basement or that someone wants to go to confession. But whatever it is, it’s always different each day and that’s what makes it interesting.” The problems that the 823 students bring are varied. They can range from what to do about dating a certain girl to what subject to take in school.”

“It’s not always that the problems are this simple,” he said, “Sometimes it is my sad job to help a student get home after there has been a death in his family or some other tragedy.” The priest said that many of the problems which are brought to him need money for a solution. He added that it was not always easy to come by, but somehow the center manages. He hopes someday to remodel the center and expand its facilities.