Father Mateus Hospitalized After Dec. 8 Accident

By GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writer

Published: December 18, 2003

CONYERS—The community has been asked to pray for Father Norberto Mateus, a parochial vicar serving at St. Pius X Church, Conyers, who was critically injured Dec. 8 when his car was struck on Highway 81 in Loganville.

The priest suffered head injuries and was taken by life-flight helicopter to Atlanta Medical Center. He underwent surgery Dec. 11 for a broken jaw and is in intensive care. The full extent of his injuries has not yet been determined.

The accident happened at approximately 10:20 p.m. Police surmise he may have been making a U-turn when his car was struck broadside on the driver’s side by an oncoming vehicle, according to Father John Kieran, St. Pius X pastor.

A native of Colombia, South America, Father Mateus has been a priest for 22 years and has served in the Archdiocese of Atlanta for 12 years, Father Kieran said. He has been at St. Pius since June as the parish has a growing Hispanic community. On Sunday, Dec. 14, a poster in the church gathering area was filled with messages and prayers for him.

His parish assignments have included St. Michael’s Church, Gainesville; St. John Neumann Church, Lilburn; and San Felipe de Jesus Mission, then located in Grant Park in Atlanta.

Close friends in Gainesville of Father Mateus, the Mirabile family, said Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, is the priest’s ordination anniversary.

“The motivation throughout his priesthood has been to serve the poorest of the poor and the elderly both here in the states and in Colombia,” Donna Mirabile said.

Her husband, Dr. Jack Mirabile, has worked with Father Mateus on a project in the priest’s native city of Armenia, Colombia. The project, Villa de Buen Jesus, for the indigent elderly of Armenia is ongoing, Mrs. Mirabile said. They met him in 1991 at St. Michael’s Church, his first assignment, and they have been friends ever since.

“Pray, continue to pray,” Mrs. Mirabile said. “He is well loved by both the Anglo and the Hispanic communities. We covet every prayer we can get.”