Bill Matthews Joins Diocese of San Jose as Development Director

Santa Clara, Calif. – July 1, 2008 – The Most Reverend Patrick J. McGrath, Bishop of the Diocese of San Jose, the Catholic Church in Santa Clara County, welcomes Bill Matthews as Diocesan Director of Stewardship and Development. Effective immediately, Matthews will work closely with the Diocesan Leadership Team to develop financial resources necessary to carry out the ministries, activities, and services provided throughout the Diocese. He also will assist the parishes of the Diocese in promoting to their parishioners the value of stewardship as a way of life. Bishop McGrath expressed his pleasure upon learning of Matthew’s accepting the position: “Bill’s many years of experience and leadership in the nonprofit sector make him the ideal person as our new director. I am confident that his presence here will greatly enhance our efforts at stewardship and development, I look forward to working closely with Bill so that we can continue to implement our diocesan pastoral plan, Renewing the Church.”

Matthews brings to the Diocese more than 13 years of management and fundraising experience in the non-profit sector. A native of Syracuse, New York, he graduated from S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a minor in the sociology of religion. He began his career at public television station WCNY, Syracuse, New York, eventually moving in 1989 to KTEH-TV in San Jose, California. Matthews moved through the ranks of public television, garnering numerous fundraising and development awards, to become KTEH’s Chief Operating Officer and Station Manager from 1998 to 2002. During that time, he worked extensively with the San Jose Arena staff to bring world renowned performers such as The Three Tenors, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, and others to the San Jose venue. He was a member of the San Jose Rotary Club and volunteered for the American Heart Association. He also served on the boards of KTEH-TV and History San Jose Museum. Most recently, he began an investment company in Colorado Springs, Colorado. “I am honored to serve the Diocese of San Jose and help secure the future for the people of the Valley,” Matthews said. “I look forward to working with diocesan and community leadership for the benefit of all those that are so positively affected by the good works of the Catholic Church in Santa Clara County.” Matthews and his wife, Lisa, have one child. The Diocese of San Jose, which comprises Santa Clara County, was established in 1981 by Pope John Paul II. It includes 53 parishes and missions offering Masses in 13 languages, 32 elementary schools, and six high schools. Catholics in the Diocese number an estimated 600,000, or about 30% of the total population of Santa Clara County.

Contact: Father Brendan McGuire
Diocese of San Jose
1150 North 1st Street, Suite 100
San Jose, California 95112-4966
(408) 983-0100
mcguire@dsj.org