There are many ways to support a good cause. Two
years ago, Charlotte Comfort Home was an idea to provide compassion and care to
the dying in Wyoming County. Tim Kibler, the hospice director, shared that this
project would be a “community effort by the community.” This project has grown
from a grass roots effort of local people who plan campaigns that have included
wine and spirit nights, theatre by a professional ballet, Arcade and Attica
railroad mystery dinner theatre and now the invitation to buy greeting cards
for the holidays to provide encouragement and celebration for those special occasions. However, the artist for these cards comes from a
local pastor who enjoys landscape photography that parallels his ministry as a storyteller.
Fr. Matt currently serves as “shepherd” (pastor) at Holy Family Catholic Parish in North Java, New York. Since the 90’s he started his journey as a photo journalist taking pictures for science projects. In 2002, he was invited into the home of Mr. OJ Roth, a 45 year photo journalist with Eastman Kodak. “It’s all about the light” OJ would teach as Fr. Matt worked as an apprentice for three years learning the art of storytelling through the lens. While tourist are taking selfies and shooting their travel adventures on their cell phones. “I research each location and work up a sweat moving around the image and capturing every possible angle to tell the story. I am often surprised how one angle may tell a bigger story than another angle. The time of day, the light, the weather, the shadow and pattern can set the image apart from one that is merely a snapshot into stunning moment that makes one stand in awe of God’s wonderful creation.”
Father Matt served as chaplain at Strong Memorial
Hospital from 1992 to 2000. He was a trauma specialist in New York City on 9/11
and acutely aware of how hurting people need support in times of crisis.
Charlotte Home will be open to everyone to help provide respite and comfort to
families and their loved ones. Currently, the facility will be located in the
former St. Nicholas rectory located in North Java. At this time, demolition has
been completed and volunteers from the county are being invited to donate their
talents. Skilled laborers of all kinds are needed like carpenters, electricians
and heating and cooling specialists to redesign the building. Local dealers are
being asked to donate materials needed to restore the building into a two-bedroom
facility for patients and family. The estimated cost would be over $250,000 but
people are being asked to donate their skills and materials to keep the costs
under $100,000. The volunteer committee hopes that patients will be served starting in the
Spring fo 2019. Families will not be charged for using this facility.
Fr. Matt enjoys storytelling and focuses his
pastoral ministry on making the gospel stories of Jesus relevant and meaningful
to his faith community. Landscape photography can tell a story that conveys a
mood of comfort and celebration. With the help of his friends at the Norberg
Art Gallery in East Aurora where his landscapes are on display. Amanda, the gallery
owner, and Marie, a Holy Family parishioner, helped select ten images that will
be on sale to support Charlotte Comfort Home.
The images selected feature: a sunrise over Lake
McDonald in Glacier National Park Montana, sunburst over the Athabasca Icefield
in Alberta, Canada, Alleghany State Park, Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania,
Winterthur in Wilmington, Delaware, bluebells in Bethany, bleeding hearts from
Nashua, dogwoods in Irondequoit, and reflections from the arboretum in
Lexington, Kentucky.
The greeting cards are 5 ½ x 4 ¼ and blank inside
so that a personal message may be written. Packets will include five images
based on the themes of celebration and encouragement. It is my hope that people
will enjoy these images and use them as gifts for their family and friends and
know that they are supporting an important ministry of compassion to the people
in Wyoming County.
To make a purchase contact Fr. Matt via email
address: drmattkawiak@gmail.com or
call his office at 585-586-8650.
