Getting to Know Father Art
As I celebrate the incredible honor of being named your pastor I would like to take this opportunity to let you know a little bit about me, my family and my history.
First I think it might be helpful to let you know how to pronounce my last name. I have heard about parishioners telling others they have a new priest but they have no idea how to pronounce my last name…so I hope this will help. My last name is Mattulke phonetically (ma-tull-key) I am of German dissent. I am told we are 100% Alsatian from Alsace-Lorraine on the German-French border. All that being said, I ask everyone to simply use Fr. Art, it seems to work fine!
I was born on June 15, 1969 (Father’s day) to Roger and Gail Mattulke. I have two older brothers Mike, who is single and lives in Connecticut and Tim who is married to my beautiful sister-in-law Tricia and have given me the greatest gift of three gorgeous nieces Erin, Emily and Caroline.
On March 23, 1992 our family suffered the devastating anguish of the sudden death of my loving Father, Roger. We take comfort in the fact that he is in the loving hands of our Lord and continues to be very present to us in our lives. I wear his wedding band and have my mom’s engagement diamond in my Chalice so I know that both of them are with me every time I have the privilege of celebrating the Eucharist.
I grew up in Williamsville, New York attended SS. Peter and Paul Church and went through the Williamsville School system finishing up at Williamsville South High School. I enjoyed being involved with many things in school but enjoyed playing football for the Billies the most.
I then went to ECC North for two years were I majored in Business Administration, it was at this time that my priest Fr. Yetter and Pastor Bishop Trautman approached me and asked if I ever thought of the priesthood.
This led me to the John Paul II residence, a pre-seminary program for the diocese and to Canisius College where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Religious Studies and Psychology.
I was then off to Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, New York where I studied for four years and earned a Masters of Divinity degree in 1996 and was ordained a transitional Deacon for the diocese of Buffalo the same year.
I was assigned to St. Gabriel’s Parish in Blossom, New York were I deaconated until May 17, 1997 when I was ordained a Priest and spent the next year as a parochial Vicar at St. Gabriel’s.
I then was sent to St. Margaret’s Parish in North Buffalo for approximately 4 1/2 years were I served as parochial vicar.
It was then off to St. Bernadette’s in Orchard Park, New York where I served as parochial vicar until being named pastor of St. Cecilia’s and St. Patrick’s parish community June 3, 2006.
Then on March 31, 2008 I was given the additional blessing of being named Pastor of your beautiful faith community of Our Lady of Fatima.
I enjoy spending time with my loving family (my dog, Maxim Martin, a Yorkshire terrier, and my cats, Cassie and Leonardo) hanging with my friends and watching football, soccer, swimming, gymnastics, and most of all HOCKEY! As you can tell, I like to watch sports, not play them any longer. The most physical involvement in sports I have now is cheering and getting up to order a pizza!