ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Sacred Heart Offers More Than ‘ Head Knowledge ’ to 2017 Graduate
Karla Dorweiler
Josylin Mateus immigrated to the United States with her family when she was just four years old . As her parents worked to make a life for themselves in their new country , Mass attendance for the family was spotty , and Mateus grew up knowing very little about her Catholic faith . When she was 16 , she returned to the Philippines for the first time in 12 years .
“ My aunt was gushing about this person she knew named Jesus , a person she truly loved ,” said Mateus . “ I had never heard anyone talk about God that way before .”
Years later , when she enrolled in her first class at Sacred Heart Major Seminary , something felt familiar .
“ The staff and the other students witnessed to me what it means to have a relationship with God in the same way my aunt did ,” Mateus said . “ When I reflect on my spiritual journey , my aunt had an impact on me that I didn ’ t realize at the time . She was the first person who witnessed God to me in that personal way . So when I saw it all around me at Sacred Heart , it was easier for me to recognize it .”
Sacred Heart wasn ’ t even on her mind until a friend suggested she take classes in 2009 . Mateus had just been laid off during the economic downtown after 13 successful years as an electrical engineer . She had recently separated from her husband and was looking for purpose and direction .
“ In hindsight , I can see it clearly now ,” said Mateus , who serves as the Director of Religious Education at St . Thomas More Parish in Troy . “ I was trying to fill my heart with something . I was searching . Being in ministry really is the Holy Spirit ’ s work because I would not have thought of it on my own .”
Mateus started at the seminary not knowing what to expect . She only knew that she liked the idea of obtaining a master ’ s degree and was happy to follow the Holy Spirit ’ s promptings . The first year , Mateus says she was “ just going through the motions .”
By her second year of studies , she could feel her heart change as she developed a new closeness to Christ .
“ Being an engineer , I need to have that head knowledge in order to have the heart knowledge – to have that profound relationship with God ,” said Mateus . “ And that ’ s what Sacred Heart is to me , a place where I can encounter God .”
Even though she was challenged by her classes , she knew she was growing and learning . Mateus recalls a time when her class was assigned a document from Vatican II . Mateus struggled with it , reading each paragraph multiple times and feeling as though much of the content was lost on her . A year and a half later , she read it again on her own . This time , it “ clicked .” Mateus cried her way through it , realizing how far she had come .
“ I was exposed to different documents and teachings of the church and as I learned more , it was sinking in . I knew what sources to go to and I understood in a way I hadn ’ t before ,” she said .
While taking classes at Sacred Heart , Mateus worked part-time as an engineer for an Italian engineering company . She learned that St . Isaac Jogues in St . Clair Shores was looking for part-time help with their middle school religious education program . This role would be her first formal position in church ministry ; she had previously logged many hours volunteering and had taught catechism for her daughter ’ s class at St . Anastasia in Troy for five years .
“ When I was teaching my daughter ’ s class , I was learning along with her ,” Mateus said . “ I enrolled her in catechism class at age four because it was important to me that she ’ d grow up knowing the faith in a way that I didn ’ t .”
Ever since her deep dive into the Catholic faith in 2009 , Mateus has relied on God wholeheartedly , even when she ’ s tempted to doubt .
“ I ’ ve said to God , ‘ You keep telling me that this is where I ’ m supposed to be , but I don ’ t always feel that .’ Then when I ’ d start to look for something else , he always reassured me that this ministry was what I was supposed to be doing ,” said Mateus . “ I learned to ‘ let go and let God .’”
As a student , Mateus immersed herself in Sacred Heart during her time there . She spent countless hours praying in the chapel . She was a member of the Commuter Student Council . And she never missed a musical put on by the seminarians .
In 2017 , Mateus graduated with her Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies . She ’ s grateful for the knowledge she gained , but most of all , she ’ s grateful for her new life with Jesus at the center .
“ I knew Sacred Heart was a special place when I walked in and felt peace . It was healing for me , and it will always be a part of me ,” Mateus said .
30 Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Spring / Summer 2023