Jayme Mathias
Jayme Mathias | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Austin ISD District 2 Trustee | |
| Assumed office November 19, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Sam Guzman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jayme Lee Mathias May 3, 1972 Tiffin, Ohio |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Austin, Texas, U.S |
| Alma mater | St. Louis University (B.A., Philosophy) St. Louis University (B.A., Classical Humanities) Washington Theological Union (M.Div.) St. Edward's University (Master of Science|M.S., Organizational Leadership & Ethics) St. Mary's University of Minnesota (M.A. Philanthropy & Development) Our Lady of the Lake University (M.B.A.) Our Lady of the Lake University (Ph.D., Leadership Studies) |
Jayme Lee Mathias (born May 3, 1972) is an American politician and priest known for his ministry to the Roman Catholic Church, his role in diffusing Independent Catholicism in Central Texas, and his service on the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees and other boards.
Family and Early Life[edit]
Mathias was born on May 3, 1972 at Mercy Hospital in Tiffin, Ohio. His parents are David Lee Mathias (1947-2017) and Rose Marie Reinhart (1947-).[1]
Education[edit]
Mathias attended New Riegel Public Schools, where he became the village’s first Eagle Scout on his fifteenth birthday and was later named valedictorian of the Class of 1990.[2]
In August 1990, Mathias joined the Conventual Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Consolation and moved to St. Louis, Missouri where he lived at St. Bonaventure Friary and completed his B.A. in Philosophy and his B.A. in Classical Humanities, both summa cum laude, at St. Louis University in 1995.
In 2001, Mathias earned his Master of Divinity and graduated as the James A. Coriden Valedictor at the Washington Theological Union in Washington, D.C. His subsequent degrees include a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership & Ethics from St. Edward’s University in Austin (2008), a Master of Arts in Philanthropy & Development from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota (2010), and a Master of Business Administration and his Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio (2011).
Ministry in the Roman Catholic Church[edit]
After Mathias’ first year of studies at St. Louis University, the Conventual Franciscan Friars sent him to Cuernavaca, Mexico, where he studied Spanish. He returned to St. Louis where he interned at the Hispanic Center and taught Spanish at St. Christopher Catholic School during the remainder of his undergraduate studies. In 1995, after completion of his undergraduate studies, the Conventual Franciscan Friars assigned him to serve in youth and gang ministry at Cristo Rey Catholic Church in Austin, Texas. During his graduate studies, he interned at the Washington Hospital Center and in the campus ministry department of Georgetown University. He also directed the summer school programs of the Washington Theological Union and led the fundraising efforts of Priests for Equality,[3] a program of the Quixote Center.
On June 3, 2000, Mathias was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Leonard Olivier at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. On March 10, 2001, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Gregory Aymond at the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio.
In 2001, Mathias returned to Austin and served as Parochial Vicar of Cristo Rey Catholic Church in East Austin. During that time, he served on the board of Interfaith Action of Central Texas (known at that time as Austin Area Interreligious Ministries), and he co-founded La FUENTE Learning Center, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization offering English as a Second Language classes, adult education, and youth programs. The learning center was modeled on the program of PUENTE Learning Center in Los Angeles, a program that Mathias was en route to visit on the morning of September 11, 2001, when his flight was grounded due to the acts of terrorism that transpired that day. He also became a trainer of Círculos de Estudio by the Instituto Nacional para la Educación de los Adultos of the Mexican government. During an INEA training in Pátzcuaro, Mexico, Mathias concelebrated Mass with Pope John Paul II at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on July 31, 2002, during the pope’s fifth and final visit to Mexico.
Mathias first made national news in 2003 when he became a liaison between law enforcement and immigrant survivors who came to him after their friends and family members had died in a train car while crossing into the U.S.[4][5]
Later in 2003, encouraged by his superior, Mathias applied for and was accepted into five law schools, including Catholic University of America, St. Louis University, and St. Mary’s University. His Conventual Franciscan community was hit with a multimillion-dollar settlement as part of the national priest sex abuse scandal,[6][7] leaving Mathias unable to attend law school in the Fall.[8] He subsequently accepted a teaching position in the Spanish and theology departments of San Juan Diego Catholic High School in Austin, Texas. During his two years of teaching there, he became a certified instructor of secondary foreign languages through the Region XIII Education Service Center.
In 2005, Bishop Gregory Aymond named Mathias President of San Juan Diego Catholic High School, which, at that time, was part of the Cristo Rey Network. Mathias led the school for four years.[9] During this time, Mathias participated in and became an alumnus of Leadership Austin,[10] served on the Board of Directors of the National Catholic College Admission Association, and was asked by the City of Austin to mediate between the Austin Police Department and the community of Dove Springs after the fatal shooting of Daniel Rocha by police.
In 2009, Mathias was named financial administrator of Cristo Rey Catholic Church, where he was asked to investigate alleged financial abuses in the parish. On April 1, 2009, the day after the deadline by which the parish's Finance Council had demanded that the pastor of the parish resign, he was brutally murdered by his live-in lover in his home in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico,[11][12] and Bishop Aymond named Mathias pastor of Cristo Rey Catholic Church. Mathias grew Cristo Rey to be Austin's largest Spanish-language Roman Catholic congregation, with eight Sunday Masses, only one of which was in English. As such, Mathias became a champion of the immigrant community.[13]
Ministry in the Independent Catholic Church[edit]
After more than ten years of ordained ministry in the Roman Catholic Church, Mathias was introduced to Independent Catholicism by a couple who suggested that his theology seemed aligned with more progressive beliefs, than with the traditional beliefs espoused by the Roman Catholic Church. In 2012, on the eleventh anniversary of his ordination, Mathias incardinated into the American Catholic Church in the United States and co-founded Holy Family Catholic Church,[14] an inclusive, Catholic community in the Independent Catholic tradition.[15] Within five years, he had built the congregation to over 200 to 300 people who weekly gathered for the church’s three Sunday Masses, served by six clergy. He also served as Dean of the St. John XXIII Theological Institute.[16]
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision to legalize same-sex marriage in the U.S., Mathias made history by celebrating at his parish the first same-sex, Catholic marriage in Texas on June 27, 2015.[17][18] Three weeks later, he and his husband were married in a large, public ceremony on the lawn of the Texas Capitol.[19]
Elected Office[edit]
On November 6, 2012, Mathias was elected to the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees.[20][21] Mathias served as District 2 Trustee, responsible for a single-member district of nearly 55,000 voters and 20 public schools, largely in East Austin.[22] In the 122-year history of the district, Mathias was the first openly-gay person to serve on the school board.[23]
Mathias was re-elected to the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees on November 6, 2016.[24][25][26] During his service on the Austin ISD Board, Mathias was elected in 2015 to the Board of Directors of the Texas Association of School Boards.[27] In 2017, he was elected to the Steering Committee of the Council of Urban Boards of Education of the National School Boards Association.[28][29] In 2017, Mathias was appointed Executive Director of the Mexican American School Boards Association. In this role, he advocated for a new state-approved curriculum for Mexican American Studies, planned the organization's annual conference, grew the organization's scholarship program to provide scholarships to 285 high school graduates in 2020, and published four books.[30] In 2021, he co-founded the Texas Latino School Boards Association, to provide research and resources to educational leaders who are committed to closing opportunity and achievement gaps for the 2.9 million Latinx students in Texas public schools.
Electoral History[edit]
General Election Results 2012 & 2016[edit]
| Year | Incumbent | Votes | Pct | Challenger | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 General Election | Sam Guzman | 5,656 | 49.58% | Jayme Mathias | 5,751 | 50.42% |
| 2016 General Election | Jayme Mathias | 8,538 | 68.51% | Adolphus "Andy" Anderson | 3,924 | 31.49% |
Published Works[edit]
Books on Education[edit]
- Minutes of the Austin City Public Schools Board of Trustees: Volume II, 1892 - 1901 (2023, Transcription)
- The State of Texas’ Failure to Provide an Equitable Education to Latinx Students (2022)
- The Lies of Texas: The Continued Damage Inflicted by the "Texas Education Miracle" on Disadvantaged Students (2022, Editor)
- Pandemic Public School Perspectives: The Response of Texas Education Leaders to Exacerbated Inequities (2021, Editor)
- Celebrating 50 Years of Closing Gaps: The Proceedings of the Twenty-second Annual Conference of the Mexican American School Boards Association (2021, Editor)
- Seats at the Table: School Board Members' Perspectives on Race & Racism (2020, Co-editor)
- Viva la Lucha: Personal Reflections on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Mexican American School Boards Association (2020, Editor)
- Minutes of the Austin City Public Schools Board of Trustees: Vol. 1, 1880-1892 (2020, Transcription)
- A Study of the Relationship of Citizenship Status & Other Correlates with the Self-reported Leadership Behaviors of Spanish-speaking adults in Central Texas (2011)
- The Measure of Student Learning Outcomes: An action research study on the measurement of student learning outcomes at San Juan Diego Catholic High School in Austin, Texas (2008)
Books on Religion[edit]
- Building Community: Proceedings of an Interjurisdictional Gathering of Inclusive Catholic Lay & Ordained Leaders (2023, Editor)
- ¡Viva Cristo Rey! Una historia oral de la comunidad católica romana en el este de Austin (2023)
- Catechism of the Philippine Independent Church (2023, Translator)
- The Letters of Gregorio Aglípay y Labayan, Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church, 1902-1905 (2023, Translator)
- A Joyful Heart: The Life & Ministry of Mary Lou (Figueroa) Piña (2022)
- ¡Viva Cristo Rey! An Oral History of the Roman Catholic Community in the Flats of Lower East Austin (2022)
- Extraordinary Celebrations for Extraordinary Catholics: Ideas for Inclusive Catholic Communities during the Year of Matthew 2023 (2022)
- The Constellation of the Ascension Alliance in the Independent Catholic Nighttime Sky: A Presentation for the Ascension Alliance Convocation 2022 (2022)
- The Constellation of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion in the Independent Catholic Nighttime Sky: A keynote presented at the biannual Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion (2022)
- Catequesis de la Iglesia Filipina Independiente por el Eminentísimo Señor Gregorio Aglípay y Labayan, Obispo Máximo de dicha Iglesia (2022, Transcription)
- Las cartas de Gregorio Aglípay y Labayan, Obispo Máximo de la Iglesia Filipina Independiente (1902-1905) (2022, Transcription)
- Un Pueblo Peregrino: Los artículos del Padre Jayme Mathías en el periódico El Mundo Newspaper de Austin, Texas (2022)
- Tradition and Adaptation: Interjurisdictional Perspectives on Inclusive Catholicism in 2022 (2022, Editor)
- Revolutionary Church: A Sesquicentennial Remembrance of GomBurZa and a Celebration of the Church Birthed from the Nationalism They Inspired (2022, Editor)
- Our Better Version of Catholicism (2022, Editor)
- A Priest Forever: Reflections on the Sacrament of Holy Orders (2021, Editor)
- Sacerdote para siempre: Reflexiones sobres el sacramento del Orden Sacerdotal (2021, Editor)
- In Giving, We Receive: Celebrating 30 Years of Ministry to the People of God by Father Roy Gomez (2021)
- Extraordinary Celebrations for Extraordinary Catholics: Ideas for Autocephalous Catholic Communities during the Year of Luke 2022 (2021)
- Sacramental Whine: Chronicling the Independent Sacramental Movement, Vol. 1 (2021, Editor)
- Father Roy's Rosary: A Scriptural Rosary by Father Roy Gomez (2021, Editor)
- El Rosario del Padre Roy: Un rosario escritural por el Padre Roy Gómez (2021, Editor)
- A New Way of Being Catholic: Proceedings of "Utrecht Sweet Utrecht," a Gathering of Old/Independent Catholic Clergy & Laity (2020, Editor)
- Aglipayan: The Flourishing of Independent Catholicism in the Philippines (2020)
- Love God & Love Others: Reflections by Father Roy Gomez (2020, Editor)
- Celebrations that Stick: Ideas for Old/Independent Catholic Communities during the Year of Mark 2021 (2020)
- Extraordinary Celebrations, Extraordinary Growth: Ideas for Independent & Old Catholic Communities during the Year of Matthew 2020 (2019)
- Islands & Bridges: Three Essays & an Interview on Independent Catholicism in the United States (2019, Editor)
- Islas y puentes: Tres ensayos y una entrevista sobre el Catolicismo Independiente en los Estados Unidos (2019, Editor)
- A Bibliography of Old Catholic & Independent Catholic Works (2019)
- Inspiring the Generous Sharing of Time, Talent & Financial Resources among the Mexico-born Adult Population Residing in the United States (2010)
Books on Family History[edit]
- Early Frenchtonians: A History of Saint Nicholas Catholic Church in Big Spring Township, Seneca County, Ohio, Volume 1 (2023)
- Discovering Our Mathias/Borer Roots: The Ancestors and Descendants of John Howard Mathias, Louis James Mathias, Gerald Herman Mathias, David Lee Mathias, Marion Michael Mathias & Mary Margaret (Mathias) Miller (2021)
- Frenchtown Family: The Ancestors & Descendants of John Andrew Reinhart, George Albert Reinhart & Rose Marie (Mathias) Reinhart (2021)
- Our Mathias, Hoffbauer, Goshe & Kinn Ancestors: The Vintage Family Photographs of Martha (Mathias) Wank of New Riegel, Ohio (2021)
Controversy[edit]
In 2011, as pastor of Austin’s largest Spanish-speaking Roman Catholic congregation, Mathias worked with local leaders to invite to his congregation U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Chicago, who was largely viewed at that time as a champion of the undocumented community. The Hispanic, Roman Catholic Congressman accepted the invitation. Three days before the event, Monsignor Michael Sis, Vicar of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin, asked Mathias, on behalf of Bishop Joe S. Vasquez, to disinvite Gutierrez due to the latter’s views on women’s reproductive health. Mathias later pointed to that conversation as the moment when he realized he could no longer in good conscience serve a church which, in his estimation, dishonored women, marginalized members of the LGBTQ community, fixated on singular issues of conscience, and now refused to stand in unity with the immigrant community.[31][32] The tension between Mathias and his bishop made local headlines.[33] Mathias made headlines again when he preached on compassion for the LGBTQ community during the double-funeral of a young lesbian woman who was murdered, together with her mother, by the father of her lover.[34] Mathias announced to his congregation his decision to take a sabbatical at the end of May 2011, to complete his doctorate and his fourth graduate degree. Months later, he announced his incardination into Independent Catholicism, prompting a communication from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin that he had excommunicated himself from the Roman church.
References[edit]
- ↑ "Obituary for David Lee Mathias". Traunero Funeral Home & Crematory. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "High School Alumni in New Riegel, Ohio". Classfinders.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ The Inclusive Hebrew Scriptures. Volume III: The Writings. Walnut Creek, California: Altamira Press. 1999. p. xi. ISBN 0-9644279-5-8. Retrieved 4 May 2018. Search this book on
- ↑ Gold, Scott. "3 Bodies Found in Texas Rail Car: Gruesome discovery bringing the number of dead migrants to 120 this year coincides with new U.S.-Mexico effort to combat the crisis". Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Gold, Scott. "3 immigrants' bodies found in railroad car: U.S., Mexico agree to try to cut border deaths". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Smith, Peter. "Abuse Scandal Casts Pall over Local Franciscan Order: Plaintiffs Call Action against Clerics Inadequate". BishopAccountability.org. Courier-Journal. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Smith, Peter. "The Archdiocese Settlement: Abuse suits settled for $25.7 million". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Mathias, Jayme. ""Not a Lawyer, but Still Following God's Call!"". ACCUS Newsletter. Holy Family American Catholic Church. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Zaragoza, Sandra. "Growing private school puts emphasis on jobs". Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "Essential Alumni: Class Rosters". Leadership Austin. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "Diocese Seeks Prayers For Central Texas Priest Missing In Mexico". KBTX-TV. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "Austin, Texas priest found murdered in Mexico". Catholic New Agency. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Serrano, Jody. "Raul Zamora". The Daily Texas. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "Meet Our Pastor!". Holy Family American Catholic Church. Holy Family American Catholic Church. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Ross, Robyn. "Critical Mass: An Austin church remakes Catholicism without the Pope, celibate priests, or most of the other rules". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "ACCUS Training: St. John XXIII Theological Institute". American Catholic Church in the U.S. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Bien, Calily. "American Catholic Church will conduct same-sex weddings". KXAN. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Messer, Kate X. "Gay Marriage American Catholic Style". Austin Chronicle. Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Mutnick, Ally. "Ceremonies and Celebration as Marriages Begin: Texas couples began impromptu weddings in Travis County and others following Friday's U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Bernier, Nathan. "Mathias Wins East Austin AISD Race By 104 Votes". KUT 90.5 FM. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "Austin ISD School Board Members". Austin Independent School District. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Dreyer, Thorne. "Rev. Dr. Jayme Mathias, Austin school trustee and American Catholic priest, on Rag Radio". The Rag Blog. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "Ex-Roman Catholic priest becomes Austin’s 1st out school board member." Dallas Voice. November 12, 2012. https://dallasvoice.com/ex-catholic-priest-austins-1st-openly-gay-school-board-member/
- ↑ Lueckemeyer, Olivia. "District 2 Incumbent Jayme Mathias re-elected to Austin ISD board of trustees". Community Impact. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "Ballotpedia: Jayme Mathias". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Cantu, Tony. "Austin Election Day Results: City Council, Bond Issue, School Board, State Races". Downtown Austin Patch. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "TASB Board of Directors". Texas Association of School Boards. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "NSBA's Council of Urban Boards of Education Announces 2017-2018 Leadership". National School Boards Association. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "Trustee Jayme Mathias Elected to Board Association Steering Committee". Austin Independent School District. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Bolaños, Christene. "Texas Board of Education Gives Green Light to Statewide Mexican American Studies Course, But With Name Change". Latino Rebels. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Ross, Robyn. "Critical Mass: An Austin church remakes Catholicism without the Pope, celibate priests, or most of the other rules". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Messer, Kate X. "Gay Marriage American Catholic Style: Local pastor celebrates marriage equality". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ Dhanagom, Christene. "Diocese declines to host immigration event due to pro-abortion, pro-homosexual speaker". Life Site. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ↑ "Lesbian Lover and Mom Shot Dead by Girlfriend's Enraged Father". Unfinished Lives: Remembering LGBT Hate Crime Victims. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
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