Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC

Navy Chaplain
Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA

First Vows: 8/15/2014
Final Vows: 8/16/2019
Priestly Ordination: 12/27/2021

Previous assignments and dates:
Parochial Vicar, Saint Patrick’s Parish and Saint Mary’s Parish, Plano, Illinois: January 2022 - October 2022
Rector, The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, Stockbridge, Massachusetts: October 2022 - May 2026
Local Superior, Eden Hill House, Stockbridge, Massachusetts: August 2023 - May 2026

Do you have a devotion to a particular Saint(s)?
There are several. Obviously, Mary Immaculate and St. Joseph. My confirmation saint is St. Michael the Archangel, so definitely he is always a big one, as for many people. St. Maximilian Kolbe is always a great inspiration for me with his two crowns of purity and martyrdom and his zeal for utilizing worldly resources and spreading it for Mary Immaculate. In Novitiate I started a devotion to St. Philomena after my Novice Master, Fr. Jim, had shared a little book about her with me. She is unique because she was an early Chrisitian virgin-martyr only discovered in the 1800s, but powerful in her intercession. Another one is St. John the Evangelist because I was ordained on his feast day and especially appreciate his Gospel. I have a relic of his too. I've come to venerate more my name patrons, St. Matthew and St. Aloysius Gonzaga (my middle name is Luis after my grandfather who celebrated him as his name patron). As a Marian, St. Stanislaus Papczyński, Bl. George Matulaitis, and the Marian Martyrs, Bl. Anthony and Bl. George, are of course important to me. Lastly, St. Faustina because her diary has been very inspirational for striving to live my religious vocation and call to holiness more faithfully and zealously. 

Do you have a memorable story(s) from your ministry? 
Once, after Sunday Mass, someone said, "Thank you so much for talking to my friend earlier this week. She was ready to take her life and she finally felt like there was hope after talking to you." That was a moment to remember that in the midst of unexpected ministry, God can use us as His instrument of mercy. 
 
Also, I always wear my clerics while traveling because it's such an opportune time for evangelization. I remember one time at an airport a fast food worker came running out and asked, "Could you please pray for me?" It's just kind of neat to see, especially while traveling, how God's Providence works when you're not even planning on these things, but you get stopped for Confession or just a prayer request, and you can see how much it meant to them. It was like God answering their prayers that you were there.

Favorite quote(s) from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska?

Jesus said to me, Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory. (Diary, 47-48) 

[Jesus said,] I rejoice that [souls] ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much. On the other hand, I am sad when souls ask for little, when they narrow their hearts. (Diary, 1578)

Favorite prayer to Our Lady?
The Memorare is definitely a go-to. I find myself easily saying that when people ask me to pray for them or their intention. Also, of course renewing my Consecration to Mary, which we do as Marians every day with "My Queen, My Mother." I definitely appreciate that prayer. Lastly, the third one that means a lot is the prayer Marians say after morning, midday, and evening prayer: Immaculata Virginis Mariae Conceptio sit nobis salus et protectio (“May the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception be our salvation and our protection”). For that prayer, I can picture us Marians humbly placing ourselves under her mantle as her little children and her protecting us from the prowling evil one. 

More on Fr. Matthew:
Welcome, Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC 
A new Rector for the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy 
Clarion call of the Marians 
Perpetually Professed! 
Three Men Profess First Vows 
'Our Lady Helped Me to Persevere' 
Divine Mercy Plus videos