“It’s the music!”… ”It’s the priests!”…“It’s the sense of community!”…
These are three of the most frequently given responses for why people worship at Saint Helen. For Matt Pana, all are and remain true for him.
Like many Catholics, Matt’s faith journey has been circuitous. “I grew up culturally Catholic in a Filipino family. My parents were always consistent in going to Mass, no matter where we were. My mom was big on going to Mass together; it was always the focal point of our Sunday. We also always prayed the rosary every Sunday night.”
It is music, particularly drumming, that was the consistent beat through his faith journey. “I started playing drums in middle school and then started playing in churches in central New Jersey. But, in high school and college, I just played secular music in punk rock bands. I fell away from the Church in college, but the guitarist for the band I played in was Evangelical. So, through my mid-20s we were travelling around the country with our band and I was attending Evangelical services,” whose music was enthusiastic and energetic.
While on the road, Matt heard from his mom every Sunday, “My mom was big on me going to Mass, so she would call me to ask about the Readings or homily. I would at least visit church even if I didn’t attend Mass, so I could answer my mother’s questions.” What eventually became evident to Matt was the universality of the Catholic Church: “It is the same Mass everywhere. It was consistent.” And he appreciated that.
Matt eventually got reinvolved in Church music in his late 20s and experienced his “reversion,” a return to the Church. “The grace of God led me back to the Church.” He was inspired by Father Mike Schmitz, a vibrant Catholic priest whose podcasts are currently found on Hallow. “I became curious about Church history and fell in love with a couple of apologetics and saints.”
Matt’s sister Meesa attended Sunday night Mass at Saint Helen and urged Matt to explore the parish. Father Frank Fano and Father Zach Swantek became great resources in answering his questions. He found Bishop Michael and Monsignor Tom were incomparably welcoming. “I found lots of freedom in this community to really thrive. Saint Helen was a validation. We could have modern approaches and still have Mass and the sacraments.”
The faith community that Matt was creating got a big boost when he participated in the Discovering Christ series and continued meeting with his small group. “I met my best friends through Discovering Christ. From random occurrences and connections, I started playing music steadily at Saint Helen and got a day job working in corporate media.”
Matt’s message is one that resonates with Catholics of every age, “I get that lots of people leave the Church – I’ve been there. If you want to leave, know why you want to leave. When you are younger, we make these grand kind of overarching statements, like ‘the music is boring.’ Go straight to the sources: what do you actually believe in? Don’t rely on what others have to say. Study and learn. If you want to make a decision, make sure it’s an educated one. Do your research and pray on it.”
Then, find a supportive community. “Get to know like-minded people. Especially for young people, we need good guidance and a mentor.”
Through the stewardship of his family’s Catholic faith, Matt’s passionate exploration of his gift of music, and the welcoming spirit of Saint Helen, Matt has found his home. In turn, Saint Helen is richer for his faithful sharing of his spirited drumming.