A Faithful Servant To The End

• 8 years ago

Last week The Wanderer lost one of its longtime family members. Paul Likoudis lost his heroic battle with cancer and was called to his eternal reward last Thursday during the hour of mercy. The Wanderer and its readers are indebted to Paul for his many years of service to Catholic journalism. His news accounts, exposés, and critical coverage of events in the Catholic Church graced the pages of The Wanderer through some of the most tumultuous times in Catholicism.

The priest sex-abuse scandals, the sex education agenda in Catholic schools, the the homosexual incursion into the priesthood, contraception, the scandalous liturgies, the pro-life movement were just some of the many issues Paul would cover on a weekly basis.

Paul’s dedication and endurance in pursuing the truth and exposing the modern-day heresies and wild liturgies that were predominant in that period helped contribute to the reputation of The Wanderer’s credibility as a source for “telling it as it is.”

My father, Al Matt, editor of The Wanderer at the time, worked closely with Paul for most of those years. He recalls fondly his close association with Paul: They would speak on a daily basis discussing the issues of the day and identifying the heresies and the people and the movements behind those forces which were undermining the Catholic faith. They would regularly attend U.S. bishops’ meetings together, where their presence would not necessarily be welcomed by the reigning bishops of the time, who were none too eager to have their policies examined and criticized in the pages of The Wanderer.

Paul was more of a friend to my father than an employee. The two of them working together contributed greatly to The Wanderer’s prominence as a trusted source in its vigilant defense of the Catholic faith.

In the last couple of years when I had the opportunity to speak with Paul, I knew he was in a great deal of pain, but he never liked to discuss it. He was always upbeat and even inspirational in how he dealt with his disease, reminding me once that God’s closest friends are sometimes afflicted with much suffering.

One high point of our conversations in the past year was Paul’s mentioning how honored and touched he was when Cardinal George, who himself was dying of cancer, unexpectedly called him to offer prayers and comfort. But probably the greatest moment Paul expressed to me over the last year was his opportunity to dance with his daughter at her wedding. In our conversations, Paul’s loving concern for his family and the Catholic Church always was the center of attention, not talk of the terrible disease that was attacking him. Paul would also frequently express his gratitude for the many Wanderer readers who reached out to him with prayers and financial support over the past year.

Paul’s legacy as a Catholic journalist will forever be preserved in the pages of The Wanderer. A faithful servant to the end, Paul “you fought the good fight.” May your soul rest in peace.

— Joseph Matt, President, The Wanderer