A native of Peoria, Illinois, Fr. Matthew Buettner was invited by Bishop William Curlin to become a seminarian for the Diocese of Charlotte in 1996. After obtaining a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia and M.Div. from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Fr. Buettner was ordained to the sacred priesthood in 2003. He served as Parochial Vicar at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte, Parochial Vicar, then Pastor at St. Dorothy Catholic Church in Lincolnton, followed by Pastor of St. Michael Catholic Church in Gastonia. In 2016, when St. Joseph College Seminary was founded, Fr. Buettner was assigned as the House Spiritual Director of the fledgling seminary. As full-time spiritual director, he offers spiritual direction, Confession, Holy Mass, and spiritual conferences to seminarians, religious, priests, and the laity. He is also a member of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Dominic (3rd Order Dominican) and assists with the Lay Dominicans in the Charlotte area.