Supporting Gunnar Matsen’s Mission to Puerto Rico

Gunnar Matsen, a faithful member of our Saint Anna Parish, has discerned a deep calling to share the Gospel with those who have yet to experience the richness of the Orthodox Christian faith. Our parish community is overjoyed to support him as he embarks on a vital, long-term missionary journey to Puerto Rico this coming August.

Gunnar will be working directly under Archpriest Gregorio Justiniano at the San Juan Clímaco Mission (ROCOR) in Duey Alto, San Germán, PR. His mission is unique and multifaceted: he will be moving to the island to transfer his university studies while dedicating himself to building up the local Orthodox community.

A Lifecycle of Preparation and Faith

God has uniquely prepared Gunnar for this apostolic labor through his upbringing, linguistic background, and liturgical training:

  • Bilingual and Multicultural Roots: Raised in a bilingual home, Gunnar's mother was born and raised in Medellín, Colombia, and his father is Norwegian. Growing up, his grandmother lived with the family for 15 years and spoke only Spanish. Gunnar has traveled to Colombia every other year to immerse himself in his heritage, studied Spanish formally for three years to refine his skills, and officially obtained his dual Colombian citizenship on October 2, 2024.

  • The Spiritual Journey: Gunnar's early childhood was spent in a Hispanic non-denominational church in Santa Rosa. In 2014, his family moved to Sacramento and discovered the ancient faith at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. On November 21, 2015, Gunnar was baptized and chrismated, taking the name Paul in honor of the Great Apostle to the Gentiles.

  • Liturgical Service: Recognizing his piety, His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos tonsured Gunnar as a Reader on March 24, 2019. On July 1, 2019, the Matsen family was warmly received into our Saint Anna parish. Alongside his twin brother, Gunnar has been a constant, faithful presence in our sanctuary, serving as an acolyte, helping with parish youth, and assisting the clergy wherever needed.

  • Previous Mission Work: This is not Gunnar's first step into the mission field; he already possesses hands-on experience through prior missionary outreach trips to both Puerto Rico and Project Mexico.

The Scope of the Mission

While in Puerto Rico, Gunnar will pursue his degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez. His engineering background will be immediately put to use as he physically helps construct the San Juan Clímaco mission temple.

Beyond the physical build, Gunnar will support Father Gregorio by:

  • Teaching Orthodox Christian Catechism and leading Bible studies in fluent Spanish.

  • Serving as a Reader at the altar and chanting the divine services.

  • Assisting with youth outreach, including plans to establish a local Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) chapter on the university campus.

  • Facilitating future Orthodox short-term mission trips to the island throughout the year.

Following the completion of his engineering degree, Gunnar intends to enroll at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology to formally begin his theological studies and pursue a lifelong calling to ministry.

Why This Mission Matters

Reaching the Lost

Except for a small Antiochian parish that serves exclusively in Arabic, Father Gregorio's mission is the onlyOrthodox Christian presence for an island population of over 3.2 million people. The church is experiencing beautiful growth with an influx of new catechumens and converts who urgently need native-language discipleship.

Building Community

By establishing a permanent, strong Orthodox presence, Gunnar will help foster a supportive, sacramental community for new converts, allowing them to experience the depths of the faith in their native Spanish language.

Witnessing through Service

The ministry will combine theological education with practical acts of love, compassion, and community development, demonstrating Christ's teachings through service tailored directly to the island's cultural norms.

How You Can Partner with Gunnar

We invite the entire Saint Anna community to become active partners in Gunnar's missionary calling. You can support him in three vital ways:

  • Prayer: Please keep the servant of God, Reader Paul (Gunnar), in your daily prayers. Pray for his safety, his university studies, his physical labor, and that the Holy Spirit opens the hearts of those he encounters.

  • Financial Support: Relocating and establishing a long-term mission requires significant resources. Financial contributions will directly cover his travel, modest living expenses, and immediate local ministry needs on the island.

  • Sharing His Story: Help us spread the word. Consider sharing Gunnar’s missionary journey with family, friends, and the wider Orthodox community to raise awareness for the growing domestic missions in the Americas.

May the Lord bless and strengthen His servant, Reader Paul, as he goes forth to bring the light of the True Faith to the people of Puerto Rico!