Miami Dolphins' Matthew Butler puts faith into action in South Florida

By Alexia Beatriz Fodere - The Archdiocese of Miami

Before the first child received a backpack or families began lining up outside two South Florida parishes, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Matthew Butler had a simple goal: to give local families the same warm welcome he and his family received when they arrived in South Florida.

That goal became a reality on July 25, when Butler's foundation partnered with the Archdiocese of Miami to distribute hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies and boxes of food at St. Helen Parish in Lauderdale Lakes and St. Ann Mission in Homestead. The outreach brought together faith, generosity and community service, offering families practical assistance as they prepared for the new school year.

"My family and I were welcomed so warmly by the South Florida community," Butler said. "Through our foundation, we wanted to give something back. My faith has taught me that serving others is one of the greatest ways we do God's work."

 

A warm welcome for South Florida families

At St. Helen Parish in Lauderdale Lakes, volunteers arranged hundreds of backpacks while children eagerly waited to choose their favorite colors and designs. A few days before the event, Butler personally visited both parishes to coordinate the distribution, reviewing logistics with each pastor to ensure everything would run smoothly.

"He came a few days earlier to make sure everything would work perfectly," recalled Father Lucien Eugène Pierre. "He wanted everything to be ready for the families."

The preparation paid off. With the support of the Matthew Butler Foundation, the Archdiocese of Miami and dozens of parish volunteers, hundreds of families received assistance at the two locations.

For Father Lucien, however, the greatest success went beyond the number of backpacks distributed. Watching families who had never visited the parish walk through the church doors gave him particular joy.

"It makes me very happy to see so many new faces," he said.

A similar scene unfolded a few hours later at St. Ann Mission in Homestead.

Before the first families arrived, Father Rafael Cos rolled up his sleeves and joined the volunteers, helping set up tables and organize backpacks.

As the lines grew longer, he paused for a moment to look at the hundreds of parents and children filling the parish grounds.

"This is a blessing for these families, and we are very grateful to Matthew," Father Rafael told those gathered.

Many of those families had never visited St. Ann Mission before. Several said they had learned about the event from employees at a neighborhood grocery store who directed them to the church after hearing they needed help purchasing school supplies.

Among them was María García, a mother of four who works at a plant nursery in Homestead.

Holding the backpacks her children had just picked out, she became emotional as she explained what the assistance meant for her family.

"This is such a big help for us," García said. "School is starting now, and I couldn't afford to buy all the school supplies my children needed."

For García and other parents facing financial pressures, the donations offered relief at a time when back-to-school expenses can strain family budgets.

 

More than backpacks and school supplies

Although Butler is known for his work on the football field, his role that day extended far beyond distributing supplies.

He greeted families, listened to their stories, shook hands, signed backpacks and patiently posed for photos with excited children.

Many proudly hugged the backpacks they had just chosen while waiting for the Miami Dolphins defensive tackle to autograph them. Others smiled for pictures while their parents captured the moment on their cell phones.

The distributions took on a festive atmosphere, with children showing off their new backpacks and families gathering around Butler for photographs.

Butler was joined throughout the day by several of his Miami Dolphins teammates, along with his wife, Malia Butler, and young son, MJ (Matthew Jr.), making the outreach a family effort rooted in faith and gratitude.

Reflecting on the day, Butler smiled when told that both pastors had noticed so many new families entering their churches.

"Mission accomplished," he said. "From the beginning, we asked the pastors to get the word out to the entire community, not just the parish. We wanted everyone to know they were welcome here. What better way to evangelize than to love people with the love of God and give to those in need right here at the house of the Lord? Maybe someone just needed a little nudge to come back to church."

Faith beyond the football field

For Butler, serving others is inseparable from his Catholic faith.

"God didn't place me in front of people just because I can play football," he said. "He gave me this platform so that, through whatever gifts He's given me—my time, my talent and my treasure, I can glorify Him."

That conviction was reflected in the volunteers who carried backpacks, welcomed unfamiliar faces and helped families find the supplies they needed.

For Fathers Lucien and Rafael, the outreach also offered an opportunity to introduce their parishes to neighbors who might otherwise never have stepped inside. Both pastors expressed gratitude for the chance to host the event and hoped some of those families would return for Mass, prayer or fellowship.

By the end of the day, hundreds of families had received backpacks and food. Children left with supplies for the new school year, while parents carried home one less financial worry.

But perhaps the most lasting gift was something Butler himself had once received: a warm welcome.

And for families entering St. Helen Parish and St. Ann Mission for the first time, that welcome began with something as simple as a backpack