St. Matthew

Around the Diocese

Office of Family Life and Catholic Charities Elder Ministry

For Catholic Charities Elder Ministry events, scroll to the bottom of this page. 

For Diocese of Charlotte Office of Family Life events and information, scroll to the bottom of this page or visit https://charlottediocese.org/faith-life/family-life. Please scroll to see information on upcoming events.

Outreach Opportunities

Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is joining the national campaign, We Are There, to promote the life-giving work of the Catholic Charities network. For 75 years, Catholic Charities has brought comfort, hope and relief to our neighbors, regardless of their faith, in the Diocese of Charlotte. The agency serves nearly 23,000 people, distributing over 600,000 pounds of food and aiding nearly 900 refugees. To learn more about the We Are There campaign, visit www.wearethere.us. To volunteer or make a gift to support the work of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, visit www.ccdoc.org.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte needs volunteers and contributions to their food pantry toiletry kits and refugee donation kits. To find out how you can help, click here. 

Catholic Charities offers Supportive Services for Veterans (SSVF). We are dedicated to helping very low-income veteran families in Mecklenburg County who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Our services include outreach, housing search and placement, eviction prevention, security deposits, rental assistance, child care expenses, transportation assistance, and assistance obtaining Veterans Affairs (VA) and other benefits. Veterans, please call Supportive Services Supervisor Tonya Lawrence at 704-370-3257. Let us work together to end homelessness among veterans.

Healed and Restored was born at St. Mark Catholic Church in 2020, under the guidance of Father Putnam, to tend to a need that’s been overlooked in our communities and in the Charlotte Diocese in general. Our mission is to transform female victims of trauma and assault into strong survivors who positively impact the world, believe in their worthiness, and feel God’s love. Our vision is to strengthen women who are suffering after physical and mental traumatic experiences through therapy, workshops and retreats. Our goal is to provide a residential program offering a safe, faith-filled home for women to receive care for mind, body, spirit and soul free of charge. We are growing and so are our needs. We are looking for a space to rent (commercial or residential) in the Lake Norman/Charlotte area with a minimum of 900 square feet, where we can hold group and one-on-one counseling sessions, workshops on life skills, nutrition education, and physical fitness therapy for the women we serve. If you or someone you know owns a property that you think might fulfill our needs, we ask that you reach out to us by emailing info@healedandrestored.org. With your help, we can continue to make a difference in women’s lives. Click here for more information on the Healed and Restored ministry.

The Order of Malta runs a pen pal program for those in prison, and we are looking for volunteers to write inmates. This only takes a few minutes of your time each month and a stamp. The program is anonymous and presents us with a way to be true to our call to visit Christ in prison. If you are interested in volunteering, email Maltapenpalprogram@gmail.com. We provide all of the necessary support and direction.

Join MiraVia and community partners at Friends for Life, Saturday, Feb. 22, from 7 to 9:30 pm at the MACS Fine Arts Center at Charlotte Catholic High School. Friends for Life is a unique event that invites our pro-life community to gather for inspiring speakers and vibrant fellowship. Come to hear “TED-like” talks from pro-life insiders and stay for a reception with many of the people and agencies who serve unexpectedly expectant parents in our community. The event is ideal for young adults and those who want to build the culture of life. Guest speakers include Brandy Meeks with the Vitae Foundation, Lydia Taylor Davis with Students for Life, Father Peter Ascik with the Diocese of Charlotte Family Life Office, and Lusa Smolynsky, a former MiraVia college resident. Friends for Life is free to attend, but you must have a ticket. Click here to reserve tickets. For more information, call MiraVia at 980-357-9550.

Drexel High School in Belmont is holding a special celebration honoring their patron saint, St. Katharine Drexel, on Sunday, March 2, from 11 am to 2:30 pm at Belmont Abbey. The following day, March 3, from 8 am to 3:30 pm, they are hosting an open house. Both days begin with Mass at the Abbey Basilica. RSVPs are requested. Click here to respond. 

St. Ann Catholic Church Young Adults is hosting the Fourth Annual Vigilant Retreat March 14 to 16 at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory. Adults in their 20s and 30s, whether single or married, are invited to join. Click here to learn more and register. Spots are limited, register today to guarantee your spot

Would you like to know more about the Cursillo Movement in Charlotte? You are invited to our  information session on Tuesday, March 18, from 7 to 8 pm at St. Matthew Catholic Church in New Life Center 104. Light Refreshments will be served. We would love to meet you. The Cursillo Movement is a recognized charism of the Catholic Church founded on small friendship groups.

Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of St. Dymphna – You are invited to join Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe, on a three-day pilgrimage to the National Shrine of St. Dymphna located in Massillon, Ohio. The dates are March 16 to 18. The itinerary includes Holy Mass both days, a tour of the National Shrine of St. Dymphna and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption.  We will spend time in prayer in front of the relics of all twelve apostles, St. Dymphna, and a relic of the True Cross. The cost is $199 per person which includes all meals and roundtrip transportation aboard a luxury motor coach. Click here for more information or email StDymphna2013@gmail.com or call Sue Welday at 704-431-2861.

Take time for your marriage by attending the next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience on March 21 to 23, 2025 in Emerald Isle, NC and May 2 to 4, 2025 in Hickory, NC. Early sign up is recommended. For more information, click here or contact us at applications@NCMarriageDiscovery.org or 704-315-2144.

Catholic Health Care Ethics Conference – Health care professionals are invited to the 8th annual Converging Roads health care ethics conference on March 29 from 8 am to 5:45 pm at the Cathedral of St. Patrick. This one-day conference explores the theme of The Future of Human Dignity and offers continuing education for health care professionals rooted in the Hippocratic and Catholic ethical tradition. Registration is $75 to $159 based on CME/CNE inclusion. This conference is presented by the St. John Paul II Foundation, the Diocese of Charlotte, and Belmont Abbey College. Click here for more information or email jessie@forlifeandfamily.org.

Deacon Larry O’Toole from St. Luke Church is hosting a Pilgrimage to Italy for the Jubilee Year from Nov. 12 to 22, through Nawas Travel. Visit Venice, Florence, Assisi, Padua, and Rome and pass through the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica and three other major basilicas. The price of $4,599 per person includes airfare, hotel accommodations, most meals, an English-speaking tour director, comprehensive sightseeing throughout, all admission fees, hotel charges, government taxes, airline surcharges, and transfers to and from airports by private motor coach. Click here for more information, including the registration form.

Retrouvaille of Western Carolina Marriage Retreats in 2025 – Retrouvaille Marriage Help offers a welcoming and loving space to couples who have been living with the misery of a failing marriage. Retrouvaille offers hope: hope that it is not too late, hope of a different and better marriage. Retrouvaille helps couples to show each other mercy through the opportunities it provides to listen, to forgive, to be reconciled and to move into their futures believing that God loves them and with His help and their efforts, their marriages can be healed and restored. Retrouvaille provides help for marriage problems/difficulties/ crises. For more information about an upcoming Retrouvaille Weekend program in Charlotte area on April 25 to 27 for couples,  email: 3062ac@helpourmarriage.org  or Call: 727-343-6701. For information, registration please click here. 

Catholic Charities invites you to make a lasting impact in our community by attending the Vineyard of Hope Banquet. Join them on May 1 at Carmel Country Club for an inspiring evening that celebrates their mission of hope for those in need. With Bishop Michael Martin, the Tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, as our keynote speaker, this event will inspire a deep passion for service and strengthen your commitment to helping those in need within our community. The Vineyard of Hope Banquet, much like the vineyard in Scripture, calls each of us to labor in God’s vineyard, nurturing and supporting our neighbors. Together, we can plant seeds of hope and build a stronger, more united community. Click here to RSVP Today.  Your participation will directly impact the future of those we serve. Seats are limited, so don’t delay! Can’t attend? You can still make a difference by donating to support this important evening.

St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Fort Mill, SC has a singles group for men and women 45 years old and older. They have monthly meetings as well as social events throughout the year. If you are interested in joining or would like more information, contact Judy at spnsingles45@gmail.com. 

Celebrate Mass in the Byzantine Rite on Saturdays at 4 pm at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Fort Mill, SC (292 Munn Road). The Divine Liturgy is held in the Ministry Center, the building across from the main church. All are welcome. Bishop Kurt Burnette granted the Byzantine community a proper name, The Petro Oros Byzantine Catholic Mission. Father Oros was a Ukrainian priest martyred in 1953 and recently beatified by Pope Francis. For more information visit www.carolinabyzantine.com or contact Andrea Kakuk at akakuk1@gmail.com. 

Catholic Charities Elder Ministry

Lisa Wallace, North Carolina Social Security Public Affairs Specialist, will cover why Social Security is important to women on Wednesday, March 5, from noon to 1 pm. Did you know, on average women receive less monthly income from Social Security than men – but they rely on it more heavily.  In 2021, the average annual Social Security income received by women 65 years and older was $14,204 compared to $18,108 for men. Women represent 55.2 percent of all Social Security beneficiaries age 60 and older and approximately 63.3 percent of beneficiaries age 85 and older.  This is important because according to SSA’s Office of the Chief Actuary, women reaching age 65 in 2023 are expected to live, on average, an additional 21.1 years compared with 18.0 years for men. So women especially need to make sure they understand that benefits that are available to them. We will cover this and also make you aware of the updates to Social Security for 2024.  We will also cover general information on Social Security’s benefits, programs, and services. In preparation for the webinar, if you have not already, you should create your My Social Security Account so that you can review your earnings and get an idea as to what you might be eligible for at full retirement age and also what your full retirement age is (see link below).  We do not record the webinars but the information we will be covering is available online. 

How to Create a My Social Security Account – https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/

IMPORTANT: First time users of Microsoft Meeting need to download the Microsoft Team Meeting App on their mobile phone, tablet or computer. You will need to open the app and register (free) before you join us.

On the date and time below, just click the link at the bottom and your Microsoft Team app will open and take you to our meeting.

Video meeting etiquette

This will be a different experience than an in-person meeting. Prior to attending our event, please read the below notices and best practices:

1. Always keep your microphone muted if you are not talking.
2. Please raise your hand to be called on for a question using the control panel. Unmute your microphone to speak and mute once you’re finished speaking.
3. Use headphones or ear buds if you are in a noisy or public environment.
4. This event is public. Please do not share any personal information, such as dates of birth or Social Security numbers, about yourself or others during the event.
5. Public chats are visible to all participants and are retained by SSA after the event. If you use the chat feature, you agree to share your comment with everyone at the event and to SSA maintaining your comment as Federal records laws require.
6. To further protect your privacy, we recommend that you sign in as a “guest” through Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge web browser when possible; and use only first name or initials as your Microsoft Teams “name.”
7. If two people speak at the same time, the organizer will choose the order of who speaks first.
8. You can choose to turn your camera on or off.
9. Remember to close out your browser or log out of Microsoft Teams as soon as the meeting is over.
10. Be patient — there is a learning curve to using video conference.

If you are unable to join by video for whatever reason, dial into the meeting by phone (number provided below).
_____________________________________________________________________________

Microsoft Teams Need help?
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 230 669 163 716
Passcode: WH6Ww3AN

Dial in by phone
+1 443-840-7262,,972585481# United States, Catonsville
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 972 585 481#

Join on a video conferencing device
Tenant key: teams@pexip.ssa.gov
Video ID: 116 244 204 6

For more information, contact Elder Ministry Program Director Sandra Breakfield at sandrab@ccdoc.org or 704-370-3220.

Diocese of Charlotte Office of Family Life

The Diocese of Charlotte Office of Family Life offers a Catholic apostolate for men and women who experience same-sex attractions and for their family members and loved ones. Whether you experience same-sex attractions (Courage) or you have a family member or loved one who identifies as LGBTQ+ (EnCourage), you are not alone. Join the Courage and EnCourage family and discover an apostolate that provides confidential support for living by the Catholic Church’s teachings on chastity and keeping family bonds intact. To learn more, visit https://Couragerc.org. To inquire about our local Courage chapter, email courage@rcdoc.org and local EnCourage chapter at encourage@rcdoc.org. 

Click here to receive important newsletters from the Diocese of Charlotte Office of Family Life. In each email that you receive, there is a link to unsubscribe. 

Click here for more information on Diocese of Charlotte Office of Family Life or email FamilyLife@rcdoc.org or call 704-808-4507.