Respect Life Office
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte

White Rose Witness: A Diocesan Pro-Life Witness on December 1, 2021

• On December 1, 2021 the US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson, a very important case which concerns the right to life of unborn children.
• The court will decide whether a Mississippi state law which limits abortion after 15 weeks gestation is constitutional.
• The case is a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, which severely limits the ability of the states to pass laws protecting the right to life of the unborn child.
• If the court allows the Mississippi law to stand, it could open the door to a whole new range of laws protecting unborn children. But if the court overturns the law, legal protection for the unborn will remain out of reach for another generation.
• This is a very important time to speak up for the right to life, which Pope St. John Paul II called “the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights” (Christifidelis Laici, 38).
• We wish to show that our nation would welcome a ruling affirming the right of the states to protect human life before birth.

The White Rose Witness

• We invite Catholics and all people of good will to offer public pro-life witness on Wednesday, December 1 by wearing an image of a white rose (such as a lapel pin, patch, sticker, etc.) on our clothing for the entire day.
• We will wear this rose when at work, at the store, with family or friends, wherever we go.
• When asked why we are wearing it, we will give a simple statement in these or similar words:
• “I’m wearing this rose because I want the Supreme Court to protect the right to life of every human being from the moment of conception.”

All are invited to offer public pro-life witness by wearing an image of a white rose (such as a pin, sticker, or patch) on their clothing on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. On that day the US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in an important case (Dobbs v. Jackson) which will determine how far state laws can go in protecting the right to life of unborn children.

We will wear this rose when at work, at the store, with family or friends, wherever we go. When asked why we are wearing it, we will give a simple statement in these or similar words:

“I’m wearing this rose because I want the Supreme Court to protect the right to life of every human being from the moment of conception.”

For more information:

Jessica Grabowski: jrgrabowski@rcdoc.org

 

Please take a moment to read the letter from Bishop Jugis, to the people of the Diocese of Charlotte, regarding the Synod.

Click here for the letter.

Register Here!

We invite adults and families to come participate in a March for Life Pilgrimage, January 20-22, 2022. We will gather at Saint Matthew and travel together to Washington, D.C. to stand with thousands in solidarity with the most vulnerable among us!  Join the Pro-Life Generation!

Lodging: Hilton Garden Inn, Bethesda, MD (7301 Waverly St, Bethesda, MD 20814 )

Transportation: Charter Bus (departing Thursday morning from St. Matthew, returning Saturday night)

Cost:  $220/person (2 ppl./room); $180/person (3 ppl./room); $160/person (4 ppl./room)
Includes lodging, bus transportation, breakfast on Friday and Saturday. Plan to bring additional funds for 5 other meals and cash for the metro. Each room contains two queen beds.

What will we be doing?

March for Life: Rally and March

The right to life is a human right. Our defense of that right is a joyful witness to the beauty and dignity of every human person.

The March for Life is an inspiring, peaceful, vibrant, and joy-filled rally of women, men, young people, and children from all across the country. Every year, tens of thousands of pro-lifers converge on the National Mall and march on Capitol Hill on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling which legalized abortion in all 50 states. It’s the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world. But this is not just a protest… TOGETHER, WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE LIFE. We celebrate each and every life, from the moment of conception. We envision a world where every life is celebrated, valued, and protected.

March for Life Rally

Join us in Washington, DC for the March for Life Rally. This FREE event features a live concert and inspiring speeches from pro-life leaders – sharing how to stay involved in the pro-life movement all year long. The Rally will begin at 12 pm ET on the National Mall. If you can’t join us in person, you can also watch the live-streamed event on our website, Facebook, and YouTube channel.

March for Life

This is the main event! The March for Life will begin immediately following the Rally – usually around 1 p.m. – starting between 12th and 14th Streets. We will march peacefully up Constitution Ave. to the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court.

After marching, consider attending the Silent No More testimonies outside the Supreme Court, visiting your Representative to advocate for life, or proceeding past the Supreme Court to help the flow of oncoming marchers.

(adapted from the March for Life website)

• Register here!

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Saint John Paul II National Shrine

Questions?

Contact Rachel Willoughby or Lauren Piercefield.

Family Assist
The Family Assist Ministry provides assistance for parish families who are experiencing financial hardship. This Christmas, we will provide those in need with gifts or gift cards. If you, your family, business or group would like to share with others this Christmas, contact Don Meanor at 704-543-7677 x 1018.

Angel Tree
During the Christmas season, the Angel Tree Ministry partners with local charities to provide gifts to families in need. Our ministry is always overwhelmed by the generosity of our parishioners, and would not be successful without you! Complying with current safety guidelines, we can only accept gift cards and check donations. We accept gift cards from Amazon, Visa, MasterCard, any local retail, grocery or drug stores, gas stations or restaurants. Our collection begins on Nov. 20 and ends Dec. 12. Please place gift cards or checks in a sealed envelope labeled Angel Tree with the amount of the gift card or donation. Please mark Angel Tree in the memo section of checks. Place donations in the offertory at the Ballantyne and Waxhaw campuses, or bring to the church office Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 4:30 pm, or mail to St. Matthew Catholic Church, PO Box 49349, Charlotte, NC 28277. To learn more about the wonderful charities that we assist, visit https://stmatthewcatholic.org/angeltree. For more information, email stmattsangeltree@gmail.com.

Blood Give-In
Our next Blood Give-In is Sunday, Dec. 12, from 8 am to 1 pm in the Parish Center Family Room. To sign up online, visit https://www.redcrossblood.org, go to Donate Blood, then Find a Blood Drive; enter Zip Code 28277, or call 1-800-Red Cross. Remember to drink extra water and eat a filling meal before your donation. All donors need a photo ID.

Food Baskets
This year, we have an opportunity for you to prepare a Christmas bin to share with families in our community. This could be a beautiful family project. Fill an 18-gallon, lidded bin with food items from the list below, as well as other special non-perishable items that you would like to include. Personalize your bin with a handwritten card or letter to the family who will receive your gift. Drop off filled bins in the Parish Center parking lot on Friday, Dec. 10 and Saturday, Dec. 11. There will be  a truck available to place donations.
Items needed

Canned fruits Canned vegetables Canned meats/fish Canned pasta Canned chili Spam Peanut butter Coffee/tea (one pound bag) Rice (one to two pounds) Instant potatoes Cereals Jellies Jams	Boxed hamburger meals Pancake mix Maple syrup Jell-O Pudding Cake mixes Brownie mixes Sugar (two to five pounds) Fruit juices Pasta Macaroni and cheese Pasta sauce Soups	Cookies Crackers Condiments, especially mayonnaise Paper towels Toothpaste Facial tissue Shampoo Conditioner Bar soap Toilet paper

Strong hard working teens and families bring this ministry alive. Sign up to serve at our November 13th donated goods event at the Be The Church page on our website.

Weekend Mass Schedule

Ballantyne Campus
Saturday Vigil: 5:30 PM
Sunday Masses: 7:30 am, 9 am, 10:45 am, 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm

Waxhaw Campus
Saturday Vigil: 4 PM
Sunday: 9:30 am and 11 am

Please click here to read dispensation information.

Weekday Mass Schedule

Ballantyne Camps
Monday through Friday: 7 am
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 9 am
Wednesday, St. Matthew Catholic School Mass: 8:15 am

Confession 

Ballantyne Campus
Sunday: 10 to 10:30 am and 11:45 am to 12:15 pm
Wednesday: 9 to 10 am

Adoration

Ballantyne Campus Daily Mass Chapel
Friday: 9 am to 9 pm

Church Hours for Private Prayer

Ballantyne Campus
Monday through Friday: 9 am to 4:30 pm
Please note that the church is not available for private prayer while funeral Masses are being celebrated,  to respect the privacy of families.

Office Hours

Monday through Friday: 9 am to 4:30 pm

Gift Shop

Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 9:30 am to noon

For sacramental emergencies, please call 704-543-7677.

 

To read the document from the Diocese regarding the narrowing of dispensations, click here.