The Charlotte Men’s Homeless Shelter is running seriously short of men’s underwear and small padlocks to provide their homeless shelter guests. Due to the influx of new shelter guests during the pandemic, basic supplies are needed to help the guests get back on the road to recovery. Since they have no homes, they must secure their remaining valuables in the men’s shelter locker room while they are away from the shelter seeking employment or housing. Please consider donating a small keyed padlock, package of men’s underwear, t-shirts or briefs (large, extra large or 2X ) in the collection barrels from June 4 through June 12.

We are so excited to launch our new parish family prayer wall! We invite you to share your prayer requests and also visit this page to lift up your parish family in prayer. Requests can be submitted with your name, or anonymously, and you can also let people know you are praying for their intentions. What a beautiful way to be connected as a parish family! The page can always be found at the top of the menu on our homepage, and you can also access it here: https://stmatthewcatholic.org/prayerwall .

Thousands of people across the diocese benefit because of the DSA-funded ministries. Among those served are:

• 42,070 children and adults through programs assisted by the Faith Formation Office
• 7,026 students in Catholic Schools
• 1,760 Catholic college students through Campus Ministry programs
• 18,021 clients of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, served in the following office locations: Asheville, Charlotte, Murphy, Greensboro, Winston-Salem
• 146 permanent deacons through the Permanent Diaconate program
• 84 religious sisters serving in our diocese
• 45 seminarians currently in formation for the diocese

Click here to give online.

MONTHLY INTENTION

May: For Mary’s intercession. May Mary, the patroness of our diocese, always look favorably upon our church and pray unceasingly for every member of Christ’s faithful.

For information on the diocese-wide yearlong celebration of the fiftieth anniversary, visit this link.

The 50th anniversary year will bear great spiritual fruit if we ask God for the graces we hope to receive. Please offer the 50th anniversary prayer daily for many graces to be poured on our diocese during this jubilee anniversary:

Heavenly Father, accept our humble prayer of praise and gratitude as we joyfully celebrate 50 years as the Diocese of Charlotte. Throughout our history the faithful of Western North Carolina, under the watchful care of esteemed bishops and abbots, have been nurtured by Your providential hand. Confident that You invite Your children to implore Your constant blessings, we pray that You continue to pour forth Your heavenly grace upon us. With filial affection and devotion, we further ask that You look kindly upon the prayers we seek through the intercession of our venerable patroness, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, who with motherly attention tends to the needs and concerns of the Church. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Amen.