The Mission Diocese of Satna is entrusted with the mission of evangelizing seven districts in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh in the northern part of India, and is the home of Father Davis. The weekend of Oct. 8 and 9, at the Ballantyne Campus, and the following weekend, Oct. 15 and 16, at the Waxhaw campus, we will have a second collection for Father Davis’ home diocese. You may donate during the collection weekends, or electronically by scanning the QR code or visiting this link. We are truly grateful for the generosity of our parishioners.

The Diocese of Satna is in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh, India and has an area of 28,000 square miles. The total population of the districts served by this Diocese is 11.12 million, from the 2011 census. It was first formed by the Holy See on July 29, 1968 and became a Diocese on March 12, 1977. The Diocesan community of Satna is small in number but has made significant contributions in the field of education, health care and socio-economic development activities for the past fifty years. There are many vocational formation houses including a theological college that serves as the Synodal Mission Seminary. This seminary has formed a remarkable number of missionary priests and religious sisters.

There are 28 parishes and mission centers, 56 diocesan priests, 16 religious priests and 149 religious sisters who are actively engaged in the work of evangelization in the Diocese. The Diocese has 26 schools, 1 pastoral administration center, 1 nursing community college, 3 orphanages and social welfare centers, 2 hospitals, 5 clinics and pharmacies, 5 professional training centers, 2 schools for people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, and 1 communication center in the Diocese of Satna. This Diocese does such good and important work for people that are in such great need. Please know any donation you are able to make will be put to very good use. God bless you.

To learn more about the important work being done in the Diocese of Satna, please visit their website by clicking here.

 

 

 

We are thrilled that WTVI PBS Charlotte chose to feature our Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive on their show, Carolina Impact. Take a few minutes to watch this piece, highlighting the transformative work of this beautiful ministry of our parish.

A description of the piece, from WTVI’s YouTube page: St. Matthew Catholic Church in Ballantyne hosts its 20th annual World Hunger Drive. An inside look at how 1300 volunteers come together to help the people of Haiti. Where does all that food come from? How does it get to Haiti? And what happens when it gets there? Plus, see how church leaders have also launched an elementary school in one of Haiti’s poorest areas.

After a long hiatus due to Covid, our parish nursery is starting the process of reopening and we are so excited! Beginning Sunday, Oct. 2 we will offer nursery care during the 9 am and 10:45 am Sunday Masses at the Ballantyne Campus for children age 0 to those who turn 3 before August 31. Care is available on a first come, first served basis, and for registered parishioners. We thank you for your patience and support as we begin to reopen the nursery and restart this important part of our parish life.

Christ Renews His Parish is a unique, parish-based faith renewal experience for men and women. This parishioner led experience is designed to foster a sense of community within St. Matthew Catholic Church. Participants will grow in discipleship and come away with a renewed spirit and strengthened faith. Interested in joining Christ Renews His Parish this October or November?

Click here for all the info!

Next Women’s CRHP: October 28-29
Next Men’s CRHP: November 4-5

 

After a two-year absence (thanks a lot Covid), The Knights of Columbus St. Matthew Council 10852 is holding their not-so-annual Car Raffle!

First Prize Choice of vehicle up to $25,000 value from Keffer Hyundai or $15,000 cash
Second Prize $1,000 cash
Third Prize $500 cash

Tickets are just $25 each or five for $100. We will only sell 3,000 tickets, so hurry to secure your chance to win! Tickets are available online at

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event llr=gh8lhasab&oeidk=a07ejcdcn9qc490b904.

In addition, tickets are available after all Masses at both campuses on the weekends of Sept. 24/25 and Oct. 8/9.

Proceeds from the car raffle benefit our Council and many charities and ministries, including SPRED, Special Olympics, Charlotte Men’s Shelter, pro-life organizations and seminarians. For more details, visit http://www.kofc.org.

Do not need a new car or the cash? How about buying a ticket for our priests or sisters who could use the vehicle in their spiritual work?

 

We will hold the Blessing of the Animals at noon on Saturday, Oct. 8, in the Pet Memorial Garden at the corner of Rea Road and Ballantyne Commons Parkway, weather permitting. Please be sure that your animals are well secured on a leash or in a carrier or cage, and use a muzzle if necessary.

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

September:
For caregivers. May God grant all who care for the sick, needy, elderly, and imprisoned an outpouring of His love and mercy, that they may be strengthened in their apostolate and remain steadfast in living the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.

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.