St. Matthew > Articles by: Lisa Fick

A Journey with Jesus

Friday, March 27 at 7 pm in the Main Campus Church

Join the children of our parish as they present the Stations of the Cross through heartfelt narration and song. Experience this moving reflection on Christ’s passion and walk with Him on His final journey to the Cross.

Come early for dinner!
Our Lenten Pizza Night runs from 5:30 – 7 pm in the Banquet Room, hosted by the Faith Formation team. Dinner is free, with donations graciously accepted.

Walk with Jesus this Lent—everyone is welcome!

Children’s Mass

Children’s Mass
March 22 at 10:45 am

Join us as we respond to the question Jesus asks: “Do you believe?”

Children in third to fifth grade are welcome to serve as lectors, greeters, and gift bearers as we celebrate Mass at the Main Campus. Children in third grade or older are also invited to participate in our Children’s Choir, which sings at each monthly Children’s Mass. After Mass, we invite you and your family to come together for Family Sunday.

If you are not receiving the monthly signup emails and would like your child to participate, please email Michelle Lyberg at mlyberg@stmatthewcatholic.org.

 

Family Sunday: Outdoor Stations of the Cross

March 22, following the 10:45 am Children’s Mass, journey to the back of our main campus for an interactive, tactile experience as we pray the Stations of the Cross. A sweet treat will follow this special prayer time.

Singles’ Mass

All Catholic singles from across the Diocese of Charlotte are warmly invited to join us for a special Singles’ Mass on Thursday, March 19 at 7 pm in the Main Campus Church, as we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph.

Many single Catholics express that they sometimes feel overlooked in parish life, as so much of our programming and conversation naturally centers on marriage and family. Yet single men and women are a vital and valued part of the Church. Your vocation, your gifts, and your witness matter deeply.

By gathering on this beautiful feast day of St. Joseph, a faithful and courageous disciple, we hope to create a space of prayer, encouragement, and community specifically for Catholic singles. This Mass is an opportunity to grow closer to Christ, to be strengthened in faith, and to be reminded that you belong.

A light reception will follow in the Narthex, offering time to meet and mingle with other Catholic singles from throughout the diocese.

Lent 2026

Lent is more than a season — it is an invitation. An invitation to step away from the noise, to examine our hearts, and to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Through prayer, fasting, and generosity, we open ourselves to God’s transforming grace.

During these 40 days, our parish offers many ways to help you live Lent intentionally and fruitfully. We hope you will journey with us as we allow the Lord to lead us toward the hope and promise of Easter.

For a full list of all our Lenten offerings, please visit our Lent webpage below.

 

Looking for our Same Seat? Lenten Video Series?
Visit our Same Seat? website at stmatthewcatholic.org/same-seat.

Watch. Listen. Grow in Faith.

Stay connected to our parish wherever you are by subscribing to our YouTube channel. We share faith-filled content designed to support you throughout the week.

On our channel, you’ll find:

  • Livestreamed Masses

    • 9 am (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) and 8:15 am (Wednesday) daily Mass and 10:45 am Mass on Sunday.
  • Shorts with quick inspiration and reflections

    • Mondays: Why Do Catholics?
      • Ever wonder about our traditions, practices, or prayers? We answer your questions and explore the “whys” behind our Catholic faith.
    • Wednesdays: Midweek Manna
      • A midweek dose of spiritual nourishment to carry you from Sunday to Sunday.
  • Podcasts that dive deeper into faith 

  • Special Advent and Lenten Series

    • Same Seat? Lenten Series (coming soon)

  • …and more ways to grow in your relationship with Christ

Whether you’re at home, traveling, or tuning in during a busy week, our YouTube channel brings the life of our parish to you – anytime, anywhere.

Subscribe today and stay connected.

Same Seat?

We all tend to settle into our same seat, finding comfort in the familiar. However, life’s challenges, such as loss, illness, or unexpected change, can move us into new and unfamiliar places. This Lent, our Same Seat? series invites us to reflect on how God meets us there. Even when our seat changes, God is still holding the chair.

Our hope this Lent is for the entire parish to participate in a small-group experience. Parishioners are encouraged to start or join a group using the Same Seat? series, available on our parish website and YouTube channel. Each week features a short video with a faith-based teaching by Father Cahill, followed by a parishioner’s reflection and guided discussion questions.

We invite you to encourage three to ten people to gather with you in your home, workplace, or any comfortable setting to listen, share, and reflect together. Consider reaching out to a neighbor, fellow parishioner, or coworker. This short-term commitment is a simple and meaningful way to connect with others, build trust, and grow in faith. No prior experience is necessary, and everything you need is included in the video.

For those who would prefer to meet in small groups on our main campus, we offer two options on Wednesdays, starting on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18.

  • Morning Group:
    • 9:30 to 11 am in the New Life Center Banquet Room, Main Campus
    • 10 to 11:30 am at the Waxhaw Campus
  • Evening Group:
    • 7 to 8:30 pm in the New Life Center Banquet Room, Main Campus

If meeting with a small group does not work with your schedule or does not appeal to you, this program is still for you! We welcome you to participate on your own, at your convenience, from the comfort of home. We are happy to have you join us in whatever way works best for you!

There is a place for everyone in this Lenten journey, and each story matters. Wherever you find yourself this season, you are welcome here.

 

Welcome to Same Seat, St. Matthew Catholic Church’s Lenten series created to draw our community closer to one another and closer to Christ.

Each week, we invite you to reflect on the gifts and challenges God has brought into your life and consider how He may be calling you to grow through them, whether personally or as a family.

This week, we meet the Sutherlands, parishioners whose first child was born with Microcephaly. Watch as they share how this unexpected journey transformed their lives, strengthened their marriage, and drew them deeper into trust in Christ in all things.

You can participate in a small group, join us on campus, or follow along on your own schedule from home. However you choose to journey this Lent, there is a seat for you.

If you would like a physical copy of this week’s discussion questions, you can download and print them. Click here for questions

 

Same Seat? Episode 2: Chrissy Wilson – Honoring Marriage Vows in Difficult Times

In our second episode of Same Seat?, Chrissy Wilson shares her powerful story of love, loss, and faith. We are deeply grateful to Chrissy and her family for opening their hearts about the loss of her ex-husband and the challenges they faced along the way.

Even in the midst of hardship, Chrissy reflects on what it means to honor her marriage vows and how, through suffering, she has grown closer to Christ, her family, and her community. Her witness is one of courage, perseverance, and hope.

If you would like a physical copy of the discussion questions to guide your reflection or small group conversation, you can access and download them here.

 

This week, we sit down with Melissa as she shares her journey of moving to North Carolina and starting over from scratch. What could have been a season of uncertainty became a season of growth. In finding the St. Matthew community, Melissa found not only belonging, but a deeper faith and a renewed sense of purpose in her own personal and professional life.

We invite you to watch, reflect, and share with someone who may need encouragement in their own leap of faith.

If you would like a physical copy of the discussion questions to guide your reflection or small group conversation, you can access and download them here.

Celebrating 40 Years of Faith: Mission 40 – A Year of Impact

We’re celebrating 40 years as a parish with Mission 40 – A Year of Impact!

This year, we’ll mark every year of God’s blessings with 40 ways to be the Church. Each quarter, join us to serve, pray, and grow in fellowship.

November Mission 40 Initiatives

Family Adoration
Friday, Nov. 21 | 6–7 pm | Main Campus Church
Join us for a peaceful family evening of prayer before the Thanksgiving holiday. Take a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks during this special time of guided Adoration and music. We’ll end the night with a sweet treat to share together.

Thanksgiving Day Food Collection
Thursday, Nov. 27 | During the 9 am Mass
Bring non-perishable food items to support those in need in our community. Donations may be placed in the collection bins as you enter the church.

Advent Wreath Making
Sunday, Nov. 30 | Following the 9 am and 10:45 am Masses
Create a beautiful Advent wreath for your family! Please register and pre-pay in advance for candles and a brass ring (or just candles if you already have a ring).
For details and to sign up, visit stmatthewcatholic.org/faithfamily.

Daily Prayer Reminder
Let us continue to pray the Our Father at 3 pm each day to remember the Hour of Great Mercy, when Jesus died on the cross.

2025 Diocesan Support Appeal

The 2025 Diocesan Support Appeal (DSA), themed Reflecting God’s Light, provides essential funding for over 50 ministries and programs that help fulfill our mission to grow as a community of praise, worship, and service in the Piedmont and western North Carolina. Bishop Martin invites us to prayerfully consider a “stretch” gift to the DSA, serving Christ by supporting thousands of Catholics in our diocese. To contribute online, visit www.charlottediocese.org/dsa and select “Saint Matthew” as your parish to ensure your gift counts toward our parish goal.

Call to Action for Our Liturgical Ministries

Our parish community thrives when everyone shares their gifts in service to the Church. We invite you to consider serving in one of our liturgical ministries! Whether you have a warm smile to welcome others as a greeter or host (usher), a deep love for the Eucharist as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC), a calling to proclaim God’s Word as a lector, or a heart for reverent preparation as a sacristan, your service makes a difference. We also need altar servers to assist at Mass, choir members to lift voices in praise, and parishioners to serve in our production ministry to enhance our liturgies. Join us in making our worship beautiful and welcoming. Your parish family needs you! Please follow the links below to visit the individual ministry pages.

Need Help Finding a Place to Serve?

Do you want to be involved at St. Matthew but aren’t sure where you best fit? We would love to talk to you! Take a minute to fill out the form below to get started or contact Rossana Alvarez, at ralvarez@stmatthewcatholic.org.

Organ Donation: A Selfless Act of Love

Did you know the Catholic Church supports organ donation as an act of love and self-giving? Both Pope Francis and St. John Paul II have encouraged this life-saving practice, describing it as a meaningful way to show charity and solidarity. St. John Paul II described it as “a genuine act of love,” while Pope Francis called it “a testimony of love for our neighbor.” By offering the gift of life to those in need, organ donors live out Christ’s call to love our neighbor in a tangible way.

 

Right now, Joe Buonanno, a long-time member of our parish community, is in urgent need of a kidney transplant. If you feel called to help, please visit http://www.giftforjoe.com/ for more information.

 

Let us keep Joe and all those awaiting transplants in our prayers, and may we strive to embody Christ’s love through acts of kindness and generosity.