Luke: Story of Salvation Fulfilled

Wednesday, Jan. 22 to Feb. 26
10 am to noon
Waxhaw Campus

Facilitator: Christine Corbly
Cost: $27

In this 8-week study, Jeff Cavins and Dr. Jeffrey Morrow will show you the beautiful Biblical roots for Mary, the Rosary, and the Mass that are found in Luke. On the road to Emmaus, a story unique to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus gave us the greatest Bible study of all time, laying out his fulfillment of the Old Testament.

 

Oremus: A Guide to Catholic Prayer by Fr. Mark Toups

Thursday, Jan. 23 to Mar. 13
10 to 11:30 am
Main Campus NLC 203

Facilitator: Karen Rubbo
Cost: $19

The Oremus study program teaches you the essentials of an effective and fruitful prayer life. Over the course of eight weeks, you will discover how God speaks to you, even in the smallest encounters. Following the Tradition of the Catholic Church and the wisdom of the saints, you will learn how to express yourself to God in prayer, and how to hear his voice. 

 

Divine Mercy: Understanding the Message with Fr. Joseph Roesch

Wednesday, Jan. 22 to Apr. 16
9:45 to 10:45 am
Main Campus NLC 234/235

Facilitated by: Kathy Consler, Mary Strauss, Bernie Armstrong
Cost: $8

This 13-week study will help you to dive deeper into the mystery of God’s mercy. Each session expands on different topics including trust, the role of suffering, forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, and the Eucharist. Helping you to understand the message of “TRUST and MERCY”.

Visit our Adult Faith Formation webpage for more details or contact, Patricia Duran, pduran@stmatthewcatholic.org, (704) 543-7677 (ext. 1193).

Mass and Confession Schedule Changes

• There is no 5:30 pm Mass on Wednesday, Dec. 25.
• There are no confessions on Wednesday, Dec. 25 and Wednesday, Jan. 1.
• There is no 7 am daily Mass from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3
• We will not live stream on Dec. 26 and 27.
• There are no faith formation sessions the weeks of Dec. 22 and Dec. 29. Sessions resume the week of Jan. 5.

Closings and Schedule Changes

• The church office and gift shop are closed Tuesday, Dec. 24 through Thursday, Dec. 26, and Wednesday, Jan. 1.
• The nursery is not available on Dec. 24, 25 and Dec. 29.

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Support and Donate to the St. Matthew Catholic School Wildcat Aunnal Fund

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the 2024-2025 Wildcat Annual Fund, themed “Joy in Service.” Together, we celebrate the joy of serving others in our community—whether through our meal-packing event, in-school service projects, serving meals to the homeless, or helping our neighbors in Western North Carolina.

Our goal this year is to raise $75,000 to support Catholicity, professional development, technology, and cultural enrichment.

Join us in making a difference in St. Matthew Catholic School and the broader community as we embrace the joy of giving back and finding joy in service! We invite you, and anyone who loves Catholic Schools, to help us meet our goal by donating today. Gifts of all sizes make an immediate impact and are tax-deductible. By supporting our mission through the Wildcat Annual Fund, you play a pivotal role in creating a brighter future for our school.

Click the video to watch a special 2024-2025 Wildcat Annual Fund message from St. Matthew Catholic School Principal, Kevin O’Herron.

This new choir is open to all Edge and LifeTeen program singers, as well as adults. The choir leads the congregation in song at the weekly Sunday evening (5:30 pm) LTE Mass, with one Mass each month led almost exclusively by our middle school and high school singers. Additionally, this group, along with our Praise & Worship group, provides the music for one of the Christmas Eve Masses.

Beginning October 8, 2024, rehearsals will be held weekly on Tuesdays from 5:00 – 6:00 pm in the main campus choir room for the monthly Mass led by our younger members. Singers interested in participating weekly are invited to practice with us every Sunday from 4:30 – 5:30 pm, immediately preceding the Mass. As with our other choirs, consistent attendance is expected and encouraged so that singers can learn the music, foster community, and friendship, and gain a deeper understanding of our role as music ministers for the parish.

For more information, please contact, Ken Boyce, kboyce@stmatthewcatholic.org

Are You a Guest or Are You a Host?

“We find ourselves longing for a real presence – that is, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that unites us with Christ really present in the Eucharist.”

“So what do we do as the People of God? What do you and I do as a community of faith that desires not only to be really present, but desires to come to know our God, who is really present?”

“In order for us to be really present, we have to be together in communion. Present.”

“We will follow the Lord. May we begin to realize that. This journey of real presence isn’t and can’t be done alone. It has to be done with one another. So we come and worship as one – with one voice, but not alone. That’s how presence is experienced, because we’re social beings at the core.”

“The work of faith requires preparation. You don’t just show up, I’ve told my parishioners all the time: there are two ways to come to church – you’re either a host or a guest. Too many people walk into church as guests. The hosts realize that they’ve been given a gift and they want to share it. They’re looking for ways to help people experience that gift, to help people be really present. Are you a guest or are you a host?”

Excerpts from Bishop Michael Martin’s homily – Corpus Christi 2024 Ways We Can Be Hosts

Rededicate to Worship 

• Volunteer for our liturgical ministries: ushers, ministers of the Word, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Mass coordinators, sacristans, altar servers, choir and greeters.
• Actively participate in the prayers, responses, songs and more. 
• Attend the Children’s Mass and encourage your children to be a part of the celebration.
• Foster a welcoming and hospitable atmosphere at our parish.
• Engage fully in the Mass as a shared responsibility.

Encounter Jesus in the Eucharist

• Embrace our Sunday obligation as a personal invitation from Christ.
• Give thanks for the Eucharist and receive the Eucharist as often as possible.
• Participate in Eucharistic Adoration and our monthly parish enrichment.

Enrich Our Faith 

• Take part in our adult enrichment programs.
• Support and engage with your children as they form their faith. 
• Join parish activities designed for all age groups.

Bring the Real Presence into the World 

• Let our revitalized worship inspire acts of service and hospitality.
• Volunteer for one of our outreach ministries. 
• Invite someone to Mass or one of our parish events.

Join Us as Hosts! Think about how you and your family can actively contribute to our parish community, bringing the True Presence into our daily lives and the lives of others. There’s more for us to do than sit in the pew. 

You Belong Here!

Being an altar server is a wonderful way for children to actively participate in the Mass. Any child in grades 5 through 12 who has made their First Communion is eligible to serve.

Training will be offered on the following dates. Your child is required to attend one of the sessions listed below. Registration is required:

• Friday, Oct. 4, 5 – 8 pm
• Friday, Oct. 11, 5 – 8 pm

 

New to volunteering at St. Matthew? Please read our Safe Environment Policy.

The Nursery will be open beginning Sunday, Sept. 8 during the 9 and 10:45 am Masses for children, infants to 3 years old!

St. Matthew Catholic Church provides loving child care at no charge on the St. Matthew campus for registered parishioners with children from age 0 to those who turn 3 before August 31 at 9 am, 10:45 am Sunday on the main campus, and for registered parishioners. No reservation is required. The Nursery for Sunday Mass care is located in the Parish Center.  For questions about our nursery, contact our Nursery Supervisor Maria King, 704-543-7677 x1003 .

Nursery/Child Care Policy
Child care will be provided by St. Matthew employees only. Volunteers will not provide child care as directed by Diocesan Policy on Safety and Loss Prevention as well as policies outlined by Diocesan Human Resources.

Child care employees will be screened by St. Matthew and will be required to complete the outlined Diocesan programs for interaction with children under the age of 18 and disabled adults (e.g. Protecting God’s Children); continuing classes in first aid, CPR, Epi-pen administration and AED will be available to all child care employees.

A minimum of two trained St. Matthew childcare employees will be assigned for each scheduled childcare session/event. We follow the child-to-caregiver ratio outlined by the state of North Carolina, up to the maximum capacity of the nursery facility. This will assure the safety of both the child(ren) and the employee.

Employees will provide child care no more than 15 minutes before the onset of a scheduled event and not more than 15 minutes after the close of the scheduled event. Child care will not be provided for any event in which any alcoholic beverages are served.

Children to be cared for must be healthy. Ill or sick children may be turned away at the discretion of the childcare employees to the parent or legal guardian.

Are you eager to get involved at St. Matthew but unsure where you can make the biggest impact? We’d love to help you find the perfect fit!

Please, take a moment to fill out the form below to get started.

The Diocese of Charlotte is enhancing its Safe Environment program with new, comprehensive policies and procedures updated for today’s issues and needs. Among other updates, the diocese has shifted from Virtus to a streamlined platform called CMG Connect. CMG Connect will combine all of our Safe Environment screening, onboarding, and training in one place for all clergy, employees, and volunteers.

All who volunteer or work in the Diocese of Charlotte will need to be set up and certified through CMG Connect.

Existing Virtus Users: If your Virtus account contains your email address, please look for an email from the diocese or your local Safe Environment coordinator with instructions for how to access your new CMG Connect account.

New Volunteers: Please contact your local parish’s Safe Environment coordinator for further instructions or you can visit https://charlottediocese.org/offices/safe-environment/ to register as a new volunteer.

 

Questions? Please contact your local Safe Environment coordinator, Lisa Hornung, at lisah@stmattthewcatholic.org. You may also contact the Diocese Safe Environment Office at safeenvironment@rcdoc.org.