Sunday, June 1 at 10:45 am
Children’s Mass & Farewell to Father Balkey
Church, Main Campus
Reception to Follow

Over the past two years, Father Darren Balkey has made a meaningful and lasting impact on our parish community. His presence at both church campuses, involvement with St. Matthew Catholic School, and his joyful, approachable spirit have deeply touched the hearts of many. Whether celebrating Mass, conferring the sacraments, or simply engaging with parishioners, Father Balkey has exemplified what it means to serve with humility, energy, and love. We will miss him greatly.

Father Balkey has long felt called to serve as a chaplain in the United States Navy, and we are excited to share that this calling is now becoming a reality.

We invite all parishioners to join us for the Children’s Mass and Father Balkey’s Farewell Mass on Sunday, June 1, at 10:45 am, as we offer our prayers and good wishes to him as he concludes his time here at St. Matthew and prepares for active duty in the United States Navy. We encourage everyone to dress in red, white, and blue!

A farewell reception will be held immediately following Mass in the New Life Center Banquet Room. This is a special opportunity to thank Father Balkey for his service, share memories, and send him off with our prayers and blessings as he embarks on his new vocation as a United States Navy chaplain.

Let us continue to pray for Father Balkey as he answers this noble call to serve both God and country.

Class of 2025 Parish Baccalaureate Mass
Sunday, June 1 – 5:30 pm Mass

High school, college, and graduate school graduates, your parish family wants to celebrate your accomplishments and pray for your future! Graduates and their families are invited to a special Sunday 5:30 pm Mass, followed by a reception with light appetizers and desserts. Please reach out to Sarah for more information at sjerome@stmatthewcatholic.org.

Family, Faith, Fun, and Fellowship
Parish Children’s Mass and Family Sunday
Sunday, June 1 at 10:45 am, main campus

We hope you can join us for this special Mass as we joyfully welcome summer and offer our prayers and good wishes to Father Balkey as he concludes his time here at St. Matthew. More details coming soon.

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.

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.

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.

• Altar Guild
• Altar Servers
• Arts & Environment
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
• Hosts
• Mass Coordinators
• Mass Greeters
• Ministers of the Word
• Music Ministry
• Production Ministry
• Sacristans
• Seams of Faith
• Welcome Desk

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.