Celebrating 40 Years Together

As we prepare to celebrate our 40th anniversary this September, we invite our parish community to journey with us over the coming months through a series of meaningful and engaging initiatives. Each month will highlight a different way we can reflect, connect, and grow together as a parish family.

May: Mission 40 – Acts of Kindness

We begin with Mission 40, a parish-wide invitation to live out our faith through simple, intentional acts of kindness.

Each week, we’ll share 10 ways to spread kindness—at home, at work, in your neighborhood, and beyond. Together, we’ll complete 40 Acts of Kindness in honor of our 40 years as a parish.

Let’s make kindness contagious and show our community what faith looks like in action.

June: Did You Know?

Discover the rich history and unique stories of our parish through fun and meaningful facts. Each week, we’ll share something you may not know—from our early beginnings to the traditions that shape who we are today.

July: Voices of Our Parish

Hear directly from fellow parishioners as they share what they love most about our church. These personal reflections will celebrate the people who make our parish such a vibrant and faith-filled community.

August: Ministry Highlights

Get to know the heart of our parish through the ministries that serve and support our community. Each feature will offer a glimpse into how these ministries began, the impact they’re making, and how you can be part of their mission.

September: A Time of Gratitude and Invitation

As we reach our anniversary month, we turn our focus to gratitude and celebration. Together, we’ll give thanks for the past 40 years, recognize those who have helped shape our parish, and look ahead with a renewed call to get involved and continue building a strong, faith-filled future.

The 2026 Diocesan Support Appeal (DSA), themed Tending the Vineyard, 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.

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.

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.