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.

Dec. 31 (Vigil Mass)

• 4:00 pm Waxhaw Campus

Jan. 1

• 9:00 am Main Campus Church
• 12:10 pm Main Campus Church

Celebrate Christmas by sharing with those in need! Our parish is collecting 18-gallon bins filled with non-perishable Christmas meal items for our neighbors. Suggested items include boxed potatoes, stuffing, canned vegetables and fruit, gravy mixes, and dessert mixes. Feel free to add a personal note with Christmas wishes and Bible verses. Drop off bins the weekend of Dec. 7–8, placing them in the white box truck in the parking lot. If full, use the narthex at the main campus. Thank you for helping make Christmas brighter for others! Click here for details.

Support St. Matthew Troop 8 Boy Scouts this Christmas by purchasing trees (6–10 ft.), wreaths, poinsettias, and garland (24 or 75 ft.). All proceeds support our Scouts’ activities. Visit charlottetroop8.com/christmas-shop to order, and note a scout’s name on the form if you’d like them to receive credit. Pickup is Dec. 7, 8 am–1 pm at the main campus, with delivery available within a reasonable area for a $25 fee. Donations are also welcome.

Join us for a festive morning with St. Nicholas on Sunday, Dec. 8! Enjoy a full breakfast buffet with eggs, bacon, pancakes, and more from 8 am to 12:30 pm in the New Life Center Banquet Room. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for kids (4-12), and free for kids under 3, with a maximum family cost of $30. Let’s come together in the spirit of Advent for food, fellowship, and holiday cheer.

Father Wiesław Wójcik will celebrate a special Polish Mass on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 3 pm in the main campus church. This beautiful liturgy is offered in Polish and is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together in prayer. Polish-language confessions are available in preparation for this Mass, on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 3 to 5 pm, and on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 1:45 to 3 pm. All are warmly invited to participate, and we encourage everyone to join in this meaningful celebration of faith and heritage. For further details, please contact Barbara Banaś at 303-204-8342 or bbanas153@aol.com.

The Festival of Lessons and Carols is a service of Scripture and song that dates back to the late 19th century. Lessons and Carols is a combination of the proclaimed Word and the prayer of music. Lessons are formed from instrumental music, Scripture, and the poetry of song lyrics to prepare us for the coming of the Christ Child heralded at Christmas. Our choir and parish lectors will lead Lessons and Carols. This Advent service is appropriate for the whole family. 

Our parish is holding a gift card drive to bring holiday joy to families in western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene, as well as to those who are under-resourced in our local Charlotte community. Your support will help them purchase gifts, toys, and food for the Christmas season.

We invite you to donate gift cards from Amazon, Walmart, MasterCard, or Visa. Please place the gift cards in an envelope labeled “Christmas Gift Card” and include the amount on each card so we can distribute them equally. Envelopes can be dropped in the offertory baskets during Mass (at both campuses) or brought to the church office.

If you have any questions, please contact Don Meanor, our social worker with Catholic Charities, at 980-240-7850.

We invite all of our parishioners to join us for a heartwarming presentation of A Christmas Nativity, performed by the children of our parish, on Friday, Dec. 13 at 6:00 pm at the main campus church. Come witness the joy and excitement of our young performers as they share the true meaning of Christmas through this special Nativity presentation.

If your child would like to participate, we still have character (non-speaking) positions available. Costumes will be provided for all character roles. Please note that your child must be able to attend both rehearsals in order to participate. For more information on rehearsal times, how to register, and other details, contact Michelle at mlyberg@stmatthewcatholic.org.

 

Christmas Eve Parish Children’s Mass
Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 4 pm at the main campus. The children of our parish will serve as lectors, greeters, gift bearers and sing in the children’s choir.

Catholic Scripture Study – Advent, Preparing for Christ: Are you ready for the King? Is your heart ready to receive the Savior? Advent is our time for reflection, meditation, and preparation. This year, the Sunday gospel readings come from the Gospel of Luke. Our engagement with this Gospel, woven with other parts of Scripture, like Jeremiah, Baruch, and Philippians creates a beautiful tapestry of prepared anticipation for the Christ Child coming to the world and into our hearts.

Class Cost: $17

Main Campus
Fridays, Nov. 22 to Dec. 20
10 am to 12 pm
Facilitated by Terry DeMao and Mary Catherine Surface

Waxhaw Campus
Wednesdays, Nov. 20 to Dec. 18
10 am to 12 pm 
Facilitated by Christine Corbly

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 Advent, we begin a Jubilee Year – the Year of Hope. Join us for an exciting journey through the heart of the New Testament as we explore the four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John! An advent study facilitated by Fr Davis! This engaging class will help you to dive deep into the life and teachings of Jesus, offering insights into His ministry, miracles, and parables that continue to transform lives today. Whether you are new to scripture or have studied it for years, this class will enrich your faith and will prepare you for the wonderful celebration of Christmas 2024.

Join us this Advent to discover how these Gospels connect us to God’s love and know more about Christ from the four perspectives of the evangelists.

When: On Tuesdays, Nov. 26 – Dec. 17, 2024
Where: St Matthew Catholic Church, New Life Center, Room 239/240/241
Time:

• Morning Sessions: 9:45 – 10:45 am
• Evening Sessions: 7 – 8 pm

Questions? Reach out to Patricia, pduran@stmatthewcatholic.org

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

** At this time we are no longer taking material donations. We will continue to assess the needs of those affected by Hurricane Helene and adjust our need for donations accordingly. **

Thank you for your kindness and support. Together, we can be a beacon of hope for our neighbors in need.

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.