Join us on Sunday, Feb. 2 at the 5:30 pm Mass, and wear your SCUBA shirt (or any favorite VBS shirt!). We will reveal this year’s adventure and theme song at the conclusion of Mass!
VBS will take place June 23 to 27, 2025. Registration opens on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 3 pm! Link to register will be found at VBS 2025!
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.
We often hear advice to stop certain habits, start new ones, or focus on fixing our weaknesses. But what if we shifted our perspective? What if we concentrated on doing more of what we are already good at and used our energy to build on our strengths? You might be amazed at the difference it can make. Many have tried Living Your Strengths, with extraordinary results! God created each of us intentionally, equipping us with unique strengths to help fulfill His purpose for us. Some are problem solvers, others are action-oriented, and some excel at organizing. Who did God create you to be? Join us on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 9 am to 3 pm to learn more. No prerequisites, except to take the assessment and discover your Top Five strengths. Come enjoy an afternoon of laughter, fun, and learning what makes everyone unique. The cost is $40 and includes the Living Your Strengths book with the assessment code and lunch. Upon registering, you will receive instructions on how to pick up your book and get the code for the assessment.
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.
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.
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).
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 where we will have refreshments and fun during this community time with other families in our parish!
If you are not receiving the monthly signup emails and would like your child to participate, please email Michelle Lyberg at mlyberg@stmatthewcatholic.org.
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.
Please click the document below to download and view the complete letter.
“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
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.
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:
New to volunteering at St. Matthew? Please read our Safe Environment Policy.
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.
