Give Thanks and Give Back This Thanksgiving

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”
— Psalm 107:1

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, we pause to remember God’s blessings and share them with others. At St. Matthew, our annual Thanksgiving Day Food Collection is a beloved tradition that brings our parish family together in gratitude and service.

Thanksgiving Day Mass and Food Collection

Thursday, Nov. 27 
9 am Mass
Main Campus Church

We invite everyone to participate in our Thanksgiving Day food collection to help restock our parish food pantry and care for those in need. Parishioners are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the 9 am Mass on Thanksgiving Day.

These donations will replenish our food pantry after we fill 150 food baskets for local families in need. Please place your items in the designated bins located outside the church entrance.

Suggested Non-Perishable Items:

• Applesauce
• Canned carrots, peas, corn, and green beans
• Stuffing and Rice Mixes
• Brownie and Cookie Mixes
• Canned tuna and chicken
• Cereal
• Peanut butter and Jelly
• Pasta
• Pasta sauce in plastic jars
• Corn muffin mix
• Macaroni and cheese
• Small canned hams
• Canned fruit

All items must be unopened, in their original containers, with labels attached and a valid freshness date.

Your generous contributions help ensure we can continue to feed individuals and families in our community long after the holiday. Let’s come together in the spirit of gratitude, generosity, and love this Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Closings, Cancellations and Deadlines

• The church office and gift shop are closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28.

• On Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27) and Friday (Nov. 29), there are no 7 am Masses.

• There will be no Eucharistic Adoration on Friday, Nov. 28.

• The nursery is closed on Sunday, Nov. 30.

• Ministries, groups, and IFBL-CYO basketball teams that meet on Thursday or Friday may have meetings or practices cancelled or rescheduled. Please check the parish calendar or contact your ministry leader, as the buildings will be closed.

• Bulletin Deadlines:

  • For the Nov. 23 bulletin, please submit by Monday, Nov. 10, no later than noon.

  • For the Nov. 30 bulletin, please submit by Friday, Nov. 14, no later than noon.

Friday, Nov. 21 
6–7 pm, Main Campus Church

Before beginning your Thanksgiving celebrations, take an hour to pause, reflect, and give thanks to God for His many blessings.

Join us for a Family Evening of Prayer, a peaceful time of guided Adoration and inspirational music in our main campus church. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together in prayer and gratitude before the busyness of the upcoming holiday season.

We’ll close the evening with a sweet treat and fellowship in community.

For more details, please visit www.stmatthewcatholic.org/faithfamily.

Saturday, Nov. 1 – The Solemnity of All Saints
Because All Saints’ Day falls on a Saturday in 2025, the obligation to attend Mass is lifted, and it is not considered a Holy Day of Obligation this year. However, we warmly invite all parishioners to join us for special Masses on Friday, Oct. 31 at 4 pm in Waxhaw or Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 pm or Saturday at 9 am at the main campus.

Sunday, Nov. 2 – All Souls’ Day
Please note: There will not be a special Mass on All Souls’ Day. However, since it falls on a Sunday, we will celebrate our regularly scheduled Mass times. Throughout the month of November, the Book of Remembrance will be placed beneath the Tabernacle. We invite you to take a moment to write the names of your departed loved ones as we join together in prayer for all souls.

We’re celebrating 40 years as a parish with Mission 40 – A Year of Impact!

This year, we’ll mark every year of God’s blessings with 40 ways to be the Church. Each quarter, join us to serve, pray, and grow in fellowship.

November Mission 40 Initiatives

Family Adoration
Friday, Nov. 21 | 6–7 pm | Main Campus Church
Join us for a peaceful family evening of prayer before the Thanksgiving holiday. Take a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks during this special time of guided Adoration and music. We’ll end the night with a sweet treat to share together.

Thanksgiving Day Food Collection
Thursday, Nov. 27 | During the 9 am Mass
Bring non-perishable food items to support those in need in our community. Donations may be placed in the collection bins as you enter the church.

Advent Wreath Making
Sunday, Nov. 30 | Following the 9 am and 10:45 am Masses
Create a beautiful Advent wreath for your family! Please register and pre-pay in advance for candles and a brass ring (or just candles if you already have a ring).
For details and to sign up, visit stmatthewcatholic.org/faithfamily.

Daily Prayer Reminder
Let us continue to pray the Our Father at 3 pm each day to remember the Hour of Great Mercy, when Jesus died on the cross.

** Update as of Aug. 12: Times have changed for the Waxhaw Campus as well. Effective immediately, confessions at Waxhaw will be on Saturdays from 2:30 – 3:30 pm. Confessions will no longer be held on Sundays. **

Dear Parish Family,

As we enter this new chapter together at St. Matthew, I want to thank you for the warm welcome and your openness as we find our way together as a parish community.

Beginning immediately, we will no longer offer confessions at the main campus on Sundays. Instead, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available on Saturdays from 4 to 5 pm in the church confessionals. Confessions on Wednesday will remain from 9 to 10 am, and the confession schedule at the Waxhaw campus will remain unchanged. I and the other priests are, of course, still available by appointment as well.

This change allows both our priests and parishioners to give their full attention to the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist – the heart of our Catholic life. The change in location also aligns with our desire to celebrate the sacraments with reverence in the church.

I know that change takes time, and as I have said before, this new chapter will take us a while to wrap our heads around it. However, if we remain rooted in love and prayer, I truly believe the Holy Spirit will bear abundant fruit in our parish. Please be patient with one another and with us as we walk this journey together. 

I am grateful for your understanding and continued faithfulness.

In Christ,
Father Cahill
Pastor

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.