Join us after the 10:45 am Children’s Mass on Sunday, Jan. 25, for Family Sunday and enjoy a sneak peek of Vacation Bible School 2026! Show your VBS spirit by wearing your VBS True North shirt!

From outer space to the depths of the ocean and trekking through the Alaskan wilderness, we have explored it all. So, what adventure awaits us this summer?

Mark your calendar:

Vacation Bible School will take place June 22–26, 2026.

Registration opens Sunday, Feb. 8 at 3 pm through a link that will be found at VBS2026.

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, St. Matthew Catholic Church, including the church office and gift shop, will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19.

Please note:

• We will only celebrate a 9 am Mass on this day.
• If your group typically meets on Mondays, your meeting may be changed or canceled due to building closures. Please check the calendar or confirm with your ministry leader.

As we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we reflect on his commitment to justice, peace, and equality, which continues to inspire us to live out our faith through acts of love and unity.

Get ready to sing along, tap your feet, and shout BINGO! Join us for Music Bingo, hosted by the Hospitality Ministry, on Friday, Jan. 23, from 7–8 pm in the New Life Center Banquet Room. Doors open at 6:30 pm, so come early and grab a seat!

Instead of numbers, we’re playing all your favorite tunes. Listen closely, mark your card when you recognize the song, and be the first to call BINGO! Bring the whole family for a night packed with music, laughter, friendly competition, prizes, snacks, and incredible community spirit. You won’t want to miss this fun-filled evening!

Christ Renews Us, formerly Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP), is a retreat for the men and women of St. Matthew. The parishioner-led experience is designed to foster a sense of community that will make this very large parish smaller and more manageable for you. Your faith will grow stronger; you will make new friends; and, your spirit will be renewed by attending a Christ Renews Us Men’s or Women’s Retreat.

We are excited to announce the dates for the next Christ Renews Us!

Men: Mar. 6 and 7, 2026
Women: Mar. 13 and 14, 2026

For full details, visit the Christ Renews Us homepage

This year marks a beautiful milestone for our parish, the 20th Anniversary of the Parish Library! To celebrate, we invite you to a special reception and open house on Sunday, Jan. 18, after the 9 am, 10:45 am, and 12:30 pm Masses in the library (room 102 in the New Life Center). Enjoy refreshments, browse our collection, and learn more about the heart and history of this beloved ministry.

What began with a single cherished book, Praying the Name of Jesus: The Ancient Wisdom of the Jesus Prayer by Wilfrid Stinissen, has blossomed into over 6,000 books and resources.

For two decades, our library has been a place where parishioners of all ages have discovered spiritual classics, explored uplifting stories, and found quiet moments of peace and reflection. We are grateful for every patron, volunteer, and donor who has helped this ministry grow into the vibrant treasure it is today.

Whether you are a longtime patron or new to the library, stop by and celebrate. We look forward to seeing you!

 

St. Matthew Parish Library Hours: Open 10 am – 8 pm daily

Meeting God in Life’s Unexpected Places

Lenten Small-Group Series

We all tend to settle into our same seat, finding comfort in the familiar. However, life’s challenges, such as loss, illness, or unexpected change, can move us into new and unfamiliar places. This Lent, our Same Seat? series invites us to reflect on how God meets us there. Even when our seat changes, God is still holding the chair.

Our hope this Lent is for the entire parish to participate in a small-group experience. Parishioners are encouraged to start or join a group using the Same Seat? series, available on our parish website and YouTube channel. Each week features a short video with a faith-based teaching by Father Cahill, followed by a parishioner’s reflection and guided discussion questions.

We invite you to encourage three to ten people to gather with you in your home, workplace, or any comfortable setting to listen, share, and reflect together. Consider reaching out to a neighbor, fellow parishioner, or coworker. This short-term commitment is a simple and meaningful way to connect with others, build trust, and grow in faith. No prior experience is necessary, and everything you need is included in the video.

For those who would prefer to meet in small groups on our main campus, we offer two options on Wednesdays, starting on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18.

• Morning Group: 9:30 to 11 am in the New Life Center Banquet Room
• Evening Group: 7 to 8:30 pm in the New Life Center Banquet Room

If meeting with a small group does not work with your schedule or does not appeal to you, this program is still for you! We welcome you to participate on your own, at your convenience, from the comfort of home. We are happy to have you join us in whatever way works best for you!

There is a place for everyone in this Lenten journey, and each story matters. Wherever you find yourself this season, you are welcome here.

 

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.