Follow us on social media! | | St. Matthew Catholic Church E-Newsletter: January 23, 2026 | | Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
February 2, 2026.
At the 8:30 A.M. Mass on February 2, we will celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. You are invited to bring a candle to Mass that you wish to be blessed. Thank you. | | | | |
Special Collection: For The Church in Latin America. This weekend, we will take up the Collection for the Church in Latin America. Many in Latin America and the Caribbean find that a rising secular culture, difficult rural terrain, and a shortage of ministers all present obstacles to practicing the faith. Your support for the collection provides lay leadership training, catechesis, priestly and religious formation, and other programs to share our Catholic faith with those who long to hear the Good News of Christ. To learn more about how your gifts make a difference, visit usccb.org/latin-america. iGiveCatholic also accepts funds for this collection if you prefer to donate online. Click here to donate online through iGiveCatholic.
More Info about this collection.
First Saturday Happy Hour. Every month, a parish ministry (or group of parishioners) hosts a Happy Hour gathering on the first Saturday. Please join us after 5 p.m. Mass in the Community Room on Saturday, February 7th. Thank you to the St. Matthew Peace Meal Committee for hosting this meeting. All are welcome to this family friendly gathering. Interested in hosting a Happy Hour? Please email the St. Matthew Parish Office at bulletin@saintmatt.org.
Men's Club Meeting. Join us for our next Men’s Club meeting on February 5th at 7:30 pm. We will meet in the Community Room. Please join us for faith, fellowship, and delicious food. Please contact mensclub@saintmatt.org if you have questions. Never been to one of our meetings? Not a problem. We are always glad to see new faces.
Northside Fraternitas House: Saint Matthew’s very own Mike Lopez will be our featured speaker. Next Friday, January 30th, from 6:30 AM to 8:15AM. Please RSVP here by Wednesday January 28th: tinyurl.com/FraternitasNorthside2026Jan.
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St. Matthew School Enrollment. Enroll Now to Join the Warrior Family at Our Parish School!
Registration for the 2026-27 school year is now open for Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten through 7th Grade! Give your child the gift of a faith-filled, academically sound education rooted in community and Catholic values.
Parishioners receive priority registration until January 31, 2026—don’t miss your chance to secure a spot!
Join us in shaping bright minds and joyful hearts. We can’t wait to welcome your family!
Please send your questions to Elizabeth Ellis at eellis@saintmatt.org.
Please click the link below to access our school website, and please follow the prompts to complete your application.
Saint Matthew School Enrollment Application
SMS Library Volunteers Needed. The SMS Library is always looking for volunteers! Volunteer shifts are available Wednesdays and Fridays, for just a few hours. You can sign up to help any day or time that's convenient for you. Volunteers read to the students (they love this!), help them find books, and reshelve books. Training is provided. Must be Safe Parish-certified. This is also a great opportunity for grandparents and a fun way to get your service hours! If you're interested, sign up here.
Presentation on Safe Usage of Technology. Join us on the evening of Tuesday, February 3rd, for a special workshop for all school and parish families. Laura Weaver, a licensed mental health counselor from The Cabin Counseling and Resources, will give a presentation on the science and best practices of safe technology usage. From dangers & devices to tools & tactics, Laura brings proven methods of how to manage technology use and keep kids safer online. The presentation will take place in the Cafeteria from 6:30p - 8p.
Childcare for SMS students (no babies, please) will be available at no charge. To ensure we have adequate staffing, please email me at kgray@saintmatt.org if you plan to bring your student for childcare.
| | Respect Life Rosary. On the first Sunday of every month, the Respect Life Ministry prays the Rosary in the Church immediately after the 7:30 a.m. Mass. All are welcome. | | Registration forms for the Women's Retreat and the Men's Retreat are available towards the end of the newsletter. Please register for the retreats soon! | | |
Supper Club Pitch-In! We are so looking forward to an evening of great food, wonderful company, and community spirit. Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the group, we’d love to see you there. Please feel free to forward this invitation to anyone who might enjoy joining!
Event Details
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When: Saturday, February 21, 2026
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Time: Immediately following the 5:00 PM Mass
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Where: The Community Room
How to Participate
1. RSVP & Sign Up Please let us know you’re coming and what you plan to bring by signing up here: SIGN UP GENIUS
2. The Meal Please bring a dish to share that serves 8–12 people. Since our kitchen access is limited, kindly bring your meal already at its desired serving temperature (ready to enjoy!).
3. Festive Tablescapes (A DIY Twist!) Because the Women’s Retreat is taking place earlier that day, the room will be a blank canvas when we arrive. We are asking everyone to bring a tablecloth and/or decorations for their table to help bring the "festivity and cheer!"
Don’t worry about matching—in fact, the more random and eclectic, the better! We will all "dress the tables" together as we arrive to create a unique, vibrant atmosphere.
4. Drinks Please remember to bring your own beverages of choice to enjoy with your meal.
Cathedral High School. If you are interested in learning more about Cathedral High School, please click the following link to visit their admissions page. Cathedral HS Admissions.
You can also schedule a tour of the campus. www.gocathedral.com/admissions/visit
Summer Camp: www.gocathedral.com/admissions/camp-cathedral
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Study is a work of prayer. Visit Saint Meinrad for the Graduate Theology Program Open House, Feb 14–15. Tour campus, attend class, pray at liturgy, and meet professors and students. Learn more about our flexible and affordable offerings and register at saintmeinrad.edu/openhouse. All are welcome.
WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE. When I was ill you cared for me. What you did for the least of these you did for me. (Matthew 25:35)
There is currently an urgent need for volunteers to bring the Eucharist to these patients. I invite you to prayerfully consider this call to serve. You need not be a current Eucharistic Minister in your parish as volunteers are trained for the hospital and then commissioned. Training is provided by the hospital and chaplaincy service. Scheduling is flexible. Volunteers are needed to serve once a week or as occasional substitutes. Normally it takes two to three hours to visit the patients on any given day. Parking at the hospital is provided for volunteers.
Please contact Deacon Pat Bower at wpbower@comcast.net or 317-313-8010 for additional information.
Additionally, please bear in mind that our own Deacon Mike Braun coordinates a similar ministry whose members bring the Eucharist to patients at Community East Hospital. If you would prefer to serve the population at Community East, please contact Dcn. Mike at (317) 965-8426 or mbraun@saintmatt.org. Thank you.
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North Deanery Youth Ministry Events
6 - 12th GRADE STUDENTS
Opportunities to interact in fun and spiritual ways with others throughout the North Deanery and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis!
- January 23 (Grades 7-8): North Deanery 7th & 8th Grade Gathering
- February 21 (Grades 7-12): North Deanery Ski Trip
- February 28 (Grades 6-8): Arch Indy Holy Fire
For questions, registrations, and permissions, please email Pam Fleming at pfleming@saintmatt.org
| | Appeals/Collections/Fundraisers | |
| | 2026 Legacy Gala: This Year Honoring Patricia Etling. Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Legacy Gala. Please join us on Friday, February 26, 2026 at the JW Marriot Indianapolis White River Ballroom. Click here to learn more. Thank you. | | | | |
We have done it! We have exceeded our fundraising goal once again. Thank you all for your generous contributions. We could not be successful without your participation.
For any donation, no matter how small or how large, we are truly grateful.
Thus far, we have raised $98,612 from 120 donors! 108% of our goal! Thank you all so much!
2026 St. Matthew Parish Goal: $91,073
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St. Vincent de Paul, Neighbors in Need Report.
Dear St. Matthew Parishioners,
Today I want to share information about a home visit made by volunteers from the St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Matthew. Many who live within our parish boundaries call the SVdP Society for help. This is a story of two sisters and the assistance that your donations make possible. Names are changed to protect the privacy of our neighbors in need.
Mary was home when we visited. She works a 3rd shift job. Her sister Ann was at work. Her four kids were at school. Ann is pregnant and recently lost her husband. One of her children has special needs. Due to medical issues with her pregnancy, she couldn’t keep her apartment and moved in with Mary. The living room had only a worn-out sofa and a kitchen chair.
We gave Mary a $25 Walmart gift card and a bible. Each received a bag of groceries and a $20 Kroger gift card. A referral was sent to Birthline for the baby due in February. And available Conference funds made it possible to provide financial assistance for rent and electric bills. They were grateful for all the help we provided.
This is only one example of the many who are helped each month by the SVdP Conference here at St. Matthew with food, furniture, utility assistance, and more. None of this is possible without your donations to support our ministry.
Your contributions help build up the community we live in. Please consider joining us in serving our neighbors in need. Thank you for your generosity.
On Behalf of the St. Matthew SVdP Conference,
Deacon Mike Braun
St. Vincent de Paul Society Indy. SVdP needs volunteers at their Distribution Center (a.k.a. Mission 27) and their Food Pantry. Helping our friends at SVdP is a wonderful way to spend time with loved ones, and caring for our community can strengthen our bond with one another. Groups, families, friends, and individuals are welcome. If you would like to volunteer at the Food Pantry, please contact Ray Meckauskas at r.meckauskas@att.net; If you want to volunteer at the Distribution Center, please contact Kate Thedwall at kthedwal@iu.edu.
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Weekend Mass Times. Our weekend Mass times are Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Weekday Mass Times.
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When School is in Session:
Mon. 8:30am
Tues. 8:30am
Wed. 8:30am, 6pm
Thurs. 8:30am
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When School is NOT in session:
Mon. 8:30am
Tues. 8:30am
Wed. 6pm
Thurs. 8:30am
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Weekly Reconciliation. Saturdays 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Adoration Every Wednesday. All are welcome to stay/join us after 6 p.m. Mass every Wednesday for Adoration. Adoration lasts from 7 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
St. Matthew Parish Pastoral Council. We are now posting the minutes from each meeting to our website. To view a copy, please click here.
FORMED Catholic Resources. Parishioners have free access to FORMED On Demand Catholic resources, 24/7 on a smartphone, computer, iPad, or Kindle. Register at saintmatt.formed.org.
See Latest E-Bulletin for Even More Information. See this weekend's bulletin. Printed copies are available in the narthex; be sure to pick one up.
The Criterion: Archdiocese of Indianapolis
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Verse(s) of the week. "Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong." (New American Bible, 2 Cor 12.10).
The New American Bible. St. Joseph Medium Size Edition, Catholic Book Publishing Co., n.d.
A Prayer anyone may use for the 9 Days for Life Novena, shared by Margaret Stempky, leader of the St. Matthew Respect Life Ministry.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the precious gift of life. Help us to cherish and protect this gift, even in the midst of fear, pain, and suffering. Give us love for all people, especially the most vulnerable, and help us bear witness to the truth that every life is worth living. Grant us the humility to accept help when we are in need, and teach us to be merciful to all. Through our words and actions, may others encounter the outstretched hands of Your mercy.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Thursday, Jan. 22, is the day of prayer for the legal protection of unborn children in the United States.
| Sign Up for Parish Soft (formerly Faith Direct). Parish Soft is our safe online giving site. You can donate securely and electronically via your credit card or checking account through Faith Direct at giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/FD-187. Thank you to our generous parishioners for their stewardship of St. Matthew Parish! | Some of the flyers below are links. Please click/tap them to see more information or to download a copy of the flyer. | | | | |
