St. Matthew Catholic Church E-Newsletter: April 25, 2025 | | |
Pope Francis: 1936-2025
All, please pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. Holy Father, we are so blessed to have had you serve our church. You are missed. We pray that you continue to pray for us as you remain in Heaven. Lord, please bless Pope Francis' successor. Bless the College of Cardinals as they prepare the next conclave. Please keep our minds, and our hearts, focused on Your love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
| | |
St. Matthew School: Preschool-7th Grade Enrollment Now Open. If you have child NEW to St. Matthew who you would like to enroll, we ask you to complete a new application for that child(ren). The Registration Fee for that child will be paid once enrollment is completed.
New For the 2025-2026 School Year – For Pre School, the student must be the age of three by August 1, 2025. For PreK, the student must be the age of four by August 1, 2025. For Kindergarten, the student must be the age of five by August 1, 2025.”
CLICK HERE to access the St. Matthew School Enrollment Form!
The Warrior World
| | |
April 26-27th, Twin Bedding Drive for SVdP. We have recently been informed by our friends at SVdP that they are extremely short on twin-sized bedding. If you are able, please donate new (or gently used) twin-sized bedding to SVdP. Donations can be left in the large wooden bins in the rear of the Narthex. We--and everyone at SVdP--appreciates your dedication and support for those in need. Thank you.
Disabilities Awareness Mass with Archbishop Charles C. Thompson. All are welcome to attend the Disabilities Awareness Mass this Sunday, April 27th, at 10:00 a.m., at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Archbishop Thompson will be the main celebrant. Please join us for Mass. Thank you.
New Film on Carlo Acutis in Theaters April 27-29 ONLY. Discover the incredible life of soon-to-be Saint Carlo Acutis in Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality. This powerful new documentary film explores his life, legacy, and the impact of technology on young people today. Through firsthand accounts from family and friends, plus insights from Catholic leaders and tech experts, the film tackles urgent questions about technology’s impact on humanity, holding up Carlo as a model for young people as they engage the digital world. Learn more at CarloAcutisFilm.com.
First Saturday Happy Hour. The 151st Kentucky Derby will be featured live at the next Happy Hour. Plenty of Derby refreshments and delicacies will be provided. Thank you to Jim and Amy Barbar for hosting this next meeting. Please join us after 5 p.m. Mass in the Community Room on Saturday, May 3rd. All are welcome to this family friendly gathering.
Children's Rosary. Children of all ages are invited to pray the Children's Rosary at St. Matthew Catholic Church in the chapel. This meeting occurs on the first Saturday of every month. The next meeting is Saturday, May 3rd, at 9:00 a.m. Donuts and fellowship follow. If you have questions, please contact Kara and Tim Tappel at (317) 914-7028.
| | |
Talk Saves Lives. An Introduction to Suicide Prevention. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is hosting a presentation at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House on Monday, May 12th, from 6:30p - 8:00p. This presentation will feature Christine Turo-Shields, LCSW, EMDR and Fr. Jim Farrell. All are welcome to this free event. Registration is required. Please click the following link to register: https://afspindianatslmay12.attendease.com/.
Bereavement Support Group. The next gathering of our Bereavement Support Group will be on Thursday, May 8th, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Chapel. All who have experienced the loss of a loved one are invited to attend. This group provides the opportunity to meet in person and to lend support. Questions may be directed Kate Thedwall at kthedwal@iu.edu.
Men's Club Meeting. Join us for our next Men’s Club meeting on May 1st at 7:30pm. We will meet in the Outdoor Shelter (weather permitting). 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.
Special Collection: Catholic Home Missions Appeal. On April 26th-27th, we will take up the Catholic Home Missions Appeal. Today, nearly 40% of dioceses in the United States and its current and former territories are unable to fund the essential pastoral work their communities need. Your support for this appeal helps them meet these faith formation and sacramental needs. Please prayerfully consider how you can support this appeal. Find more information at www.usccb.org/home-missions.
| |
Parish Pastoral Council – Openings Available. Have you ever wondered how you could serve your parish? Sometimes people are called with dramatic encounters with Jesus - Paul's calling or Andrew and Simon's calling. But more often than not, God calls people in much more subtle ways.
It may be you've been feeling a calling or nudging to get more involved in your faith and the St. Matthew Community. Perhaps, a role on the Parish Council might be that calling.
First, you may ask, what is the Parish Council? Or what does the council do? Or how much of a time commitment is it? What makes a good Parish Council? Or you may have feelings of "I don't think I'm qualified for being on Council". Let's answer these questions.
What is the Parish Council? The Parish Council is a consultative body working with the pastor to help lead the parish. It consists of representatives appointed by the various parish commissions and at least 8 at-large (elected or discerned) members (currently there are 9).
What does the Council do? Its primary purpose is to develop and continually review and update the parish pastoral plan and to oversee and execute that plan. Minutes from past meetings are on the parish website.
What is the time commitment? Each elected council member serves a three-year term, starting in July to correspond with the parish fiscal year. There are 10 meetings held monthly throughout the year, along with a couple of additional social meetings. Members are asked to take an interest in a certain aspect of the pastoral plan and provide guidance and assistance as well to help implement and execute aspects. In addition, Council members are expected to be visible at Parish events and help foster a welcoming community.
What makes a good Parish Council? First and foremost, prayer. But also, people just like you. God called regular people - fishermen, tax collectors, carpenters, doubters and outcasts for some of the most important roles in our faith. They weren't "qualified."
I don't think I'm qualified for being on Council, (I’m not a parish “leader”.) In a very real sense not one of us is qualified, but it seems that God continually chooses the most unqualified to do his work.
It is an exciting time at St. Matthew! We are building a strong and renewed parish based on the Parish Pastoral Plan. We have increased attendance and involvement, and our many ministries and outreach programs are thriving. We are looking for people who can support the Parish Pastoral Plan and want to help continue its implementation. If this sounds like you, please sign up to be considered for the next Parish Pastoral Council. We will have three openings and are looking for great people like you! Interested candidates, please submit your contact information to Tom Dempsey, tdempsey@exhibithouse.com, Pat O’Brien, patrick.email123@protonmail.com, Betsy Burke, betsy.burke@sbcglobal.net, Dan Murphy, daniel_g_murphy@whirlpool.com, or Rick Gale, rick.gale@gmail.com by April 21.
The St. Matthew Parish Pastoral Council would like to share a progress report on our Parish Pastoral Plan. You may have seen portions of this plan published in the bulletin, however, the link below will direct you to the entire report. Thank you for your role in our community. We are glad to provide with this update and we hope you enjoy seeing all we a have accomplished thus far.
Progress on Parish Pastoral Plan: March 2025
| | |
DADCAMP at Marian University. Dads, here’s your chance to create unforgettable memories with your kids! Join us at DADCAMP® at Marian University, part of the Fraternitas initiative, dedicated to building stronger fathers who raise stronger families. Through exciting weekend experiences, you’ll grow closer to your son while having a blast. Enjoy a variety of activities, including playing games, canoeing, and racing in a soapbox derby—all while staying overnight in the dorms. More than just fun, DADCAMP is an opportunity to deepen your bond, grow in faith, and be inspired by meaningful moments together. Our next camp is for Dads and Sons Grades 1-5 and runs from Friday evening, July 11, through Sunday morning, July 13. Don’t miss this chance to invest in your relationship with your son while making lifelong memories. Please register by May 31st.
Learn more and register at www.marian.edu/dadcamp or email Mark Bridenstine at mbridenstine@marian.edu.
Please congratulate our student parishioners who achieved 3rd quarter honors at Cathedral High School! WELL DONE!
Gabrielle Alerding-High Honors
Mason Beard-High Honors
Kristen Castellino-High Honors
Andrew Confer-Honors
Bennett Dobrota-High Honors
Ruth Everly-High Honors
Samuel Everly-High Honors
Susannah Ferris-High Honors
James Foster-High Honors
Luke Hovanec-High Honors
Joren Kaiser-High Honors
Benjamin Lashenik-High Honors
Riley Love-High Honors
Vincenza Papalia-High Honors
Leilani Query-Honors
Charlotte Reeves-High Honors
Carmen Romero-High Honors
Justin Scott-High Honors
Liam Shipley-Honors
Ava Tansy-High Honors
Jake Werne-High Honors
Jack Wright-High Honors
Kennedy Wright-High Honors
Lila Yeadon-High Honors
Emry Yeadon-Honors
Alexandra Zink-High Honors
| | Catholic Charities: Providing Help. Creating Hope. Serving All. Catholic Charities Indianapolis provides help and creates hope for the poor and vulnerable in our community, serving nearly 70,000 people each year. See how you can get involved and make a difference through Catholic Charities. Click here to find more information. | | |
Have You Heard of Shepherd's FLOCK? Shepherd’s FLOCK consists of directors and catechists from St. Matthew Parish and St. Lawrence Parish serving the spiritual needs of adults with disabilities through scripture and fellowship. We primarily serve those over the age of 20 residing within or near the boundaries of the two parishes.
Shepherd’s FLOCK offers the words of Jesus through scripture, arts & crafts, music & movement, and breaking bread together. Generally once a month, we meet here at the parish in the St. Matthew Room from September through May (6:00p – 7:30).
If you know of someone who might benefit as a participant from this ministry or if you might be interested in being a volunteer and need information, please contact Pam Fleming at pfleming@saintmatt.org.
| | |
YOUTH MINISTRY ALLEY
The St. Matthew and North Deanery Youth Ministries have a number of upcoming events. Please reach out to Pam Fleming at pfleming@saintmatt.org if you have questions.
Many of the flyers are live links; please click them to access important information related to that particular event.
| | |
SVDP ALLEY
All the information you need brought to you by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Indianapolis.
| | |
Stuff A Truck With Good Stuff For Good Purpose. St. Vincent de Paul is in dire need of material donations–clothing, household goods, linens, furniture, etc. We also need bicycles, helmets, locks and backpacks for our unsheltered neighbors. Now’s the time to clean out your closets, cupboards, and garages!
St. Vincent de Paul will have our truck at the following location ready to receive your donations:
May 10 – St. Gabriel Church – 6000 W. 34th Street
The SVdP truck will be parked in the parish parking lot from 9:00A - 11:00A. Simply drive up, unload your donations and place them by the truck. After you leave, our staff will load the donations into the truck. Please put your clothing and other soft goods donations into plastic trash bags and household items in boxes. Please keep in mind that we are seeking basic household items that are in good enough condition to give to people without resources to purchase them. Torn, broken or dirty items, although offered to SVdP in good faith and good intent will be declined.
This is a win-win for everyone; you eliminate all the excess gently used goods in your home and we can replenish our supply for our neighbors in need. Please click here for a list of items we do not take. Thank you for Helping Us – Help Others. Questions? Chris Sutton csutton@svdpindy.org.
SVdP Volunteer Group. Our St. Matthew/St. Vincent de Paul ministry is forming a volunteer group that will assist the Society of SVdP on April 26*, 2025. We plan to meet at St. Matthew at 8:30 a.m. and work until about noon. We take a group on the third Saturday of each month, and we alternate locations between the Distribution Center and the E. 30th St Food Pantry. The work will include sorting donations. If interested, please contact Ray Meckauskas at r.meckauskas@att.net.
*This particular group will go to the location on April 26th because the Distribution Center and Food Pantry will be closed on Easter weekend.
| | |
Respect Life Rosary. On the first Sunday of every month, the Respect Life Ministry prays the Rosary in the church at 9:00 a.m. Mass at 9:30 a.m. follows. All are welcome.
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.
Reconciliation Every Saturday. From 4-4:30 p.m. on Saturdays, everyone has the opportunity to go to Confession at St. Matthew.
St. Matthew Parish Pastoral Council. We are now posting the minutes from each meeting to our website. To view a copy, please click here.
| | |
St. Matthew School First Aid Office. Are you interested in volunteering for the St. Matthew School First Aid Office? On the job training will be provided. You can work for a few hours or all day! We are flexible! If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Ellis, eellis@saintmatt.org. Your time is greatly appreciated. Safe Parish training must also be completed prior to volunteering. Please click here to see our Safe Parish Training.
Click the following link to Volunteer in the First Aid Office. Thank you!
| | |
School Alumni Spotlight. Please help us fill the “Alumni Spotlight” bulletin board in the school. This is an awesome opportunity for our younger warriors to see the great things our warrior alumni have accomplished. Please send a picture with the student’s name, year of St. Matthew School graduation, and a short description of the accomplishment to Colleen Middleton, cmiddleton@saintmatt.org.
Office of Human Life and Dignity. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis' Office of Human Life and Dignity offers a plethora of support and resources on topics such as physical and mental health, substance abuse, hospice/palliative care, observance of Roe v. Wade, and more. To access these resources, please click here.
IF YOU EVER HAVE THOUGHTS OF SELF-HARM/SUICIDE, PLEASE TEXT OR CALL 988 IMMEDIATELY. https://988lifeline.org/
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.
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.
Archdiocese of Indianapolis Office Spotlight: Office of Youth Ministry. Our responsibility (as Religious and lay leaders) is to engage our young people to develop a close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As the leaders of today, we must inspire the leaders of tomorrow. If you wish to be part of this ministry, please click the following link: www.archindyym.com/
| |
Verse(s) of the week. "I then, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace..." (NABRE, Eph. 4.1-3).
New American Bible, Revised Edition.
BibleGateway, www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians 4&version=NABRE.
| Donate Securely Online. Faith Direct is our safe online giving site. You can donate securely and electronically via your credit card or checking account through Faith Direct at https://membership.faithdirect.net/IN187. 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 on the source's webpage. | |
We are now offering a new way to enroll in Faith Direct--our secure online giving platform. Simply text the word "Enroll" to (317) 252-0338, and you will be given a link to create a Faith Direct account. Once you have an account, you can make all of your usual contributions to St. Matthew electronically. You can even make a one-time gift by texting the dollar amount you wish to give to the same phone number.
Please contact our Parish Office at (317) 257-4297 if you have any questions. Thank you!
| | Follow us on Social Media | |
| How did you like this email? | | | | | | |
