Church of St. Matthew – Bulletin Insert
October 20, 2024
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Sounds and Sights of Saint Matthew
If you would like to schedule a day to ring the bells or a week to light the sanctuary lamp for your special memory, person or event, please contact the parish office at 651-224-9793 by 1:00 PM, Monday – Thursday.
New Ministry Schedule
We will be writing the new ministry schedule the week of November 4. This schedule will begin Thanksgiving Day, November 28, and run through Sunday, March 2, 2025. It will include the 4:15 PM Christmas Vigil Mass and the 10:15 AM Christmas Day Mass.
Please let Mary Leibl () know by Monday, November 4, which days you would be available, and/or which Masses you cannot serve. Thank you for your continuing service to St. Matthew’s Parish!
World Mission Sunday “Go and invite everyone to the banquet” October 19 and 20, 2024
This weekend, in every parish around the world, a collection is being taken up for Catholic missions in over 1,100 dioceses in 120 countries. Your contributions will go towards helping teachers and catechists to teach the faith in urban centers and remote villages. You will help to build churches and chapels in mission stations for people to worship, hear God’s word and receive the sacraments. You will help efforts to raise up and train new leaders who will minister to people in their own language. You will provide material support to the poor and suffering lifting up individual dignity through the love of Christ.
Your financial gift will go to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, which is the official worldwide Catholic network of mission cooperation enabling the Gospel of Jesus Christ to reach to the ends of the earth. Thank you for joining in this central work of the Church!
In addition to supporting the global mission, your donation will support Casa Guadalupana. Dave Haley, Casa’s founding director, will speak at Mass to tell us more about the mission of Casa Guadalupana.
There are specially marked envelopes in the back of the church. Make checks out to the Church of St. Matthew with “World Mission Sunday” in the memo line. We will split this special collection 50-50 with Casa. Thank you!
Gluten-Free Host Available beginning October 26 and 27, 2024
If you have Celiac disease or another condition that does not allow you to receive a regular host, please inform an usher or greeter before the beginning of Mass.
At the end of Communion, one of the ministers will be at spot 5 near the tabernacle to distribute gluten free Communion to you. Gluten Free hosts will be in an individual pix so that there is no cross contamination.
Attention Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors
We will have a Eucharistic Minister Refresh after Mass on October 19 and 20. If you are a
Eucharistic minister, please plan to attend this 15-minute overview to go over some new changes.
There will be a Lector Refresh after Mass on November 2 and 3. If you are a lector and you were not able to attend Liturgy Training in September, please plan to attend this 15-minute overview.
Attention Parents
ECFFF: Early Childhood Family Faith Formation
Are you interested in an opportunity to connect with other parents in our community? Would you like to deepen your relationship with your child through playful worship and faith sharing? How about helpful discussions on parenting and early childhood?
If so, consider ECFFF: Early Childhood Family Faith Formation. St. Matt’s is starting an ECFFF program, and it welcomes families with children birth to five years old.
An ECFFF Advisory Committee met on September 16 to plan our program before it begins in January.
To help it succeed, we need:
1. Parent Leaders, to facilitate parent conversations. Parent leaders are expected to attend training sessions*.
2. Early Childhood Leaders, to facilitate parent/child group time, circle time, and children’s play. Early Childhood Leaders are also expected to attend training sessions*.
3. Early Childhood Assistants, to assist the leaders. Assistants must be age 12 or older.
*Training is free and sponsored by St. Matt’s and run through the Early Catholic Family Life (ECFL) program. There is no cost to you.
For more information or to sign up, please contact .
Cristina Czaia
Director of Music and Liturgy
Finance Overview Meeting
Please join members of the Finance Council after Mass in the Social Hall on October 26 or 27 to review the Annual Financial Report that were mailed to you. It’s an opportunity to ask questions that you may have about our financial operations. Thank you for your support of our parish.
Community Band – First Fridays
Next St. Matt’s Community Band session is on Friday, November 1 at 6:30 PM (after Mass) in the Social Hall.
All levels and instruments are welcome, from beginning musicians on up. Children 12 or younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Those aged 13-17 may come on their own. However, they must bring a signed permission slip from a parent or guardian.
For more information, please email Phil Grant () or call the office.
Turkey Bingo
Mark your calendar for Men’s Club’s annual Turkey Bingo on Saturday, November 9, 2024 in the Social Hall after the 4:15 PM Mass.
Preparing for Heaven Workshop – Postponed
I regret to inform you that our Preparing for Heaven workshop has been postponed. It had been scheduled for November 7.
We rely on the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota to line up most of the speakers for this event. They were unable to get the ones they most needed, so they’re now looking to the spring. We’ll keep you posted.
Phil Grant
Boy Scout Wreath and Popcorn Sale
Boy Scout Troop 288, chartered by the Community of Saints Regional Catholic School, will be taking orders for their annual Wreath and Popcorn Sale from now through Sunday, October 27, 2024.
Your order will be distributed before and after each Mass the weekend of November 23 and 24. Payments will be collected at distribution.
You can find the order forms and contact information at the back of the church. Please see flyers in the church for pictures of the wreaths.
Baptism Preparation Meetings
At St. Matthew, Baptism Preparation meetings are offered on a regular basis — usually the third week of every month.
The next meetings are on:
Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, November 16 at 10:30 AM
Preparation meetings are required for parents and guardians with children aged six or younger. If you have had a child baptized at St. Matt’s in the last five years, you may waive this requirement — but you’re invited to attend a meeting if you wish.
Registration is required, at least one week in advance. To register — or for more information —please contact Cristina Czaia or call the Parish Office (651-224-9793).
Community of Saints Regional Catholic School in West St. Paul serves students PreK-8th Grade. We are committed to providing a sense of belonging rooted in faith, inclusivity, and love.
Join us for our monthly tours and lunch with the 2nd graders! Tours are the first Tuesday of every month.
Please contact Natalie Hartung to register at 651-457-2510 or .
Gifted and Belonging Meeting
Gifted and Belonging will hold their next meeting at St. Matthew on Sunday, October 27 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM in the Social Hall.
Gifted and Belonging aims to provide Catholic fellowship for young adults with disabilities, seen and unseen. The group invites you to get together to share a brief time of prayer and reflection followed by games and social activities. Contact Megan at for more information.
Neighborhood House Donations
This weekend is the monthly Neighborhood House collection. Place your non-perishable or monetary donations in the basket by the main entrance. On behalf of Neighborhood House and the people it serves, thank you for your generosity!
All Saints Day Mass
Friday, November 1, 2024, 5:30 PM
The Seniors Blue Book: Resources for Aging Well
The Rosary Society has obtained free copies of The Seniors Blue Book: Resources for Aging Well and is offering them to parishioners at Masses starting the weekend of October 19 and 20. Please take one for yourself and/or a friend or family member who may be caring for an older person. They can be found on tables at the back of Church and also in the Parish Center.
Parish Mailing
We recently mailed our Annual Financial Report and November fundraising information. If you did not receive it and would like to be on our parish mailing list, please notify Angela in the parish office (651-224-9793 or ). We want to make sure everyone’s address is up to date.
See bulletins and inserts for additional news and events at the Church of Saint Matthew.
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