Gratitude and Discernment for the Future of St. Matthias
Dear Friends in Christ,
As we continue to care for the many blessings entrusted to us at St. Matthias, I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to all who have supported our Buildings and Grounds initiative and our “Keeping St. Matthias Beautiful” campaign that I introduced this past weekend. Your generosity, dedication, and faith-filled stewardship have allowed us to preserve and enhance the sacred spaces where we gather to worship, serve, and grow in faith.
In 1 Corinthians 3:9, St. Paul reminds us that “we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” Each improvement we make—whether large or small—is a reflection of our shared responsibility to care for what God has given us. Through your gifts of time, talent, and treasure, you have demonstrated a deep love for our parish and a hopeful vision for its future.
As we look ahead, we now enter a time of prayerful discernment. Together, we must consider whether the Lord is calling us to embark upon the construction of a new church (which would enable our current church space to be converted back into the gymnasium for the school) or to undertake a major renovation of our existing worship space. This is not merely a practical question of buildings, but a spiritual one—a question of how we best create a place that fosters faith, community, and mission for generations to come.
Let us remember the words of the Psalmist: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). May we therefore entrust this discernment process to God, asking the Holy Spirit to guide our decisions with wisdom, unity, and courage.
I invite every parishioner to continue praying intentionally for our parish and for one another. May our efforts to keep St. Matthias beautiful—both in spirit and in structure—bring glory to God and deepen our witness as a community of faith.
In Peace,
Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School