Faith and Fellowship on Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at St. Peter the Apostle University & Community Parish Hall in New Brunswick. The Black Catholic Committee is a multi-ethnic committee of passionate Catholics working to implement the Pastoral Plan of Action recommended by the National Black Catholic Congress last year in July. Registration is $10 to cover lunch. You can sign up now on the Diocese of Metuchen website on the Office of Multicultural Ministry home page or contact Sr. Miriam Perez or Deacon Rick Fortune at the Diocesan Office.
Category: Latest News
Catholic Social Teaching in the Public Square
ELECTION 2024 REFLECTION SERIES
SAVE THE DATES
Thursday, September 19 Thursday, October 3
Thursday, September 26 Thursday, October 10
All sessions are from 7 – 8:30 pm in the John XXIII room at St. Matthias.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) say in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, “As a nation, we share many blessings and strengths, including a tradition of religious freedom and political participation. However, as a people, we face serious challenges that are both political and moral. This has always been so, and as Catholics we are called to participate in public life in a manner consistent with the mission of our Lord, a mission that he has called us to share.” The USCCB goes on to say, “Any politics of human dignity must seriously address issues of racism, poverty, hunger, employment, education, housing, and health care.” As the Racial Justice Initiative here at St. Matthias, we feel it necessary to open a dialogue on racial justice issues as they pertain to politics in America, with a focus on our responsibilities as dictated by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
This dialogue will take place over four weekly sessions, each one-and-one-half hour long, during which we will pray, discuss CST principles, watch informative videos on pertinent topics, reflect, and discuss. The topics will be broken out as per the USCCB Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship:
SESSION 1—HUMAN DIGNITY
- Topics discussed will be voting rights and criminal justice reform.
SESSION 2—THE COMMON GOOD
- Topics discussed will be healthcare equity and environmental justice.
SESSION 3—SUBSIDIARITY
- Topics discussed will be education equality and economic justice.
SESSION 4—SOLIDARITY
- Topics discussed will be gun violence and Christian Nationalism.
**PLEASE NOTE: These sessions will be strictly NON-PARTISAN and focused solely on issues as they pertain to RACIAL JUSTICE.
We hope you will join us as we thoughtfully and prayerfully prepare for the upcoming general election in November. ALL ARE WELCOME.
We are so proud of our St. Matthias Children’s Choir!
Joan Best Seamon– Director
The St. Matthias Children’s Choir introduces the children of our faith community to the rich treasury of Catholic music, traditional and contemporary.
The Children’s Choir welcomes young parishioners, grades 3-8, who are registered in our GIFT Religious Ed Program, St. Matthias School, or who are home-schooled.
To register for the Children’s Choir click here or visit www.stmatthias.net/music and click on the link under Children’s Choir by September 1, 2024.
Thursday afternoons in church starting on September 19, 2024
3rd and 4th graders rehearse from 3:30- 4:15 PM
5th – 8th graders rehearse from 4:00 to 5:00 PM
“You have a place where you belong. You have a song to sing. Sing, sing, let music ring, YOU are part of the song!”
Spread the Light! Our Christmas Tree Sponsorship is Back!
This year, St. Matthias will again celebrate the Christmas Season by illuminating our church and school property with beautiful, personalized, 5-6-foot, freshly-cut Christmas trees in the field next to the church, as we “Spread the Light”. It is not too early to secure your family tree to honor your loved ones, family occasions or business. Join us by sponsoring a tree. The cost remains at $200 per tree. The deadline to sponsor a tree is Friday, October 11, 2024, since we need to pre-order the batch of trees. We have 280 trees to sponsor so order early and don’t miss out on this beautiful display that honors our loved ones and brings joy to our community. Click here for more details and to order a tree.
UPDATE ABOUT OUR CHURCH MEDIA PROJECT
Many of you have probably noticed some changes on the wall behind the choir. We are making preparations for the installation of our new projection and live stream system this summer. This plan was begun when Fr. Joe (Msgr. Curry) was with us. You may remember that we had focused on the Giving Tuesday contributions two years in a row for this media update. And we’re very excited to finally be completing this important project!
Though details of this project were published in the bulletin a few times, it is good to refresh our memory. The new livestream system includes two high-definition remote-controlled cameras and a video and sound mixing system that will greatly improve the video and sound quality of our livestream. The projection system includes a 150” diagonal 16:9 screen and a 4K capable 8500 lumen laser projector. This will vastly improve image brightness and contrast, so the system will be useful not only for live-streaming our liturgy but also for faith formation, GIFT sessions, and other parish events. Mr. Jeff Beck and Mr. Joe Mancuso have been working tirelessly on this project. We hope to see a very much improved experience of the media use in our church.
Twenty Three St. Matthias School Families Provided Financial Assistance.
The Tuition Angels Committee has wrapped up another year of tuition award assistance for students attending St. Matthias School. For the school year beginning September 2024, twenty-three families will benefit from tuition assistance via this fund. The Tuition Angels Committee provides confidential assistance to parents who are struggling with tuition payments for their child/children to attend St. Matthias School. Many factors lead parents to seek financial assistance, such as loss of jobs, reduced work hours, and medical concerns.
All donations to Tuition Angels are provided by the generosity of our St. Matthias parishioners.
Currently, Tuition Angels funds are running low, and we ask for your prayerful consideration of donating to the Tuition Angels fund. If you, your family, or your children have benefited from Catholic education, at any level, you understand the lasting and positive effects of this experience. If you are the parent of a SMS graduate, please contact them, and ask them to donate, if they are able.
Graduates, parents of graduates, or parishioners who are able to, please donate to this parish managed, confidential fund. Your gift helps a family to continue to provide a strong, Catholic, Christ-centered education to a child.
You may donate through Parish Giving, online, with a check in the donation basket, or a donation mailed to the Parish Office. Simply indicate on the envelope that the donation is for “TUITION ASSISTANCE” and kindly make a note on the check memo line”. You may make a one-time donation, or an ongoing regular contribution to the fund.
The school remains alive, and solid, with many new enrollees each year. We want to keep it that way. Our school continues to be a nurturing, vibrant and essential part of our parish community. Your donations will help to assist this critical component.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration of the Tuition Angels fund.
We are sad to announce the passing of Fr. Henry
We are sad to announce the passing of Reverend Henry L. Hemmerling, a retired priest of our diocese. Fr. Henry served our parish as weekend associate for a few years. He died on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at the age of 88. Here’s more information from the Diocese:
“Father Hemmerling spent four years with the Trappists at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts before discerning diocesan priesthood, and was ordained on May 28, 1966.
He served at St. Francis of Assisi Parish (now Cathedral), Metuchen, St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, St. Anthony of Padua, Hightstown, and St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton. He served as Pastor at Sacred Heart Parish, South Plainfield, St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Parish, Flemington, and Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Old Bridge. He retired from active ministry in 2001.
Father Hemmerling’s body will be received by Rev. Chester H. Carina on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Most Holy Redeemer Parish, 133 Amboy Road, Old Bridge Township. Public visitation will take place in the church from 2 to 4 p.m., and from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Very Reverend Jonathan S. Toborowsky, VG will preside at the Mass of Commemoration at 7:00 p.m., with Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Duffy of the Diocese of Paterson the homilist. On Friday, June 28, a viewing will take place from 9:30-10:45 a.m. in the church. Then, at 11:00 a.m., Most Reverend James F. Checchio will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial, with Rev. Chester H. Carina the homilist. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, NJ.”
We, here at St. Matthias, experienced his pastoral care, sense of humor and storytelling. We are grateful to God for his life and service.
Father Henry, may God our heavenly Father welcome you into His eternal kingdom, good and faithful servant of the Lord.
Rest in peace. AMEN
SCAM ALERT
Like many pastors, I too have heard from our parishioners who received emails or text messages, seemingly from me, asking for donations. Please exercise the utmost caution when receiving these types of communications. I have not asked nor will I solicit donations. Please be suspicious of any such communication. Please call the parish office directly to verify its legitimacy. Anyone who feels that they have been the victim of this type of fraud is urged to contact the local police department.
-Fr. Abraham
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Please come join the many who spend some quiet time with the Eucharistic Lord.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place Monday evenings from 6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM. When the Deacon is available we conclude Adoration with a Benediction.
Part-Time Administrative Assistant Needed
St. Matthias Church is looking for a part-time administrative assistant with management experience. Responsibilities will include but not limited to:
- Assist with the day-to-day operation of the parish.
- Maintain the parish calendar and schedule events.
- Serve as the point of contact for funerals and weddings.
- Proactive management of vendors.
- Work with maintenance supervisor ordering parts, supplies, and scheduling appointments.
- Maintain office inventory and complete other general office duties.
- Must be proficient in MS Office.Excellent office and interpersonal skills.
- Good communication skills, both in person and on the phone a must.
Please send your resume to: Mary Pat Burke-Grospin, Business Administrator at mpburke-grospin@stmatthias.net