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Support and Pray for Ukraine

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Our parishioners have been very generous in responding to the collection for the suffering and dying people of Ukraine. We have been praying for Ukraine every day at our Masses daily.

Here’s an impassioned prayer that Pope Francis prayed, asking God to have mercy and bring peace to the war in Ukraine during his Wednesday general audience on March 16. We can use it in our prayers:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners.

Lord Jesus, born under the bombs of Kyiv, have mercy on us.

Lord Jesus, who died in his mother’s arms in a bunker in Kharkiv, have mercy on us.

Lord Jesus, sent at 20 years old to the front, have mercy on us.

Lord Jesus, who still sees armed hands in the shadow of your Cross, have mercy on us!

 

Forgive us, Lord, if, not content with the nails with which we pierced your hands, we continue to drink from the blood of the dead torn apart by weapons.

Forgive us, Lord, if these hands that you created for care have been transformed into instruments of death.

 

Forgive us, Lord, if we continue to kill our brother, if we continue like Cain to remove the stones from our field to kill Abel. Forgive us if we continue to justify cruelty with our toil, if with our pain we legitimize the cruelty of our actions.

Forgive us the war, Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, we implore you: Stop the hand of Cain!

“Women in Conversation”

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

March 8 was International Day for Women.

As Catholics, we believe that our church is called to be God’s agent of social change. Women have played and continues to play a pivotal role in the life of the church. RENEW International, a very evangelizing Catholic movement, is offering a wonderful webinar on Wednesday, March 16 at 2 pm, titled “Women in Conversation” with Genevieve Mougey, the Director of the Office of Social Concerns in the Archdiocese of Washington. Click here to register.

Inviting the Men of Our Parish to Consider

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

ARE YOU BEING CALLED TO THE DIACONATE?

The Diocese is looking for men who are interested in becoming Permanent Deacons. A new diaconate formation class is about to begin. Applications for that class will be accepted near the end of this summer; prior to applying, interested men must attend an Information Meeting. A General Information Meeting will be held at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center in Piscataway on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 7:00 PM and again on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 10:00 AM. If you are between the ages of 35 and 60, and you believe you are being called to this ministry, you, your wife and your pastor are cordially invited to attend one of these meetings.

If you have any questions, or wish to advise that you will attend, please contact the Diocesan Diaconate Office at (732) 562-2457 or diaconate@diometuchen.org.

SYNOD Listening: Last Chance for Those Who Wish to Respond

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Pope Francis wants to hear from you! Yes, he wants input from everyone! The participants at the Synod on Synodality in 2023 will consider these ideas to make our church a more listening church. Besides the deanery-wise listening sessions that our Diocese organized, we did our own parish listening sessions here at St. Matthias. For those of us who could not attend any of these sessions, here’s the last chance to send in your ideas and concerns by answering the questions online. Click here to fill out the St. Matthias Synod 2023 survey

SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR UKRAINE

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Yesterday we received information that our Bishop has directed all the parishes to take up a special Ash Wednesday collection. Though a short notice, it is for helping Ukraine and the surrounding countries of Eastern Europe with humanitarian aid. Hence please bring your contribution to church this Sunday or bring/mail it to the parish. If a check, you can make it out either to St. Matthias Church OR to the Diocese of Metuchen, but with Ash Wednesday Collection in the memo line.  You may also “Text-to-Give“ on your phone by texting smukraine to 44-321, and using your credit card or bank account.

Kindly click here for the letter from the Diocese.

To view a video of the Major Archbishop of Kyiv (with English subtitles) recorded on Sunday, February 27, in Kyiv, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nF9y2lMrIA&t=272s

Participate in a Synod 2021-2023 Listening Session at St. Matthias

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

LISTENING SESSION HERE AT ST. MATTHIAS

People all around the world are participating in these Listening Sessions and your input, along with those of others, will be the focus of the upcoming Synod at the Vatican. Let’s walk together as a church listening to the Holy Spirit. St. Matthias is offering two Listening Sessions. This is YOUR chance to listen to fellow parishioners and to share your thoughts and questions about our church and how the Holy Spirit is guiding us.
All are welcome.

To participate, please register for either session as soon as possible at:

1. Via zoom: on Thursday March 3, at 7 pm.
To register for the ZOOM Session on Thursday, March 3 at 7 pm, please click here.

2. In Person: on Saturday March 5, at 10 am in the cafeteria.
To register for the IN-PERSON Session on Saturday, March 5 at 10 am in the cafeteria, please click here.

In case you are unable to attend these, you are still most welcome to send in your answers to the questions online. Click here to fill out the St. Matthias Synod 2023 survey

 

LISTENING SESSIONS IN OUR DIOCESE:

In each of the eight deaneries in the Diocese of Metuchen, a Synod Listening Session will be held in order that we may respond to the Holy Father’s call to journey together, to engage in dialogue with one another, and to listen to what the Lord is asking of us.
To view the list of hosting parishes, visit: https://diometuchen.org/synodlisteningsessions

SMS Fish Fry-days at Twenty/20 Taphouse During Lent

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Join us for Fish Fry-days at Twenty/20 Taphouse on Fridays during the Lenten season.

Dinner includes: beer battered cod, french fries, and coleslaw.  The cost is $18.00.

Present this flyer to your server  for a portion of the proceeds raised to go towards St. Matthias School.
Take-Out is available, simply call to order.

Twenty/20 Taphouse
18 Cedar Grove Lane
Somerset, NJ 08873
732-907-2800

Catholic Sisters Week

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Catholic Sisters Week will take place March 8-14. Our Sisters Marie Therese and Maria, are joining their community, the school sisters of St. Francis of the United States Province, in bringing awareness to the plight of hunger in our local areas. During this week, Srs. Marie Therese and Maria are inviting parishioners to make a financial online donation to the Franklin Food bank, which serves so many families in our neighborhoods, by visiting:

Catholic Sisters Week Fundraiser

Please be sure to include that you are from St. Matthias Parish so we will be able to see the total amount contributed that week.

On behalf of all our Sisters. We thank you for joining us in helping to alleviate hunger among those who are poor and in need: “Whatever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto ME”.

God bless you for your generous hearts,

Sisters Marie Therese and Maria, OSF

The 2022 Bishop’s Annual Appeal

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

Continuing to Fan the Flame of Faith into Service

You may have already received a letter from Bishop Checchio, announcing the 2022 Bishop’s Annual Appeal. Our parish can share in a successful Appeal by earning a rebate of 50% of the amount collected over goal. Through your support of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal you help those in our diocese whose needs are the greatest – the poor, the homeless, and those struggling with illness or grief. Among other needed pastoral ministries, your gift also supports the formation of seminarians and enhances the work of the Vicariate for Evangelization and Communication. The many pastoral, educational and charitable ministries of the Diocese of Metuchen would not be possible without a generous contribution from every household. Please be as generous as your means allow.

For more info and to watch a video of our Bishop on this project, please go to: https://diometuchen.org/baa

Celebrating BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2022 at St. Matthias

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

The St. Martin de Porres Society is pleased to invite all to celebrate Black History Month in our parish. Be sure to check out our bulletin (page 8) every week throughout the month of February where we Honor the Past, Celebrate the Present, And Inspire the Future.  Here is what else you can expect in the month of February:

Mass in celebration of Black History Month: February 19, 2022, 5:00PM

 

Faith and Racial Justice Series Kickoff from the Just Faith Network facilitated by the St. Matthias Racial Justice Initiative Core Group.

Space is limited. Registration required at St. Matthias: Faith and Racial Equity Series by justfaith.org.

The program schedule (subject to adjustment) is as follows:

  • Opening Retreat (via Zoom ) Saturday, February 19, 2022, 9:00 AM – Noon
  • Sessions 1-8 (2/26, 3/12, 3/26, 4/9, 4/23, 5/14, 5/28, 6/11,   9:00 – 11:30 AM (via Zoom for now)
  • Immersion Experience -TBD

Cost to attend the program is free. Cost of books/materials (2-3 books) is not free; however, copies are available for loan from the Parish Office or you can purchase your own new or used online. To register please click here.

For more information contact parish facilitators —Neil Purcell, Kerry Millan, Janice Regan or Christine Grippo at matthiasracialjustice@gmail.com, or Phyllis Stone (President of St. Martin de Porres Society) in the Parish Office,  (732) 828-1400, ext 127.

 

SMDP Society Black History Month Symposium on Critical Race Theory and Catholic Education “CRITICAL RACE THEORY: What is it? What it’s not. What does it mean for Christian education?”

Featuring Parishioner Sandra M. Donnay, Ph.D, Founder: Racial Equity Initiative (Moderator)

and

Reverend Danté R. Quick, Ph.D., Senior Pastor of 1st Baptist of Lincoln Gardens (Guest) on February 28th at 7:00 PM via Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9702883550 Meeting ID: 970 288 3550

REGISTRATION IS RECOMMENDED:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a054fa4ab2faaff2-critical1

Happy Black History Month!