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.
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.
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
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
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
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 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
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
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:
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.
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!
Saturday, February 26, 2022 Registration & Basket Raffle
To Buy Your Tickets NOW Click Here!
Don’t miss out on the great prizes to be raffled off at the Night of Winners! We still have seats available to participate in-person or virtually. This is the school’s largest fundraiser of the year and we need everyone’s support. Help us make it a great success and join in the fun!
This year’s event has two options: In-Person and Virtual. You must be 18 years or older to participate. Only 200 tickets will be sold for in-person, so register TODAY! The in-person event begins at 6pm. Doors open at 5:30pm. Everyone must wear a mask when they are not seated at their table.
The Virtual (YouTube Live Stream) event will start at 8 pm on Saturday. Virtual participants must be available (or designate a representative) to put their tickets in the basket bins in the School Cafeteria on Saturday, 02/26/22 from 9am-4pm. All persons entering the building must wear a mask at all times. The baskets will be on display in the cafeteria. Additional Basket Raffle Tickets and Super Cash 50/50 Tickets will also be for sale during the ticket drop time.
Questions? Contact Melissa Garlatti, stmatthiasnow@gmail.com
