January 6, 2019 Saint Matthew Catholic Church...a community of faith and love Mission Statement With the Word of God as our foundation, the people of St. Matthew Catholic Parish strive to be the presence of God in our community. We do so through joyful worship, fellowship among our members, a welcoming spirit to visitors and seekers, an increasing willingness to give our time, talent and treasure to serve God s people and a desire to spread our faith through ongoing spiritual sharing. Pastor Very Reverend Thomas J. Anastasia, V.F. Priests Assisting this week: Rev. James Bucaria Rev. Paul McLaughlin Deacons Deacon Tony Quattrocki Deacon Anthony Kijonka - Retired Mass Times Saturday Vigil: 4:00pm Sunday:7:30am, 9:00am and 11:00am Holy Days: Will be announced Monday Saturday 8:30am Rosary: Monday Saturday 8:00am Sacrament of Penance Saturdays 3:00pm 3:45pm or by appointment through the parish office. St. Matthew Catholic Church 9111 90th Avenue North Largo, FL 33777 Phone (727) 393-1288 Fax (727) 398-2683 Website www.stmat.org E-Mail: Info@stmat.org Parish Office Hours Monday-Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm Friday 9:00am-12:00pm
Pastor s Column Dear Friends in Christ, 1/6/19 Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the LORD. Even though I spent the first two years of my priesthood in Tarpon Springs, I never got the chance to go down to the famous Orthodox Celebration where the Archbishop throws a cross in the bayou and teenage boys go diving for it in the rather chilly waters. The goal of the victorious diver was to get a blessing from the archbishop which would allegedly assure a year of good luck. It all seemed a bit superstitious to me. What we celebrate today is the manifestation of Jesus to the world. There are three traditional manifestations associated with the Epiphany Celebration. The first and most obvious is the Magi or The Three Kings as they present the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The wedding feast of Cana and the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River are the other two classic manifestations of light which shine in the darkness. Apart from these traditional ways that the light of Christ is made known in the world, we are constantly called to manifest His presence in our world today. One way I anticipate this happening is with a research meeting with our Public Defender Bob Dillinger on Tuesday in the afternoon as well as a strategy committee meeting in the evening regarding our Criminal Justice Concerns Committee with the FAST ministry. Additionally our parish Visioning Committee for the Courageously Living the Gospel initiative will be meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the best ways to provide a Saturday morning session I m calling the parish dreamers gathering. It s on the calendar for January 26 th in Bethany Hall. Another way those concerned with defending the defenseless can shine the light of Christ is by participating in the March for Life scheduled next Saturday in St. Augustine. Thousands from around FL & GA participated in past years and more are expected this year. Contact the Diocesan Office of Life, Justice, and Advocacy for information about the bus departing from our local deanery. I have gone in the past with our Youth Ministry and have found it to be a full and exciting day. Peace in Christ, Fr. Tom J. Anastasia Pastor Readings for the week January 6-13, 2019 Sunday, January 6 The Epiphany of the Lord Is 60:1-6 Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 Mt 2:1-12 Monday, January 7 1 Jn 3:22 4:6 Mk 4:12-17, 23-35 Tuesday, January 8 1 Jn 4:7-10 Mk 6:34-44 Wednesday, January 9 1 Jn 4:11-18 Mk 6:45-52 Thursday, January 10 1 Jn 4:19 5:4 Lk 4:14-22 Friday, January 11 1 Jn 5:5-13 Lk 5:12-16 Saturday, January 12 1 Jn 5:14-21 Jn 3:22-30 Sunday, January 13 The Baptism of the Lord Is 40:1-5, 9-11 Ti 2:11-14, 3:4-7 Lk 3:15-16, 21-22 T he Marriage Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving with Bishop Gregory Parkes will take place at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle on Sunday, February 10th at 3:00pm. This event honors couples throughout the diocese who will celebrate 25, 50 or more years of marriage during the 2019 calendar year. Please RSVP to the parish office by Thursday January 24th. Pray for our Military We pray that God will protect and watch over those we love and care for as they bravely serve our country. By the intercession of the patron saints of soldiers, St. George and St. Joan of Arc; may they all return home safely.
The Epiphany of the Lord Mass Intentions Saturday, January 5 4:00pm Thomas J. Kralovich Sunday, January 6 7:30am People of the Parish 9:00am Luis Sr. and Eulalia Guanzon 11:00am Audrey Ludwig Monday, January 7 8:30am Saul Medrano Tuesday, January 8 8:30am Frederick Gritman Williams Wednesday, January 9 8:30am Special Intentions of Phil Smith Thursday, January 10 8:30am Ricardo Dela Cruz Friday, January 11 8:30am Mike Hainey Saturday, January 12 8:30am Michaela Cahillane 4:00pm Elsie Mizia *Fr. Tom Anastasia Sunday, January 13 7:30am Richard Camarda *Fr. Tom Anastasia 9:00am People of the Parish *Fr. Terry Fleming 11:00am Mary Rose Quattrocki *Fr. Tom Kirchhoefer *Priest schedule subject to change. The Deacon s Corner As we enter a New Year, it is only natural to reflect on the year that has passed and review our personal actions, successes and disappointments. No doubt, we are thankful for all we accomplished and wonder if we did a few things differently, we could have achieved even more in 2018. So, as we begin a new year, we can dream, plan and strategize on how much more we can achieve this year. Why not take a moment and reflect, on how those successes have affected others in your family and community? Sometimes we can question ourselves. Is all the time, effort and hard work really making any difference? Do our lives actually matter to our family, friends and community? This holiday season if you had the opportunity to view the Christmas classic It s a Wonderful Life you will be reminded that no matter how big or small the act of self-giving is, it is well worth it. At the end of the movie, tears of joy came to the eyes of George Bailey as he finally realizes how many people he had touched, even though he was unaware of most of them. He thought himself to be a failure but no else felt that way. The almost unbelievable effect on the community he made by his lifelong generosity in small unselfish ways, by doing the simple things for his neighbors, even by sacrificing some of his own dreams, did make a difference. He truly was the richest man in Bedford Falls. How can each of us be more like George Bailey and Bedford Falls? We all know the power of simple words and actions. We know what it feels like to be the recipient of a friendly hello, a warm smile, an act of kindness. Please Don t Overlook daily opportunities to perform that Little Act of Kindness! Let us make a New Year commitment to practice Random Acts of Kindness in 2019. Let us make that commitment to build up our Parish community. Let us all celebrate the coming of the New Year with a joyful heart knowing that we really can touch people s hearts and make a difference by our lives. Wishing Peace & Blessings to All. Deacon Tony Prayer for Priests and Future Priests Eternal Father, we lift up to you these and all the priests of the world. Sanctify them, heal and guide them. Mold them into the likeness and holiness of your Son Jesus, the Eternal High Priest. May their lives be pleasing to you. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen. 01/07 Rev. Dermot J. Dunne 01/08 Deacon Anthony Astrab 01/09 For Vocations to the Priesthood & Religious Life 01/10 Rev. Wayne Genereux 01/11 Rev. Charles Leke 01/12 Rev. Thomas L. Madden 01/13 Rev. Nelson Restrepo These are the names of the active priests and seminarians in our Diocese. Remember our Bishop has designated Wednesdays as Diocesan Day of Prayer for Vocations. Please continue to pray that more young people will hear and answer God s call to the Priesthood and Religious Life.
www.stmat.org Building a caring community that serves others. Stewardship of Treasure Parish Sacrificial Giving Summary In gratitude for the gifts we received from God, we thank all Parishioners and visitors who made a joyful return to the Lord this weekend. December 22-23, 2018 Offertory Totals Envelopes $ 4,283.00 Loose Donations $ 3,623.75 OnLine Giving $ 2,319.00 Total $10,225.75 December 24-25, 2018 Christmas Envelopes $ 7,283.00 Loose Donations $ 5,087.58 OnLine Giving $ 4,766.00 Total $17,136.58 Thank you! Joy of the Gospel Ministries wishes to thank all those who donated underwear and other items for the homeless. We especially extend our appreciation to Lucy Caraballo, who organized the collection. A Happy and Blessed New Year to all of you. ONLINE GIVING = CONVENIENCE It s a great alternative to the weekly envelope system! So Easy to use Credit Card, Debit Card or Transfer of Funds. No cost to participate! We save $40/year per family by not printing and mailing monthly envelope packets. Please let the parish office know to discontinue the envelopes. Go to our www.stmat.org homepage & click the Online Giving tab. Choose from the menu on the left side of the online giving page and follow the instructions. It s that Easy! In deep gratitude to the many parishioners of St Matthew Catholic Parish Community who acted as good stewards and shared their blessings with those in need during the Holiday season we want to publicly Thank You! Without your help and generosity we could not continue to carry out the outreach ministry work in our parish community. Some of the ministries that received support: The Kimberly Home Project The Family Community Fund The Advent Jessie Giving Tree Local Food Pantry Joy Ministry, Feeding Pinellas Hope Renewing Parish Life and Grow Daily as a Community of God by courageously living the Gospel through our faithful actions, deeds and generosity. Coming soon! Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop. Stay tuned to bulletin for more information 2018 Tax Statement If you would like to receive a statement of donations for the year 2018, please complete the form below and return it to the parish office or in the offertory at Mass. If you would like your statement emailed to you, please include your email address. Please print the following information: Name: Address: Phone Number: Envelope Number: Email:
January 6, 2019
www.stmat.org GRIEF SHARE: Griefshare is a 13- week program that provides support, encouragement and information for those grieving the loss of a loved one. St. Matthew s Griefshare program meets Wednesday mornings, 9:30 to 11 AM, in Trinity Hall. We will wrap up the current offering with our final meeting at 9:30 AM January 16, 2019. We will start again on Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Griefshare can be joined at any time; feel free to come and see in January and resume with us in March! For information, please email Dr. Lori Puterbaugh at drloriputerbaugh@earthlink.net or call at 727-559-0863. St Matthew Spiritual Update Entering the 4th Month This Week... Sunday, January 6 9:15am Youth Ministry 12:15pm RCIA 12:15pm Pinellas Hope Monday, January 7 7:00pm Knights of Columbus Council Meeting Tuesday, January 8 9:00am Miraculous Medal Novena Wednesday, January 9 9:00am Faith Share 9:30am Griefshare 9:30am LOTW 7:00pm Centering Prayer Thursday, January 10 6:00pm Band 6:30pm Adult Programs 7:20pm Choir Friday, January 11 9:00am Divine Mercy Chaplet Saturday, January 12 Sunday, January 13 Pancake Breakfast 9:15am Youth Ministry 9:30am Children s Faith Formation 12:15pm RCIA Please Continue to pray that my Mommy and Daddy won t abort me! St. Matthew Mobile App The St. Matthew mobile app is available to download. Find us in the app store by searching My Parish App. Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook. Enjoy additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or confession, and much more.
myparishapp.com / Sacraments and Ministries BAPTISM of INFANTS: The Sacrament of Baptism celebrates God s love and initiates us into the community of believers called the Church. We are the Church, and each baptism we perform or witness is a sign of our faith in Christ s power to renew the face of the earth. Baptisms are celebrated during the Mass. For Baptism preparation classes for parents, contact the parish office: (727) 393-1288. We recommend attending before the birth of your child. SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Call the office at any time in case of serious sickness. If you are hospitalized, the priest assigned to the hospital will administer the sacrament. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: Call the office a minimum of six months in advance. Participation in Journey to Matrimony or Pre-Cana program is required. SACRAMENTS FOR ADULTS: R.C.I.A. is for adults and unbaptized teens wanting to be Catholic Christians. Please contact the office of Faith Formation at (727) 393-1288, ext. 204. SACRAMENTS FOR TEENS: CONFIRMATION for baptized teens wanting to complete their Sacraments. Please contact Youth Ministry, Faith Formation at (727) 393-1288, ext. SACRAMENTS FOR CHILDREN: First Communion and Reconciliation for baptized children ages 7 and older. Please contact the Office of Faith Formation at (727) 393-1288, ext. 204. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: The Knights of Columbus St. Matthew Council #11226, extends an invitation to all Catholic men to join our council. The council meets the First Monday of the month. If you are interested in hearing more about the Knights of Columbus, please contact Jack Hughes- Grand Knight at 727-418-4071. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY: Assistance to the needy. Calls are monitored and returned daily. Phone 592-1960. PROJECT HUNGER: On the third Sunday of every month, donations of food for our food pantry are collected. CENTERING PRAYER: Centering Prayer is a form of silent contemplation practiced both as a part of a group and in our daily lives. We meet Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm for approximately one and a half hour. Please feel free to come join us. Call Judi Valori at 727-399-2306 or jvalori@tampabay.rr.com if you have any questions. WOMEN S MINISTRY: Meet at 7:00pm the third Tuesday of every month August through May. New members are always welcome! SICK OR INCAPACITATED: Please contact the parish office if you, or a family member, would like to be included in our monthly prayer list. If you are unable to attend Mass, let us know if you would like to schedule a visit from an Eucharistic Minister. VOCATIONS: Contact Fr. Melchior for more information at (727) 345-3452 or spvocation@dosp.org. Welcome New Members We invite everyone interested in joining our faith community to take a welcome packet, which is located in the two entryways and register to be part of our faith community. Registering allows us to serve your needs more fully. Please come by the office during the work week or fill out the registration from and place in the collection basket. You can also register online at www.stmat.org. Children over the age of eighteen, please register separately from your parents. PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND AND EASTERN EUROPE 12 Days: September 9-20, 2019 Warsaw * Krakow * Budapest * Vienna * Prague Hosted By Fr. Tom Anastasia ONLY $3899 from Tampa or Miami (Air/land price is $3479 plus $420 gov t taxes/ airline surcharges) GERMANY, PRAGUE & AUSTRIA Featuring the Passion Play of Oberammergau! 12 Days: August 25 to September 5, 2020 ONLY $ 4799 from Tampa or Miami (Air/Land price is $ 4349 plus $ 450 gov t taxes/ airline surcharges) Tour Includes: Roundtrip Airfare from Tampa or Miami, First Class/Select Hotels, Most Meals, Professional Tour Director, Comprehensive Sightseeing and more!! FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT FR. ANASTASIA Tel: (727) 393-1288 Email: godrays@stmat.org Parish Staff Pastor: Very Rev. Tom Anastasia, V.F. (ext. 205) Deacon: Deacon Tony Quattrocki (ext. 203) Deacon.Tony@stmat.org Faith Formation Ministries: Phil Coit (ext. 204) Youth Ministries: Lisa Limberger Music Ministry: Chantal Ward (ext. 202) Parish Secretary: Anne Koster (ext. 201) Maintenance Staff: Jim Murray Joe LaFrazia Don Koster