Spring 2019 In Scripture, we hear a story about Martha & Mary (Luke 10: 38-42). We read that Mary who sat beside Jesus was the sister who chose the right way to spend her time while Martha was busy getting things done. How often do we just sit at the feet of Jesus? How often do we remain busy and filled with anxiety? Sure there is lots to do and much to worry about, but Jesus reminds us that being in his presence is the best way to spend our time. As Catholics, we know that Jesus is fully present in the Eucharist. When we come to the Eucharist we are given grace that can only be given to us through Jesus himself. We believe that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life (Catechism paragraph 1324-1327). It is important for us to come to Mass weekly to receive the Eucharist. We can also come to the Eucharist through Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Every Thursday from 8:30am until Friday at 7:50am we have Eucharistic Adoration. This is a time to be just like Mary and sit in the presence of Jesus. During Adoration, we can pray in many different ways such as praying the rosary, reflecting on what is written in the Bible, giving all our worries over to God, reading about the lives of the saints and just sitting quietly in the presence of Jesus. During Lent, we will be offering an additional chance to slow down and sit with Jesus during our Holy Hour & Night Prayer on Sundays at 6:30pm. Check out page 3 for more information. When you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host, you understand how much Jesus loves you now. ~ St. Teresa of Calcutta ~ 1
Mass Times Saturdays at 4pm - Sundays at 8am & 10:30am Vietnamese Mass Times Sundays on March 3, 24, April 7, May 5, 12; at 2pm SACRAMENTS Weekday Mass Times Tuesdays at 8am Wednesdays at 8:35am (8am when there is no school) Thursdays at 8am Fridays at 8am Weekly Reconciliation Times 2:45pm to 3:45pm every Saturday or by appointment. Eucharistic Ministers & Lector Training All Confirmed Catholics are invited to join us for Eucharistic Minister and Lector Training on Wednesday, April 10 at 6:30pm. Altar Server Training All those currently in 4th grade and older (including adults) are invited to get trained to be Altar Servers. As an Altar Server, you are a Liturgical Minister with an important role to assist the Priest at the Altar during Mass. Must attend 2 out of 6 trainings. Check out the parish website for more information. Chancel Choir We are always looking for new members in the Choir. Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings at 6:15 to 7:30pm. The Choir sings 3 times a month through Corpus Christi Sunday. Contact Andrew Kreigh for more information or to join the choir. Lenten Mission - Join us for a night of praise and worship led by internationally acclaimed Catholic musician John Finch. The mission will be held in the Church, with refreshments and a social afterward in Kearn Hall. Childcare is provided. Admission is free. Check out John's music and mission at johnfinchmusic.com 2
Ash Wednesday Masses Wednesday, March 6 at 8:35am, 12pm & 6:30pm Lenten Reconciliation Times at St. Matthew Fridays on March 8, 15, 22, 29, April 5, 12 at 6pm Wednesday, April 17 at 6pm Lenten Communal Reconciliation Service Times Saturday, April 6 at St. Joseph in Marion at 10:30am Thursday, April 11 at St. Jude Church at 7pm Saturday, April 13 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church at 10:30am Lenten Holy Hour & Night Prayer Join us every Sunday during Lent from 6:30 to 8pm for communal prayer and Adoration. We will gather in the Church for a Holy Hour with the Blessed Sacrament. Around 7:30 we will go to Kearn Hall to have a quick social with refreshments, then end the evening with Night Prayer in the Church. This is a great way to bookend your week and have some time for spiritual retreat. Stations of the Cross Join us on Fridays throughout Lent at 5:30pm in the Church to journey through the 14 stations of Jesus last day. Holy Thursday - April 18 8am - Morning Prayer 8:30am - Decorate the Church 10am - Reconciliation 7pm - Mass of the Lord s Supper Holy Saturday - April 20 8am - Morning Prayer 8:30am - Decorate the Church 8:30pm - Easter Vigil Mass Holy Week Schedule LENT SCHEDULE Pray for Chelsea, Emily, Jeffrey, Katie, Kayleigh, Lacey & Melony who will all join the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Palm Sunday - April 13 & 14 Join us at our normal weekend Mass times as we remember Jesus triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. Palm branches are seen as symbols of peace and victory. Good Friday - April 19 8am - Morning Prayer 8:30am - Decorate the Church 10am - Reconciliation 1pm - Stations of the Cross 3pm - Liturgy of the Lord s Passion 7pm - Vietnamese Community Easter Sunday - April 21 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am - Easter Mass Times 2pm - Vietnamese Easter Mass 3
COMMUNITY Senior Pot Luck All those 55 and older are invited to join us the 2nd Wednesday of each month at noon for lunch and a presentation in Kearn Hall. Bring a friend and a dish to share. ~ Upcoming Dates: March 13, April 10 & May 8 ~ Sunday Afternoon at the Movies All movies are shown at 2pm in the Rosary Room. Watch movies on a 9-foot screen & with amplified sound! Free admission & refreshments! Everyone is welcome! - March 10: Paul, Apostle of Christ - April 7: Lion - May 5: Joan of Arc Catholic Evangelization Outreach (CEO) Personal witness talks given by local Catholics each month. Parishes take turns hosting this monthly opportunity to revitalize your faith life. Make sure to check out their website for more details or to listen to past talks: www.crceo.info Holy Name Society All men of St. Matthew please join us at the Holy Name Men s Social Night on Monday, March 4 at 5:30pm in Kearn Hall. Dinner and beverages are provided. Card games will be played. Invite a friend. This is a great way to check out Holy Name for the first time. Contact Dennis VanAuken at dennis@positivesoluntionsllc.com or 573-1434 for more information or to RSVP. Holy Name Prayer for Peace & Breakfasts will be held on March 10, April 14 and May 12. All men are invited to attend St. Matthew Mingle Join us Saturday, March 23 after 4pm Mass for our quarterly social gathering for all adults. Bring a snack to share and your own beverage. Must be 21 to attend. Child Care is provided. Check out FORMED.ORG for great Catholic content including movies, ebooks, audio talks and video programs. Use our Parish Access Code C98696 for 4 free access.
MARCH CALENDAR 1 - Pastoral Care Team Meeting at 2pm - Social Justice Committee at 3:30pm 3 - Family Formation at 8:30am - Vietnamese Mass at 2pm 4 - Upper Room Bible Study at 5:45pm 5 - Upper Room at 7pm 6 - Ash Wednesday Masses at 8:35am, 12pm & 6:30pm 7 - Eucharistic Adoration All Day - Parish Life Committee at 7pm 8 - Stations of the Cross at 5:30pm 10 - Holy Name Prayer for Peace & Breakfast at 9pm - Sunday Afternoon at the Movies at 2pm - Holy Hour & Night Prayer at 6:30pm 11 - Parent Association Meeting at 5pm - Upper Room Bible Study at 5:45pm - Upper Room Catholic Basics at 7pm 12 - Faith Formation Commission at 7pm - Upper Room at 7pm 13 - School Mass at 8:35am - Senior Pot Luck at 12pm - Prayer Shawl at 2pm - Worship Wednesday in the Church at 7pm 14 - Eucharistic Adoration All Day 15 - Stations of the Cross at 5:30pm 17 - Holy Hour & Night Prayer at 6:30pm 18 - Upper Room Bible Study at 5:45pm 22 - Stations of the Cross at 5:30pm 23 - St. Matthew Mingle at 5pm 24 - Vietnamese Mass at 2pm - Holy Hour & Night Prayer at 6:30pm 25 - Upper Room Bible Study at 5:45pm - Upper Room Catholic Basics at 7pm 26 - Upper Room at 7pm 27 - School Mass at 8:35am - Youth Ministry at 6:30pm 28 - Eucharistic Adoration All Day 29 - Stations of the Cross at 5:30pm 31 - Holy Hour & Night Prayer at 6:30pm 5
APRIL CALENDAR 1 - Upper Room Catholic Basics at 7pm 2 - Upper Room at 7pm 3 - Parish Mission Featuring John Finch at 7pm 4 - Eucharistic Adoration All Day - Parish Life Committee Meeting at 7pm 5 - Pastoral Care Team at 2pm - Social Justice Committee at 3:30pm - Stations of the Cross at 5:30pm 6 - Lenten Communal Reconciliation at St. Joseph at 10:30am 7 - Family Formation at 8:30am - Vietnamese Mass at 2pm - Sunday Afternoon at the Movies at 2pm - Holy Hour & Night Prayer at 6:30pm 8 - Upper Room Catholic Basics at 7pm 9 - Faith Formation Commission at 7pm - Upper Room at 7pm 10 - School Mass at 8:35am - Senior Pot Luck at 12pm - Prayer Shawl at 2pm - Eucharistic Minister & Lector Training at 6:30pm - Worship Wednesdays at St. Joseph at 8pm 11 - Eucharistic Adoration All Day - Lenten Communal Reconciliation at St. Jude at 7pm 12 - Stations of the Cross at 5:30pm 13 - Lenten Communal Reconciliation at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton at 10:30am 14 - Holy Name Prayer for Peace & Breakfast at 9am - Holy Hour & Night Prayer at 6:30pm 15 - Parent Association at 5pm - Upper Room Catholic Basics at 7pm 16 - Upper Room at 7pm - Chrism Mass at the Cathedral in Dubuque at 2pm 17 - School Mass at 8:35am 18 - Morning Prayer at 8am - Decorating the Church at 8:30am - Reconciliation at 10am - Mass of the Lord s Supper at 7pm 19 - Morning Prayer at 8am - Decorating the Church at 8:30am - Reconciliation at 10am - Stations of the Cross at 1pm - Liturgy of the Lord s Passion at 3pm - Vietnamese Community at 7pm April 20 - Morning Prayer - Decorating for th - Easter Vigil Mas 21 - Easter Masses: 7:30a - Vietnamese Eas 23 - Pastoral Counci 24 - School Mass at - Closing Youth M 25 - Eucharistic Ado 27 - First Communio 29 - Upper Room Ca 30 - Liturgy Committ 6
MAY CALENDAR 1 - School Mass at 8:35am - Youth Ministry at 6:30pm 2 - Eucharistic Adoration All Day - Parish Life Committee at 7pm 3 - Pastoral Care Team at 2pm - Social Justice Committee at 3:30pm 4 - Spring Plant Sale at all Masses 5 - Family Formation at 8:30am - Vietnamese Mass at 2pm - Sunday Afternoon at the Movies at 2pm 6 - Upper Room Catholic Basics at 7pm 8 - School Mass at 8:35am - Senior Pot Luck at 12pm - Prayer Shawl Ministry at 2pm - Worship Wednesday in the Church at 7pm 9 - Eucharistic Adoration All Day 12 - Holy Name Prayer for Peace & Breakfast at 9am - Vietnamese Mass at 2pm 13 - Upper Room Catholic Basics at 7pm 14 - Faith Formation Commission at 7pm 15 - School Mass at 8:35am 16 - Eucharistic Adoration All Day 20 - Parent Association at 5pm - Upper Room Catholic Basics at 7pm 23 - Eucharistic Adoration All Day 28 - Pastoral Council at 6:30pm 30 - Eucharistic Adoration All Day at 8am e Easter Vigil at 8:30am s at 8:30pm m, 9:30am & 11:30am ter Mass at 2pm l at 6:30pm 8:35am inistry Mass at 6:30pm ration All Day n celebrated at 4pm Mass tholic Basics at 7pm ee at 7pm First Holy Communion will be celebrated on April 27 during the parish 4pm Mass. We are excited to have 23 second graders receive their First Eucharist. Please pray for our students and their families. Everyone is welcome to attend Mass and help us celebrate. There will be a cake & punch reception following Mass in Kearn Hall. 7
Young Adult Ministry Via Fidei (The Way of Faith) is a movement of young adults in the Cedar Rapids area, dedicated to spreading zeal for the Catholic faith and passion for a life of devotion. This city-wide young adult community hosts a variety of social and spiritual events for people in 20s and 30s. Check out their website at viafidei.com Catholic Young Adults Join us every Saturday evening for Adoration and a faith discussion from 7:30 to 9pm in the Divine Mercy Chapel at St. Patrick s Catholic Church. We start with 30 minutes of Eucharistic Adoration & Evening Prayer, then go down to the hall to the coffee shop where we discuss Scripture, video studies, current events and have social time! New faces are always welcome. Underground Adoration On the first Friday of every month, young adults in the Cedar Rapids area gather to stay up during the night in Eucharistic Adoration. If you can stay up all night with friends, why not with Jesus? Join us from 9pm to 9am monthly for an hour, or longer. Find out more information or sign up on our website: viafidei.com Paschal Mystery: A Lenten Young Adult Event Join us at St. Pius X in Pius Hall following 4:30pm Mass. Stephen Tony will speak on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ at this event for young adults and young parents. Appetizers and drinks at 5:30pm with the talk to begin at 6pm. 8
STUDY Upper Room is the weekly center of our Adult Faith Formation. Based on the practice of the early disciples of gathering in the upper room to share faith and community, we gather to grow together in our understanding of Christ and His Word. This spring, we ll be going through a variety of different studies. Join us Mondays and Tuesdays, all levels of faith understandings are welcome. - Mondays, 5:45 to 7pm in the Rosary Room for the video and discussion series on relativism and truth called Who Am I To Judge? Responding to Relativism with Logic and Love by Edward Sri. - Mondays March 11 from 7 to 8pm in the Faith Formation Room for the Basics of the Catholic Faith. - Tuesdays from 9 to 10:30am in the Rosary Room for videos and discussion on the Eucharist, Jesus last days and the Road to Emmaus. - Tuesdays from 7 to 8pm for those who will be joining the Catholic Church on the Easter Vigil on April 20 at 8:30pm. Saturday Morning Bible Study Every Saturday from 9 to 10:30am in the Rosary Room we gather to read through the weekend Mass readings and discuss their origin and meaning. Join us to dive deeper into Scripture and get more out of hearing the readings at Mass. New faces are always welcome! FAITH IN ACTION 2nd on the 2nd Each month on the second Sunday, we do a second collection which allows our parish to support worthy organizations in the Cedar Rapids area & worldwide. March - Habitat for Humanity & His Hands Free Clinic April - Catherine McAuley Center & Guatemala May - Mt. Calvary Cemetery Save the Date: Guatemala Mission Trip will be around August 1 to 10, 2019 (date subject to change due to flights) If you or a loved one are in the hospital or move to a care center, please call the parish office and let us know. Fr. Steve and the Pastoral Care Team regularly go to the hospitals, care centers and homes to visit and pray with parishioners. We are always looking for new members to join the Pastoral Care Team. 9
Many great things are happening at St. Matthew Elementary. One of the important skills we teach students is the gift of service; we do this in many ways and through many activities throughout the school year. Our most recent service activity was creating decorations for the ARC Sweetheart Dance that is held at St. Matthew Parish in February. Students created the decorations within their rainbow teams. Coming up in the last quarter of the school year, we will continue work with our rainbow teams and end with a culmination activity day. Additionally, we supported a great cause with the YPN (Young Parent s Network) during Catholic Schools Week by providing them with a car full of diapers! Lastly, we are now enrolling for the 2019-2020 school year. A few highlights for the upcoming school year: Junior Kindergarten will be offered; this will be a full day program participating in the many offerings of St. Matthew Elementary, including essential classes of music, art, library and PE. You will now have the option to purchase your school supplies online and have them delivered to school for Meet Your Teacher Day. The incorporation of an intervention/enrichment time to help students receive more specialized services to meet their needs. STEM days A summer program designed to help reduce summer melt, this will include incentives for students to complete and turn in throughout the summer as a way to encourage them to work on some academics. The incorporation of computer science (aka coding) into technology. Check out the Parish Facebook page for other pictures from the Church, ECC & School Activities. Early Childhood Center - Summer Care This summer our focus will be lifestyle choices that lead to healthy minds and bodies. Kids at Summer Care will visit local businesses & professionals to search out what makes a happy healthy individual. There will be field trips, swimming, weekly Mass on Wednesday at 8am, weekly onsite water play and onsite camps with specific themes. For more information about Summer Care, contact Carrie 10 Helgeson at 363-9309 or chelgeson@stmatthewcr.org
Youth Ministry More information and registration for all events can be found on our website under the Grow In Faith tab or on the Faith Formation Bulletin Board. Worship Wednesday All Cedar Rapids area middle and high school youth are invited to join us monthly for an hour of praise & worship and Adoration. Families and parents are also invited to join us. If you ve never been, try it out! It s a great way to have some time away from your busy life and meet Jesus. - March 13 at St. Matthew from 7 to 8pm - April 10 at St. Joseph in Marion from 8 to 9pm - May 8 at St. Matthew from 7 to 8pm Quest The Quest Retreat has been rescheduled and will now be offered on April 6-7, 2019 at Lasalle Middle School. This overnight event is for all youth in grade 9 & 10. If you re looking to make some new friends, grow in your faith, and have a ton of fun, sign up! Registration is open now until March 28. Mark your calendars for the week of June 23rd-28th! We will host either Vacation Bible School or Totus Tuus that week! Get ready for excitement, adventure, and faith! Check online this spring for more details. Altar Server Appreciation Bowling Event All Altar Servers are invited to attend a Bowling and Pizza Party to thank them for their help throughout the year. This event is hosted by Holy Name and will be held from 2-4 PM on Sunday, March 31st at Cedar Rapids Bowling Center with pizza from Naso s. 11
May 5 is the final Family Formation of our inaugural year. We had 26 families participate within the new program. This is a family based religious faith experience for families with children in grades K-5 from St. Matthew school, public school and home school. We meet the first Sunday of each month, Sept-May, to give instruction to the parents while the children learn within grade specific classrooms. Reconciliation and First Eucharist are the focus for the 2nd grade level. We work together with what is being taught within the Catholic school. Each Month our families receive a packet of take-home lessons along with detailed directions to complete on their own time. We like the at-home family activities, and the learning that happens on Sundays. It has helped us extend Church into our lives more fully. Family Formation for the 2019/2020 School Year Families with kids in grades K-5 next fall are joyfully invited to join our Family Formation community! Kids from public, Catholic and home schools and anyone with intellectual, physical or developmental disabilities are welcome. Registration starts April 15, 2019. Find out more & register your family on our parish website. Parish Contact Information & Social Media Early Childhood Center Phone Number: 363-9309 Faith Formation Office Number: 362-9967 Parish Office Number: 363-8269 School Phone Number: 362-3021 Check out our Parish Website: www.stmatthewcr.org Parish Blog: www.stmatthewcr.weebly.com Follow the Parish Facebook Page: @StMatthewCedarRapids Follow the Parish on Pinterest at St. Matthew Catholic Church Follow the Youth and Young Adult Ministry on Instagram @StMatthewYYAL Follow the Parish Twitter @StMattsCatholic School Twitter @StMattsJags And the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Twitter @StMatthewYYAL 12