June 17, 2018 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. Priest Assisting Rev. James Bucaria Rev. Terry Fleming Rev. Paul McLaughlin Deacons Deacon Tony Quattrocki Deacon Anthony Kijonka - Retired Mass Times Saturday Vigil: 4:00pm (Summer Schedule) Sunday: 8:00am 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
St. Matthew Catholic Church Pastor s Column Dear Friends in Christ, 6/17/18 Happy Fathers Day! We remember today all fathers living and deceased. This coming Wednesday would have been my father's 83rd birthday. He departed this world however, just four months after I was ordained a priest after a long illness but at the young age of 56. His support of my vocation was overwhelming at times. He even threw a party for me as I was leaving for the seminary, long before I knew that God was calling me into the priesthood. Young children think that dad can do mighty deeds and are, to quote the gospel "filled with great awe." While that wears off as the kids grow up, and in this day and age, they grow up far too quickly, it is good for us to reflect today upon how the formation we all received from our father impacts us today. I know that the seeds of my vocation were planted in my family. I am convinced that my father's activism in the Knights of Columbus and a variety of Church and Civic activities made a big impression upon me in my development. A father has many challenging choices to make and one of the primary roles for a father in our faith is to be the teacher of the faith to his children. The baptismal rite prays that he be the best of teachers. Having heard some time ago that the parochial school that I attended as a child closed their doors, I am thankful that my father fulfilled his role to the best of his ability. I will be giving a presentation on fatherhood this morning following the 8am Mass and again prior to the 11am Mass beginning at 10:30am. Following the 11am Mass today our Youth Ministry is offering a lunch where Fathers and Father figures eat free! Naturally the special blessing for Father s Day will be offered this weekend at all of our liturgies. Readings for the week June 17-24, 2018 Sunday, June 17 Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Ez 17:22-24 2 Cor 5:6-10 Mk 4:26-34 Monday, June 18 1 Kgs 21:1-16 Mt 5:38-42 Tuesday, June 19 1 Kgs 21:17-29 Mt 5:43-48 Wednesday, June 20 2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14 Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 Thursday, June 21 Sir 48:1-14 Mt 6:7-15 Friday, June 22 2 Kgs 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 Mt 6:19-23 Saturday, June 23 2 Chr 24:17-25 Mt 6:24-34 Sunday, June 24 The Nativity of St. John the Baptist Is 49:1-6 Acts 13:22-26 Lk 1:57-66, 80 There is excitement brewing amidst our volunteers and the upcoming Vacation Bible School is just around the corner. If you have not yet registered please do not miss the opportunity to give the little ones an experience of God s grace in a unique summertime setting. Our program this year is called Shipwrecked Rescued by Jesus and it is scheduled for next week June 25 th till the 29 th. It sure looks like a lot of fun! Peace in Christ, Fr. Tom J. Anastasia Pastor 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.
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time The Deacon s Corner I received this note a couple of weeks ago and I was so moved by the genuine honesty I had to seek out this fellow parishioner and get her permission to share her faith journey with everyone. Mass Intentions Sunday, June 17 8:00am For All Fathers 11:00am Michael Kinder Monday, June 18 8:30am Beatrice Bugeja and Joseph Bugeja Tuesday, June 19 8:30am Glenna McGrady Wednesday, June 20 8:30am Maria & Florante Antonio Thursday, June 21 8:30am Paul Angielczyk Friday, June 22 8:30am Judy Safransky Saturday, June 23 8:30am Cel Conrad 4:00pm John & Beatrice Medeiros *Fr. Tom Anastasia Sunday, June 24 8:00am People of the Parish *Fr. Tom Anastasia 11:00am James Denig *Fr. Terry Fleming *Priest schedule subject to change. Living Deceased Need Holy Communion brought to you at home? If you are unable to attend Mass because you no longer drive or have had surgery recently, we would be happy to bring Holy Communion to you at home. To schedule Eucharistic Minister visits, call Anne in our parish office at 393-1288. When I first became a Catholic in May, 2006 I gave a little money each week to the parish collection. I usually reached into my purse right before the collection basket came around and grabbed a few dollars out to give. I never really thought about my gift or the amount I should be giving. I felt that since I was active in a few ministries my time made up for the little dollar amount I gave. Over the last 10 years, I have come to realize that I am called to express my gratitude (to God) by being as generous as I can be. You might say as my faith and love for Christ and His Church increased so did my charitable giving increased. In conversations with others, (both believers and non-believers) over the years I have come to realize where I spent my money was an indication of what I saw as important in my life. Although I am on a fixed income and the amount I give may be small compared to others, I give out of gratitude and faith that God will provide for my every need. As I give faithfully, I realize that my love offering has grown in subsequent years. Now I give $50 each week, which amounts to $2,600 per year. There are extra occasions also, like Christmas, Easter as well as other special parish ministries. This past year my financial donation to the parish was $3,300. I state this in a very humbling way because as I stated I am on a limited income and what I am amazed with is how little I miss the money I give in the offertory basket. It truly is a love offering because I appreciate this parish, the work that is being done and the love I feel from each of you. I find great joy and benefit to give what I can to the Lord because I have realized how generous God has been towards me. MRJ Friends, I have read and reflected on this letter repeatedly and realize I have taken for granted the gifts God has blessed me with. I will be personally be making changes in my response to God. Maybe we all should take some time on this Father s Day to reflect on how God has been generous to us. Each of us are important members in this family community. With prayerful reflection, I believe that for each of us, we can find a way to share more of our time and our resources. It is critically important to the parish of St Matthew to continue to share in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Please pray about your contribution and your participation. On this Father s Day, please offer your prayers and weekly gifts to God, not based on what you think you can give but in gratitude to Abba Father for the many ways you have been blessed. Peace & Blessing, Deac T 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. 06/18 Rev. Pierre Dorvil, SSS, 06/19 Rev. Dennis Hughes 06/20 For Vocations to the Priesthood & Religious Life 06/21 Anthony Astrab, Seminarian, 06/22 Rev. Joel Kovanis 06/23 Rev. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, 06/24 Rev. George A. Gyasi
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. June 9-10, 2018 Offertory Totals Envelopes $ 4,751.60 Loose Donations $ 2,700.00 Online Giving $ 2,219.50 Total $ 9,671.10 Thank You for Supporting Our Parish Annual Pastoral Appeal as of June 8, 2018 Goal $104,520.00 Pledged $ 74,299.50 Paid $ 57,252.90 Sumner is the perfect time to reduce you carbon impact on the Earth and to also improve your mental and physical well-being at the same time. Enjoy the beautiful weather by walking, riding a bike or carpooling to church, to a friend s or to the grocery store. If your health allows you to tolerate heat, you can also try to get by with open windows, box fans and cool showers, instead of running the air conditioner constantly. You will be helping the earth by not burning as mush fossil fuel and helping yourself by saving money at the same time too! PLEASE BE A GOOD SAMARITAN! St. Vincent de Paul In the Gospel, Jesus says, This is how it is with the reign of God. A man scatters seed on the ground. He goes to bed and gets up day after day. Through is all the seed sprouts and grows without his knowing how it happens. Through your almsgiving you are sowing seeds that grow far greater than you know. When you help the poor, you bring Christ s love and compassion to them. Please roll up your sleeve to help your neighbors in need by donating blood before 1 pm today on the Big Red Bus outside church. Being a vital member of this Blood Donor Ministry is a special way to show your unconditional love for others and also enjoy the health benefits of a wellness check-up. Volunteer donors are the only source of this lifesaving renewable resource, so please share your Gift of Life today! Forget your Offertory Envelope? We know it is challenging just getting ourselves and our family to Mass on Sunday, let alone try to remember to bring our tithing envelope. Put your mind at ease. Make your weekly offertory gift to our parish on line. Go to our parish website: www.stmat.org Click on the On Line Giving button and follow the instructions.
June 17, 2018
www.stmat.org The Marriage Minute Building Stronger Christian Marriages The heart of any Christian Marriage is based on trust and faith that God will bless your union, even when we can t see the road ahead. Stay strong, be bold. Don t give up on God or your spouse. Pray with your spouse for that kind of faith today. Remember. Marriage takes Three! Prayer for Protection from Hurricanes Sunday, June 17 Father Day Debt Reduction Collection Blood Drive 9:15 Youth Ministry 12:15pm Father s Day Pasta Dinner Monday, June 18 6:30pm Knights of Columbus Officers Meeting 6:50pm SEASONS Tuesday, June 19 9:00am Miraculous Medal Novena 7:00pm Prayer Shawl Ministry Wednesday, June 20 9:00am Faith Share 9:30am LOTW (Office) 7:00pm Centering Prayer Thursday, June 21 9:15am LOTW 7:00pm LOTW 7:00pm Pathfinders/RCIA Friday, June 22 9:00am Divine Mercy Saturday, June 23 Sunday, June 24 9:15 Youth Ministry 5th Annual SPIRIT FM Catholic Women s Conference Florida State Fairgrounds/ Special Events Center Saturday, September 29, 2018 Tickets start at $55 (Until 6/1) Tickets are on sale now at Myspiritfm.com/WomensConference God, Our Father, Creator and Lord of the universe, you have set the earth on its foundation and all the elements of nature obey your command. We humbly beseech you to keep us safe from all dangers and calm the storm that threatens us. May we be secure in your loving protection and serve you always with grateful hearts. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen. Registration helps us keep you informed of important events especially regarding liturgy, sacramental preparation for children and weekly notices. If you don t receive mailings or offertory envelopes, you re probably not registered. Also, please let us know when you move or when any of your contact information changes. Having current home, work and cell numbers can make a critical difference if an emergency should arise. The Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spiritual Direction brings you Dr. Peter Howard, S.T.D. is a Mariologist, author and international Catholic speaker. He will teach a course on Mary In The Modern Times, for five consecutive weeknights, Monday through Friday, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, June 18 th through June 22. The one time fee is $ 95.00. For more information or to register go to: www.divineprovidence.org or call (727) 724-9505. The Cenacle is located at: 702 South Bayview Ave, Clearwater, Florida 33759
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 CLUB: 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. 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 The Holy Land 10 Days: January 13-22,2019 Visiting Haifa Tiberias Nazareth Bethlehem Jerusalem Hosted by Fr. Tom Anastasia $3,699 from Miami or Tampa (Air/land tour price is $2,999 plus $700 government taxes/airline surcharges.) For a brochure & more information contact: Fr. Tom Anastasia, 727-393-1288 or 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) Sacristan: