Saint Matthew's Church
A Roman Catholic Community
​​
You Belong Here

 Due to restrictions imposed as a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic, reservations are required for weekend Masses.  Please note that effective August 8-9, a distance of THREE empty seats between unrelated parties will be utilized.  Reservations can be made at iTickets.  Please click HERE to be directed to the iTickets website to make your reservation.  
Weekend Masses are as follow:
Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM
Sunday Morning at 9:30 AM
​
Full Schedule of Services
Weekly Bulletins
Ministry Schedule

 CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST

Click HERE to be directed to the St. Matthew's website ​Services page that contains links to St. Matthew's Celebration of the Eucharist.

Pastor's Message 

A brief but wonderful passage from Paul's letter to the Romans is our second reading for this 16th Sunday in ordinary time. Brothers and sisters, The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will.
 
The classic definition of prayer is "communication (conversation) with God". Had you asked me as a young man who had attended religious education classes throughout my school years to define prayer I would have said; "the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be and the Act of Contrition." These are prayers that sometimes help us to communicate with God and other times do not. Remember when Jesus is asked by the apostles to teach them to pray as John the Baptist taught his followers? Jesus says: "When you pray. say Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come..."  Jesus is teaching us how to pray; he does not say that this is the only way to pray or even that it is the best way to pray. In fact, Jesus seems reluctant to give us words because he wants us to simply converse with our Father in heaven.
 
Over the years I have come to recognize four levels of prayer. All are good and fine but they deepen as our relationship with God deepens. These levels match the levels of communication you will find with any two persons who grow in love with each other. First, we speak about what we need or want. Think of a newborn baby. The first need to communicate is to get Mommy or Daddy to notice what we need now. This is prayer of petition (needs and wants). The second level of prayer is the prayer of gratitude. Think of a teenager who has gone away to college and returned home on her first break. The student has become newly aware perhaps for the first time of all the care and love that home and family has been. And if you are lucky she may even say "Thanks, Mom...thanks Dad for...".
 
The third level of prayer is harder but it is still a prayer of gratitude. This is the prayer of gratitude for all that life and God gives us, the good and the bad, the wonderful and the difficult, the joyful and the painful. When Jesus is teaching us to pray, this is the prayer of "Thy will be done". It is a very difficult level of praying to which many of us never attain and even if we do we only attain it occasionally and never easily. The fourth level of prayer is what I hear Paul trying to talk about in today's second reading. This is prayer beyond words. This is prayer when words no longer communicate, when words are too small to carry what is in our heart. This prayer is when the Spirit of God speaks within and for us and sometimes can only be communicated in groaning. But Paul assures us that the One who searches our heart knows what we are desperately trying to communicate. This is the prayer of groaning that leads to silence, to conversation with God without words. This is the highest level of prayer.
 
Let us keep praying, God is always listening.
​
Fr. Chris
 

Seasonal Messages

ST. MATTHEW’S RE-OPENING

St. Matthew’s re-opened for weekend masses on June 27-28.  At that time a distance of four empty seats was required between parties.  Effective August 8-9, a distance of three empty seats between unrelated parties will be utilized.  Due to COVID-19 requirements for social distancing,  the number of seats available at each Mass is  limited and you will need to make a reservation.  Reservations can be made at iTickets, by emailing Peggy McQuade at st.mattswelcome@gmail.com or by calling Peggy in the parish office at (518) 765-2805 Ext. 14.  Please see Fr. Chris’ complete letter regarding St. Matthew’s  re-opening here.
returning_to_church_ltr.pdf
File Size: 59 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
If you plan on attending Mass at St. Matthew’s you need to be aware of the following list of things you should do and know before attending Mass:
  •  Everyone over the age of 2 years must bring and wear a face mask. 
  •  Please bring and use personal hand sanitizer especially before receiving Holy Communion. 
  •  You must register to attend Mass. 
  •  Ambassadors/Ushers will direct you as you enter and exit the church. Please follow their directions and the signs for entering and exiting the church. Entrance to the church will be through the lobby (west side of the building) where you will be greeted. Exit from the church will be through the front doors (Mountainview St. side) at the direction of the ambassadors/ushers. 
  •  Social distancing will be practiced at all times in church. 
  •  At Mass you will be directed on how to receive Holy Communion. 
  •  Music during the Mass will be limited to a keyboard and other instruments only. 
  •  Offertory/Collection boxes will be at the entrances to the church for weekly donations. 
  •  No gatherings can be allowed before or after Mass. 
  •  No bulletins or missalettes can be used at Mass. No food, toys, books, etc. can be allowed into the church.
Visit our new Facebook Page.  You can view it by clicking on the facebook symbol below even if you are not currently on Facebook.

OFFERTORY COLLECTIONS

In this time of social distancing and isolation, please remember that the needs of your parish continue.  You can continue to support your parish through traditional methods (envelopes) or it may be more convenient for you to make your offertory contribution electronically through St. Matthew’s E-giving program.   Please see St. Matthew’s E-Giving page for more information.  We are truly grateful for all who have remained faithful with their financial assistance during this time of uncertainty.

RESOURCES

The Diocese of Albany is keeping Catholics apprised of changes, updates and resources on its dedicated web page: rcda.org/coronavirus. In addition, a Faith at Home page includes links to livestreamed Mass, daily Scripture readings, saints of the day, and suggestions for creating a sacred space at home: rcda.org/coronavirus/resources.

HOW TO COPE WITH STRESS AND ANXIETY
The attached documents provide some insight in how to deal with stress and anxiety in uncertain times​.  We are providing these as a resource for you.​
managing_stress_and_anxiety_during_difficult_times.pdf
File Size: 144 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
coping_article_part2.pdf
File Size: 148 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
managing_anxiety_part_3.pdf
File Size: 104 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
anxiety_part_4.pdf
File Size: 124 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File