Saint Matthew's Church
A Roman Catholic Community
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Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM
Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30 AM
Full Schedule of Services
Weekly Bulletins
Ministry Schedule
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LITURGY OF THE WORD SERVICE

Click HERE for the Liturgy of the Word Service for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 29, 2020.

Pastor's Message 


Palm Sunday begins our holiest week of the year. This year, despite our inability to gather as a community, we are still invited to deepen our faith and continue our journey with the Lord through his suffering,death and resurrection. Although this Holy Week will be very different from any we have celebrated in the past, the invitation to accompany Jesus through suffering to new life is still ours to accept.
 
The blessing of the palms and the procession with the palms into the church invites us to be with that crowd in Jerusalem over two thousand years ago as Jesus prepared to celebrate Passover in that holy city. The liturgies for this holy week are celebrated not only to have us recall the events of that fateful week in Jesus' life but to see ourselves as part of that week; to realize that ":through him, with him, and in him" we are redeemed and saved too. 
 
On Palm Sunday Jesus is triumphantly acclaimed by the Jewish crowds in the city for the celebration of Passover as the Messiah: Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest. We know that soon this acclamation will turn to condemnation" Crucify him, crucify him. Jesus enters the holy city not on a grand stallion but on a donkey. Jesus knows that he is the servant of the Lord that will be sacrificed for the sins of the people, for our sins. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
 
Our readings for this Sunday set for us the history and the promise of this holy week. Our first reading from the prophet Isaiah tells us of the suffering servant who though spat upon and buffeted by blows of violence sets his face like flint knowing that he shall not, in the end , be put to shame. The second reading from St. Paul's letter to the community at Philippi in ancient Greece is the beautiful hymn that reminds us of what is really happening this week. God, in Christ Jesus, is emptying God's very self, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, (humbling) himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. The hymn goes on to tell us that this is not the end of the story. Rather because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name...
 
On Thursday, Holy Thursday, Jesus will eat a meal with us and wash our feet as a sign of how we are to live with one another and be disciples in the world. On Good Friday Jesus will walk the way of the cross, be beaten, spat upon, crowned with thorns and hung to die on a cross. Silence will fall upon the earth and we will be invited to see what God has done for us all. Then you and I wait in vigil on Saturday night for Easter Sunday morning and the cry from Mary of Magdala that 
​He is risen! Alleluia!
 
During this difficult time in our lives as we are physically separate from our family, friends and each other, we have a particular opportunity to spend time alone with Christ in this holiest of weeks. Let us take this time as an opportunity to grow in our relationship with and love of Jesus Christ. Through him, with him, and in him we will will rise again from this dark and painful time just as he did from the cross. 
 
Stay safe and healthy and let us continue to pray with and for each other. Let us also keep in our prayers those suffering from this virus and those who have died from it, those living with great anxiety because of COVID-19, and all our first responders and healthcare workers on the front line fighting this pandemic each day. May God bless and be kind to them all.
 
Fr. Chris

Seasonal Messages

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
We also offer you this link (courtesy of one of our parishioners) to the Catholic Health Association of the Unites States website.  This link specifically provides spiritual resources for support during this time of COVID-19.   www.chausa.org/newsroom/coronavirus-resources/spiritual-resources-for-covid-19

PARISH NURSE'S CORNER

Some thoughts from our Parish Nurse:
This is a Post from a Tennessee Pastor
I trust in the Lord…and I wear my seat belt.
I trust in the Lord…and I wear a motorcycle helmet.
I trust in the Lord…and there are enough life jackets in my boat for everyone on board.
I trust in the Lord…and I use oven mitts with really hot dishes.
I trust in the Lord…and I lock my house at night.
I trust in the Lord…and I have smoke detectors in my house.
I trust in the Lord…and I take my prescribed medicines.
I trust in the Lord…and I will follow the best guidelines to share the task of flattening the curve.
Acting with caution and wisdom does not indicate a lack of trust in God.
 
I trust in the Lord.
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Due to social distancing,  some may be unable to connect in person.  The attached file provides some resources for on-line AA Meetings.
online_aa_meeting_list_as_of_3-20-20__1_.pdf
File Size: 329 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Sight and Sound Bus Trip

Please see the Parish Events page for information about the Bus trip to Sight and Sound's production of "Queen Esther" in July 2020.
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