Saint Matthew's Church A Roman Catholic Community

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

Pastor's Weekly Message

Last Sunday 36 young women and men completed our confirmation program and were confirmed in a beautiful ceremony by Bishop emeritus Howard Hubbard. In the Bishop's homily he offered the candidates five principles that, if they were used to guide their lives, would offer them rich, full and holy lives as disciples (followers) of Christ. Those five principles were: 1) Learn to be flexible in a world that changes more and more rapidly; 2) Suffering (the cross) will be part of your life, you need not fear it; 3)Be resilient in the face of your suffering; it will strengthen you and perhaps help redeem our world; 4) True disciples of Jesus live with a healthy sense of humor and an attitude of abiding joy: 5) Pray and let prayer guide and direct your life. The Bishop's homily resonated with many of us at that celebration.

This Sunday, for the third time, Jesus has warned his disciples of his impending death. As in his first two announcements of his suffering and death, the disciples seem not to get the message. This time James and John reply to Jesus' message by asking him to put them at his right and left hand in the Kingdom of God! Our first reading from the prophet Isaiah also speaks of the role of suffering in Jewish history. Isaiah says: The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the lord shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.

Bishop Hubbard told our candidates that they and we live in a world that lies to us when it promises that there is a pill for every pain and a remedy for all sorrow so that we can and will always live in happiness. The central symbol of our faith is the cross. By bearing our crosses we grow in holiness and are being prepared for resurrection and new life. The cross is an essential part of being human. Our suffering is not something we should fear or from which we need run away but rather is preparation for new life. Our suffering, as St. Paul reminds us is also a participation in the suffering of Jesus Christ and is redeeming our troubled and sin-filled world. Suffering makes us resilient and teaches us how to follow the Lord. Suffering is essential to our journey as disciples.

Jesus reminds us this week that he will suffer and die and rise on the third day and that we need not fear any of that journey. But we, too often like James and John, are arguing about foolish and inconsequential things like who will sit at the right and left of Jesus in the Kingdom of God. Disciples of Jesus, as Bishop Hubbard reminded us last Sunday, are people who embrace their cross and see in it the promise of life and the salvation of the world.

Fr. Chris

Seasonal Messages

2018/2019 Generations of Faith Registration

Registration is now open for the 2018/2019 Generations of Faith sessions. Please see the Generations of Faith page for more information. If you are interested in registering for a specific sacrament, please see the Sacraments page for more information.