***COVID-19 Update: We pray for the health and safety of all.  You and your loved ones are, as always, in our hearts and prayers.  Below you will find:
  • March 16th letter regarding the COVID-19 pandemic from Dr. Joy Galarneau, Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation.
  • Fr. Chris DeGiovine's Pastor's Message for the 4th Sunday of Lent. (Please visit our homepage to visit the most recent Pastor's Message.)​
covid-19_letter_march_16-2020.pdf
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fr_chris_pastor_message_for_4th_____________sunday_of_lent.pdf
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A Prayer for Resting in God's Love
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God of Goodness,
I come into your presence so aware of my human frailty and yet overwhelmed by your love for me.
I thank you that there is no human experience that I might walk through where your love cannot reach me.
If I climb the highest mountain you are there and yet if I find myself in the darkest valley of my life, you are there.
Teach me today to love you more.
Help me to rest in that love that asks nothing more than the simple trusting heart of a child.
-Author Unknown

First Holy Communion
Welcome!

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First Holy Communion is a sacrament of welcome into the community of Jesus Christ and celebrates the beautiful gift of belonging to Jesus Christ with the community of the Catholic Church for the whole world. It invites and calls us to joyfully live, learn, love, grow, and be nourished in faith together.
Households with children who are baptized and in 2nd grade or higher by fall 2019 are welcome to enroll in St. Matthew's First Communion preparation program.  Before receiving First Communion, all children at St. Matthew's are provided the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, and are provided age-appropriate catechetical instruction to prepare for this special sacramental moment.
 
Please note: First Communion families are expected to participate in Generations of Faith, our parish’s monthly faith formation program. Be sure to complete both the Generations of Faith registration form and the First Communion registration form below by September 18, 2019 and join us at our First Communion Parent information meeting on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at 7 PM in the Social Hall at St. Matthew’s. In the meantime, if you have questions, please contact Joy Galarneau, Pastoral Associate for Faith Development, at 518-765-2805 Ext. 19 or email  stmatthewsfaithdevelopment@verizon.net.
st._matthews_1st_communion_registration_2019-20.pdf
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First Communion
2019 -2020 Schedule​
2019-20_first_communion_schedule.pdf
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​2019-2020 Schedule
First Communion Preparation @St. Matthew’s Church

Households attend all
Generations of Faith sessions:

Saturdays: 6-8pm
Sundays: 11:30am-1:30pm
*Choose Saturday or Sunday
*All sessions include a meal!

September 28 or 29
November 2 or 3
December 7 or 8
January 11 or 12
February 1 or 2
March 7 or 8
April 25 or 26

Households also attend:
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​Wednesday, September 18, 7pm: Parent Meeting

​Saturday, October 19, 9am-noon: Parent/Child Retreat

Wednesday, January 22, 7pm: Parent Meeting

Saturday, March 21, 9:30am-1:30pm: Reconciliation Parent/Child Retreat
*Includes Sacrament of Reconciliation and family luncheon

Wednesday, April 1, 7pm: Parent Meeting

Saturday, April 25 / Sunday, April 26: Rite of Enrollment
*Takes place during Mass. Choose any Mass.

Parent/Child Meeting: CHOOSE ONE TIMESLOT:
​*Wednesday, May 6th, 4-5pm
*Friday, May 8th, 6:30-7:30pm
*Saturday, May 9th, 10-11am

​Saturday, May 16 / Sunday, May 17: First Communion Liturgies
*Choose any Mass.
*Rehearsal for Saturday 5pm Mass will be held on Friday, May 15 at 6pm.
*Rehearsal for Sunday 8:30am Mass will be held on Saturday, May 16 at 9am.
*Rehearsal for Sunday 10:30am Mass will be held on Saturday, May 16 at 10am.