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

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

LITURGY OF THE WORD SERVICES

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

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.

Pastor's Message 

On Saturday, June 27 at 5 pm and on Sunday, June 28 at 9:30 am we will reopen church for our weekend celebrations of Mass. We will begin our reopening process beginning on Tuesday, June 23 at 8:30 am with our usual weekday Masses. On Wednesday, June 24 and Friday, June 26 we will also celebrate our usual weekday 8:30 am Masses. Our Reopening committee has been hard at work to make our return as safe and as celebratory as possible given these difficult times. I am very grateful to them all. We will need many volunteers to make our Masses go smoothly and safely. If you would be willing to help out we will especially need volunteers for Reception, as Ambassadors/Ushers and Cleaners (sanitizers) to make our return go as smoothly as possible. If you can help please call Andrea  at 518-765-2805 or email: stmatthewsvoorheesville@verizon.net. If you are concerned about attending Mass on the weekend because of the crowd, you may want to consider attending a weekday Mass at which there are many fewer people. Remember, until this pandemic is over you are under no obligation to attend Mass. In fact, if you feel sick at all you must not attend Mass. If you are anxious about being in a crowd, you should not attend. 
 
Here are the basics you will need to know as you consider whether to return to Mass:
 
1. You must register each week to attend Mass. You can register by going to our website stmatthewsvoorheeesville.org or our Facebook page and clicking on the link https://www.itickets.com/events/447002.html. There will only be a few unreserved seats for guests and visitors who do not know that we have a registration system. Once we have reached 25% of our capacity in the church and the social hall we cannot allow anyone else into the building. An Ambassador  will escort you to your assigned seat.
 
2. You should wash your hands thoroughly before coming to church. You are not allowed to bring in any food, books, materials, toys, etc., into the church building.
 
3. Face masks must be worn for the entire time you are in church except for when/if you decide to receive communion.
 
4. The priest cannot wear a face mask during the Mass except when distributing communion.
 
5. There can be no singing in church by a choir or by the community. 
 
6. Before, during and after church please keep social distancing regulations of 6 feet from others except for family members.
 
7. You will be required to enter church through the lobby doors (the offices and social hall, west side of the building) and exit through the front doors (Mountainview St. or north side of the building).
 
8. Holy Communion will occur at the usual time in the Mass and will be brought to you at your seat by either a Communion Minister or the priest. If you wish to receive you are asked to stand at your seat, leave mask in place, receive in your hand.  After priest or minister has finished your row; lower your mask receive the Body of Christ and replace your mask. If for any reason the minister or priest touches your hand they must go to a designated station and sanitize their hands before continuing to distribute communion.
 
9. There can be no physical contact at any time during the Mass. There will be no sign of peace. You cannot join hands at the praying of the Lord's prayer.
 
10. You will be dismissed from church by rows by an Ambassador in order to reduce congestion and to help everyone exit the church and the parking lots safely. There is to be no congregating before or after Mass on church grounds. 
 
All this will require that we be patient with each other as we negotiate this new and hopefully short-lived way to celebrate the Eucharist. Let us continue to pray for each other, for those suffering from COVID-19 and their families, and for all those who are working to alleviate this suffering in any way. May God bless them and bless us all.
 
Fr. Chris
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Seasonal Messages

Visit our new Facebook Page.  You can view it by clicking on the facebook symbol below even if you are not currently on Facebook.

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
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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
We offer the following document on the Pandemic written by a parishioner who is an Ethics and Health Policy Professor at Maria College.
pandemic_review_by_david_hoffman.pdf
File Size: 131 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
 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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