FR. CLEM – Please continue to keep Fr. Clem in your thoughts and prayers.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW CLERGY
If you would like to know some personal information about our newest Clergy members, Fr. Valentine Anthony Umoh, Deacon Dony Antony, and Deacon Drew Navarro, you can find photos and some brief bios on the Clergy Tab of this website. Read about their lives and then help us welcome them to our Parish Community.
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION DECEMBER 8-HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
MASS SCHEDULE
8:00 A.M.
12 Noon
6:00 P.M.
7:00 P.M. Spanish
PARISHSOFT CONVERSION FROM FAITH DIRECT IS COMPLETED AND IS “LIVE”
We’re excited to share that our Parish has upgraded our online giving platform from Faith Direct to ParishSOFT Managed Giving on October 21, 2025. This change reflects our commitment to making generosity easier, more secure, and more impactful for every member of our Parish. No action is necessary by Faith Direct enrollees at the present time to complete this transition.
ParishSOFT Giving offers all the same reliable features you’ve come to know—recurring gifts, online giving, and donor support—plus new enhancements to better serve you:
• Modern giving options: including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, PayPal, stock, and crypto.
• Anonymous Giving
• Mobile-friendly experience: give online, through the app, or by text.
• Option to cover processing fees to maximize the impact of your generosity.
• Donors can give based on your preferred schedule, with support for weekly contributions rather than once-a-month processing.
We are confident that ParishSOFT Managed Giving will make your giving experience more convenient and meaningful. All your existing information, recurring gifts, and donation history has transferred automatically—no action is needed unless otherwise notified.
Thank you for continuing to support St. Matthew Parish with such generous hearts.
The ParishSOFT icon link at the top right of this page IS ACTIVE and will allow logon or contributions. Do not be concerned that it says “Faith Direct”–we are working to change that, but the link IS ACTIVE. You can also use this link to sign in or make a contribution:
https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/FD-662
or Scan the following QR Code:
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE
December 24th Masses
8:00 A.M. Weekday Mass
4:00 P.M. (Vigil Mass) (Professional Vocal Ensemble begins at 3:30 P.M.)
5:30 P.M. (Vigil Mass) (Professional Vocal Ensemble begins at 5:05 P.M.)
7:00 P.M. (Vigil Mass) Spanish
10:00 P.M. Celebrants Fr. Leonard, Msgr. Tom and Fr. Valentine (Choir & Professional Vocal Ensemble begins at 9:30 P.M.)
December 25th Masses
9:00 A.M.
10:30 A.M.
12:00 NOON
HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION
December 8 — The Immaculate Conception
December 25 — The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
January 1 — The Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God
NEW BIBLE STUDY–MESSAGE FROM FR. VALENTINE
I am happy to announce that our Parish Bible Study is back. As such, we now have new dates for the Bible Study and Sharing. We shall be looking at the Messianic Prophecies and the Infancy Narratives as a preparation for the Advent and Christmas Season.
There will be four sessions as follows:
November 12
November 19
December 10
December 17
All sessions will take place in the Parish Center from 7-8 PM (prompt).
Each Session is independent. You can choose to attend any of them, or all of them. Remember to come with your Bible, preferably the NAB Revised Edition or RSV Catholic Edition.
SAVE THE DATE: DECEMBER 19, 7PM HANDEL’S MESSIAH
Tickets are now available for the live performance of choral music from Handel’s beloved Messiah at 7 PM on Friday, December 19, 2025, at St. Matthew Catholic Church. Tickets are $25. Tickets will be on sale after all masses starting September 27 and can be purchased through the parish office during regular business hours. The Masterworks Chorus of the Palm Beaches will be performing, accompanied by full orchestra and organ. Buy your tickets early for yourself, family, friends, and co-workers. Volunteer to sell tickets and put up posters advertising the concert. This is the first time Handel’s Messiah is being performed in the area. You will not want to miss it.
CHRISTMAS ANGEL TREE
Jesus has given us the joy of sharing His love with the children of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church in Belle Glade this Christmas. Your kindness will help make their celebration brighter and filled with hope.
Our Angel Christmas Tree is now available with cards listing an item for a child in need.
We invite you to:
1. Pick a card from the tree.
2. Purchase the gift listed.
3. Wrap the present and place it under the tree.
4. Please include a note on the outside indicating the intended recipient. Example: “Boy / Toy / Age 5.”
Your generosity is a beautiful expression of Christ’s love during this holy season.
Thank you for helping bring joy to a child this Christmas!
ORDER OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (OCIA)
AN INVITATION THAT NEVER ENDS
• Have you been worshiping with us, but never officially taken the steps to become Catholic?
• Have you been away from the Church, and have now returned, but want to know more?
• Have you been a Catholic all your life, but never celebrated all the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist)?
• Have you joined us from a different background and would like to find out more about the Catholic Church?
If you (“or someone you know”) answers “YES” to any of these questions, you are invited to find out more through a process called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. It is a journey that begins with your questions. There is no obligation to join us, as you discover more about your Catholic faith. The decision is ultimately yours to discern if this is to be your spiritual home. The invitation is always open.
RSVP when you are ready!
On behalf of the Catholic faith community of St. Matthew’s Parish, we look forward to welcoming you.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call the Parish Office at 561-966-8878 and a member of the OCIA Team will contact you.
THE 3RD ANNUAL ST. MATTHEW CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL–DECEMBER 13
Get ready for one of St. Matthew Parish’s most joyful traditions—The Saint Matthew Christmas Festival is coming soon! We’re now inviting vendors to join us for this special event, with a discounted rate available for Craft & Tag Festival exhibitors. We’re also seeking donations for our ever-popular Baskets of Cheer Raffle. Both are wonderful ways to support the parish and be part of the celebration.
For details, please contact Heather and Michael Poulin, Co-Chairs, Christmas Festival, at st.matthewchristmasfestival@gmail.com.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!
It takes many volunteers to help put on this wonderful Christmas event. If you would like to volunteer, please email volunteersatstmatthew@gmail.com with your name, phone# and T-shirt size.
An email will be sent to all volunteers in November with a link to the volunteer positions and shifts for you to pick based upon your schedule.
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
Help and encouragement after the death of a loved one is available! At a Grief Share group, you’ll find understanding, guidance, relief, and a safe place to navigate the challenges of grief. If a need for support occurs at any time, please contact Joanne Capasso 954-804-9995 or jmcapasso14@gmail.com.
JOIN FR. LEONARD ON A NEW PILGRIMAGE IN 2026
13 DAY GREECE & TURKEY PILGRIMAGE which includes a GREEK ISLE 4 DAYS CRUISE including ATHENS, ISTANBUL, TURKEY
SEPTEMBER 7-19, 2026
$4,590.00 PER PERSON FROM MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Price Includes: Round-trip Airfare from Miami, First-Class Hotels, Double Occupancy, Two Meals a Day—Buffet Breakfast and Dinner, All Meals on Board the Cruise, Daily Mass, and Sightseeing. Airport Taxes, Fuel Surcharges—which are Subject to Change—and Tips for Guides and Drivers.
Tips on Board the Cruise Ship Are Not Included.
Come to the office for a Registration Form.
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
St. Matthew Parish is exploring the creation of a Young Adult Ministry—a space for those in their 20s and 30s to connect, share faith, and grow together. Whether you’re new to the parish, recently graduated, or starting your career or family life, this ministry aims to help you find belonging and purpose in the Church. Contact the Parish Office for more details.
GIFT SHOP HAS MOVED & IS NOW OPEN! – The Parish Gift Shop is now located in the Parish Center (southwest corner). It is open after all weekend Masses. Please stop by and see what items are available for purchase. Here are two special items which are available for a limited time in the Gift Shop. Stock up now.
CHILDREN’S CHOIR – St. Matthew’s Children’s Choir is open to all students in first grade or above. We will sing once per month at the 9:00 A.M. Children’s Mass. The Choir is a wonderful way to praise God and bring a new dimension to the Mass. Please come join us for rehearsals on Saturday at 9 AM in Classroom #1, as we “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” (Psalm 100).
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR TEENS AND CHILDREN – Parents, Bring your children and teens to spend a special personal time with Jesus. We will continue our journey to learn “What do we do during adoration?” We will have prayers, crafts and snacks. Mark your calendar for the last Tuesday of each month at 6 PM beginning on September 30, followed by October 28. Meet in the Parish Center.
ST. MATTHEW MOM’S GROUP –The Saint Matthew Mom’s Group (SMMG) provides opportunities for Catholic moms and their kids to build new friendships, support and pray for each other, and grow in faith.
We would love for you to join us!
SaintMatthewMomsGroup@gmail.com
NEW TO THE PARISH OR NEVER REGISTERED?? – Are you registered in the Parish? Please do not assume that you are registered in the Parish just because you attend Mass here. If we have no record of your Parish membership it could be quite embarrassing to us, or to you or your family, when someone wishes to make wedding plans, have a baby baptized, or if you have been asked to act as a sponsor for baptism or confirmation. Please fill out the Registration Form below (English or Spanish version) and mail it to the Parish office, or place it in the collection basket.
Registration Form (English) (2025): http://st-matthew-church.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Family-Registration-Form.html
THE POPE VIDEOS – The Pope Videos is an official global initiative to disseminate the Holy Father’s monthly intentions. It is carried out by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer). Since the year 2016, The Pope Videos has had more than 150 million views across all its social networks, and is translated into more than 20 languages, receiving press coverage in 114 countries. The project is supported by Vatican Media. By clicking on the link below, you will be taken to a new tab on our website which will allow you to view content on The Pope Videos website. We have made it available in English and Spanish. It will be updated automatically, so be sure to check back regularly.
http://st-matthew-church.com/?page_id=2584
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION TAX INFORMATION FOR DONATIONS – Contributions from an individual retirement account (IRA) pre-existed the stimulus bills and continue to be an attractive means for making a charitable gift. After being waived in 2020, required minimum distributions (RMDs) from IRAs resumed in 2021. Even though the age at which the RMD kicks in has been raised to 72, you can still make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) starting at age 70½. If you are aged 70½ or older, you may authorize your IRA administrator to transfer up to $100,000 per year (cumulatively) to one or more qualifying charities (St. Matthew qualifies as such). The amount you transfer will not be added to your taxable income, and it will count towards your mandatory distribution requirement. Whether you are required to make a minimum distribution or not, you can, at any age, designate St. Matthew Parish as the beneficiary of all, or a percentage, of your IRA. Completing a simple change of beneficiary form from your IRA administrator will allow funds to pass to St. Matthew’s tax-free after your lifetime.
2025 DIOCESAN SERVICES APPEAL (DSA) – The 2026 DSA Appeal commitment for the Parish is $133,000. With the help and recent generous donations of our parishioners, we finally met our goal in 2024 for the first time in 8 years and, thanks again to your generosity, we have recently met our commitment for 2025 as well. Thank you for your generosity!! Please remember that any shortfall has to be made up by taking money from the Parish Operating Fund to fulfill our commitment.
BINGO IS BACK! – Bingo has started up again every Thursday in the Parish Center. Doors open at 5:30 and play begins at 6:30. Refreshments available. Appropriate sanitation measures will be observed. Bring a Friend and make friends too!
E-Mail Address Updates: The Parish is trying to update its database of e-mail addresses to facilitate communications in a more cost-effective manner. We can potentially save over $1500 by sending an e-mail versus mailing a letter to all our parishioners. ADDED NOTE: If you have disconnected a landline or changed cellphone numbers in the last few years, please call the Parish Office at 966-8878 and update your phone number and e-mail address. We thank you in advance for your help.
There is never a better time to enroll in ParishSOFT, which will allow automatic donations without mail or postage. You can click on the ParishSOFT eGiving icon link on the upper right of this page to begin the very simple enrollment process.
(Double click on the image to enlarge)
Please Note:
The Florida Catholic is now available in electronic format. Copy the link below into your web browser in order to access the latest edition (click on the icon in upper right of the page to download the latest edition):
https://digital.thefloridacatholic.org/Florida-Catholic-06052020-e-Edition/
PARISH CALENDAR – Have you checked out the Parish Calendar yet? Did you realize you can access the Calendar right here on the Parish Website? Just click on the Calendar Tab and you can see all the upcoming events in the Parish for the next year. Parish Ministry Schedules, CCD Class Schedules, CCW & Knights of Columbus events and schedules, Youth Ministry activities and schedules, and much more, are all found on the Calendar. CHECK IT OUT TODAY!
ST. MATTHEW KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS – Meets monthly at 7:30 P.M. every second Monday in the Parish Center. St. Matthew Knights of Columbus is a ministry of St. Matthew Parish, open to all adult male members of the Parish, that provides an atmosphere for fostering Christian fellowship and a sense of community among the men of the Parish aimed at strengthening family life in our Parish. We serve as a support group and provide a structure to assist with various Parish religious celebrations, social events and Parish service projects. St. Matthew’s Knights of Columbus Council 11669 will celebrate Mass as a group every second Sunday of the month at the 10:30 Mass. Rosary Program will begin at 10:00 A.M. We encourage all Brother Knights to attend and join us in prayer. If you have any questions, please contact John Hunt, Financial Secretary at 561-236-8313.
eGIVING (ParishSOFT) FOR PARISH OFFERTORY COLLECTIONS – 175 parishioners have taken the time to enroll in eGiving with ParishSOFT, the Parish’s direct debit program for Offertory giving. Enrollment is very easy and can be done either on-line or by filling out a color tri-fold form. This program will eliminate the need to write checks or search for cash at the last minute each weekend. You can personalize your giving with many available options. Enroll on-line using our Parish website link, or fill out one of the tri-fold enrollment forms at the MCB exits and mail it to ParishSOFT directly. Further information can be obtained by calling ParishSOFT at 1-866-507-8757 (toll free) or by e-mailing your questions to donorsupport@parishsoft.com. ParishSOFT also has a mobile app for both Apple and Android, available in the Apple App Store or on Google Play. New payment methods, to include Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, PayPal, stock, and crypto, are now available.
SERRA CLUB – Saint Matthew Parish is proud to announce that the Serra Club is now meeting in the Parish Hall! The Serrans will have a breakfast meeting in the Parish Hall with a guest speaker most months on the first Saturday (please see the Parish Calendar for the updated schedule). Breakfast will be prepared and served by the Knights of Columbus. Everyone is welcome to attend. Breakfast is served at $25 per person for non members. Please consider attending these breakfasts and interesting presentations. For more information call Joanne Lewis at 561-818-9147.
EXITING MASS TRAFFIC CHANGE–VERY IMPORTANT
Beginning the weekend of January 18 & 19, there will be a new weekend Mass vehicle exit procedure in effect. This change is due to increased traffic on Hypoluxo Rd and concerns for the safety of our parishioners and the Wildlife officers who are directing traffic. For all future weekend Masses, all exiting traffic will be required to exit to the right onto Hypoluxo Rd. There will no longer be any left hand turns out of the Church property. Cones will be set up in the exit ramp to merge all vehicles into the right hand turn lane by the tall palm trees. This will allow a continuous exiting traffic flow, as the right hand lane of eastbound Hypoluxo Rd will be blocked by the Wildlife officer’s vehicle at the entrance into the MCB. For those parishioners who need to head west, there is a U-turn lane a short distance from the MCB exit, and U-turns are also possible at the traffic light at the entrance to Winston Trails. While we understand that this may cause a minor inconvenience, the lives and safety of our parishioners are of paramount importance to us. Please obey the officers, and be patient with each other in merging into one exiting lane. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.