PARISH OFFICE

Telephone ................................ 540-582-5575

Fax ........................................... 540-582-8639

Hours ................. Mon. - Fri., 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Rev. Mr. John Hubbarth .......... Business Mgr.

Terrie Yates .......................... Parish Secretary

Jane Hubbarth ............................. Receptionist

Mary Lou Felts...….……………Receptionist

www.stmatthewspotsylvania.org

MUSIC MINISTRY Lyudmila Syrochkina, AAGO, Director

540-582-5575

stmatthewmusic1@comcast.net

PARISH REGISTRATION All Catholics residing within our parish boundaries should register as soon as possible. Packets are available in church vestibule.

BAPTISMS Please contact the Parish Office; parish registration is required.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION Please contact the Parish Office. Six Months of preparation are required before the marriage celebration. Parish registration is required

SPONSOR LETTERS Please contact the Parish Office for letters of qualification to serve as sponsors for Baptism and Confirmation. Registration in the parish and regular practice of the Faith are among the qualifications required. Letters should be requested in a timely manner.

GOOD SAMARITAN MINISTRY Ministry to the infirm/ homebound. Please call the Parish Office to arrange visitation of the elderly, the sick or the homebound.

SAINT MATTHEW THRIFT STORE (Breezewood Shopping Ctr .) Address: 10639 Courthouse Road • Telephone: 540-834-2479. Hours: M-F 10 AM-3PM; Sat. 9:30 AM-2:30 PM; Sun.-Closed Volunteers and donations of clothing, household items and furniture needed on a continuing basis.

SVdP FOOD PANTRY (Breezewood Shopping Center) Address: 10643 Courthouse Road • Telephone: 540-834-5555. Hours: 1st

four Wednesdays 4 PM-6 PM; 1st four Fridays 9 AM-11 AM;

2nd & 4th Saturdays 9AM-11AM; closed 5th Weeks. Volunteers and donations needed on a continuing basis.

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL: Saint Faustina Conference SVdP Hotline: 540-834-5555. Website: www.svdpstfaustina.org Serves the poor, elderly, and infirm in the local area. Volunteers and donations needed on a continuing basis. To volunteer, call Frank Mauro: 703-980-3318.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: Bishop Keating Council 12434 meets 2nd

& 4th Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM in the St. Joseph Parish Center; 4th

degree, The Fathers Cilinski Assembly 3568 meets 3rd Mon. of each month at 7:30 PM in the Parish Center. Call the Parish Office 582-5575.

MASS SCHEDULE

Sunday Vigil ....................... Saturday, 5:30 pm

Sunday .................................. 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 am

Daily

Monday, Tuesday, Saturday ................. 8:00 am

Wednesday………………………… 11:00 am

Thursday .............................................. 6:30 am

Friday .................................................. 7:30 pm

CONFESSIONS

Normally heard at the following times:

Monday .............................. after 8:00 am Mass

Tuesday .............................. after 8:00 am Mass

Wednesday ....................... after 11:00 am Mass

Thursday ............................ after 6:30 am Mass

Friday .................................................. 7:00 pm

Saturday .............................................. 4:30 pm

Exceptions to this schedule are noted inside

the bulletin.

Please note:

Confessions will be heard until the line of

penitents ends, or until 5 minutes before Mass

begins - whichever comes first - so please

arrive for confession promptly. Confessions

are not heard after evening Masses.

AFTER HOURS PRIEST EMERGENCY TELEPHONE: 540-498-3170

ST. MATTHEW CATHOLIC CHURCH

8200 Robert E. Lee Drive Spotsylvania, VA 22551

Pastor ......................... Rev. Paul M. Eversole

Deacons .................. Rev. Mr. John Hubbarth Rev. Mr. Paul Gregory Rev. Mr. Mike Strain

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Joanne Warren, DRE: 540-582-5575

stmatthewre@comcast.net

YOUTH MINISTRY Deacon Mike Strain

deaconmike2@comcast.net

CHURCH OFFICE stmatthewsec@comcast.net

Sign up for free at www.formed.org. Parish Code V3RRFV

Masses

Mon (12/17) 8:00 AM - NICHOLAS PASCALE+ Tues (12/18) 8:00 AM - MARY LOU FELTS Wed (12/19) 11:00 AM - JARED DARR Thu (12/20) 6:30 AM - TERRY & RALPH STEINIGER Fri (12/21) 7:30 PM - VALDA & ED SINKORA

Sat (12/22) 8:00 AM - LISA & TOM FALESKIE

5:30 PM - DEACON MIKE & PHYLLIS STRAIN Sun (12/23) 8:00 AM - PEOPLE OF ST. MATTHEW’S 9:30 AM - TERRIE YATES 11:00 AM - JOANNE & TOM WARREN

DECEMBER 16, 2018 GAUDETE SUNDAY

Current and Upcoming Collections

This weekend (12/15-12/16) 1) Regular

2) Christmas Flowers

Next weekend (12/22/-12/23) 1) Regular

.PARISH SUPPORT UPDATE

The First Collection for Dec. 9th

amounted to $13,247 . THANK YOU!

In order to meet St. Matthew’s operating expenses and save for future projects, the First Collection should bring in at least $11,100 every weekend.

Please keep in mind that the First Collection at Sunday Mass funds all operating expenses of your parish, including salaries, utilities, routine maintenance and administrative needs.

Our 2019 Increased Offertory Program is under way! All parish households are asked to consider increasing their weekly donations to Saint Matthew’s. Information about the program has been made available in the bulletin, through the mail, and at Mass. Please pray for the success of this year’s program, so that your parish may improve its ministries and activities in the service of the Gospel.

Online giving is available at www.stmatthewspotsylvania.org.

SUNDAY READINGS DECMBER 23, 2018

Mi 5:1-4a

Heb 10:5-10

Lk 1:39-45

VOCATIONS

Do you rejoice in the Lord? Is He asking you to con-sider a vocation as a priest, deacon or in the consecrated life? Contact Fr. Michael Isenberg at (703) 841-2514 or m.isenberg@arlingtondiocese.org

JOHN THE BAPTIST HERALD OF CHRIST

“John is the voice, but the Lord is the Word who was in the beginning. John is the voice that lasts for a time; from the beginning Christ is the Word who lives for ever.

Take away the word, the meaning, and what is the voice? Where there is no understanding, there is only a meaningless sound. The voice without the word strikes the ear but does not build up the heart.

Because it is hard to distinguish word from voice, even John himself was thought to be the Christ. The voice was thought to be the word. But the voice acknowledged what it was, anxious not to give offense to the word. I am not the Christ, he said, nor Elijah, nor the prophet. And the question came: Who are you then: He replied: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord.”

St. Augustine

SCHEDULE for CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR’S

CHRISTMAS EVE--MONDAY, DEC. 24TH

8:30 AM CONFESSIONS

4:45 PM LESSONS AND CAROLS

5:30 PM VIGIL MASS

11:20 PM CAROLS & SING-ALONG

CHRISTMAS DAY--TUESDAY, DEC. 25TH

12:00 MIDNIGHT MASS 8:30 AM MASS

10:30 AM MASS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SOLEMNITY of MARY, MOTHER of GOD

MONDAY, DEC. 31ST-VIGIL MASS

5:30 PM MASS

TUESDAY, JAN. 1ST

8:00 AM MASS

11:00 AM MASS

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

12/18 & 12/19 RE Classes 12/25 & 12/26 No RE Classes 01/01 & 01/02 No RE Classes 01/08 & 01/09 RE Classes resume

Let us pray

This prayer is recited during the Sacrament of Confession. We tell God that we are sorry for our sins and with the help of God, promise to make changes so as to avoid sin in the future. What is the name of this prayer? Let Mrs. Warren know and win a prize.

Peace of Jesus Christ, Joanne Warren

Dr. Scott Hahn, one of the most eminent Catholic theologians in our country today, reveals what scholars now know about the shepherds, the mysterious Magi, and King Herod. Your Advent journey will take on

new meaning as you prepare your heart for the birth of our Lord. This illuminating presentation is sure to help you grow in appreciation of the greatest gift ever given to mankind--Jesus Christ. Sign up for free at www.formed.org; parish code V3RRF

YOUTH MINISTRY

Youth Ministry will meet this evening in the Parish Center at 6:30 p.m.to hold its Christmas Party/Gift Exchange. On Friday, Dec. 21

st, they will meet for

an end of semester/Christmas Bonfire.

For more information contact Deacon Mike Strain: deaconmike2@comcast.net

ADULT EDUCATION Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. /Parish Center

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? (1 Cor 10:16)

On Tuesday, December 18th

, Deacon John Hubbarth will finish discussing Bishop Robert Barron’s “The Mass: The Real Presence Creates Communion.”

PLEASE PRAY for OUR SICK

Bishop Michael Burbidge, Barbara Carver, Carolyn Jones, Lisa Jones, Harry Thomas, Joe Fillare, Drew Azzara, Renee Pellas, Charlotte Fregoso, Elizabeth Smith, Charles Lowe, Mary Beth Campfield, Msgr. Frank Mahler, Luke Wiggins, Bernadette Costello, Gracie Marvin, Gloria Affenit, Chris Warren, Rita Bobik, Sid Sidelko, Ed O’Brien, John Bernard, Zack Yorio, Amy Whittaker, Ted Hokoana, Margaret Lansden, Marguerite Schwab, Caleb Short, Les Sexton, Fr. Edward Tewes, Jude Murphy, Chris Sousa, Vera Schwartz, Mary Buccigrossi, Mary Lou Buck, Jim Walsh, Pat Conroy, Stephen Middleton, Don Rines, Joseph Heston, Helene Zaepful, Mary Cave and Bunny Siraco.

PRAYER REQUESTS: For parishioners and immediate family members or for emergency situations, please contact Sharon Shappy at (540) 207-0553 or Lynn Kobasa at lynnkobasa_2@msn.com. Send your message with the words “prayer request.”

HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST

Eighth grade students attending public schools or non-Catholic private schools who are interested in attending Catholic high schools in the Arlington Diocese, need to take the High School Placement Test (HSPT) offered on Sat., January 12, 2019. This test is required for placement at Bishop Ireton H.S., Bishop O’Connell H.S., Paul VI H.S., and Saint John Paul the Great H.S.

Students must fill out an HSPT Registration form (see “Frequently Asked Questions” under Schools) at www.arlington diocese.org. Registration deadline is January 10

th.

YOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL

Bishop O’Connell High School invites all 6th-8

th

graders to participate in their 4thannual Youth Music

Festival on Sat., January 5, 2019. This full day of music clinics and performances is free, but registration is required. For more information and to register visit the website: www.bishopoconnell.org/youthmusic

2018 GIVING TREE

Throughout the year, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Mary’s Shelter serve those less fortunate in our community, providing shelter, home visitations, food, and financial aid.

St. Matthew’s Giving Tree for the Parish is in front of the Church with ornaments requesting gift cards/ monetary donations in support of these two organizations. The Giving Tree will be in front of the Church through Sun., Dec. 16

th. You may return your

donation envelopes in the Sunday offering baskets or to the parish office.

THE PARISH OFFICE WILL BE

CLOSED FROM

12:00 NOON FRI., DEC. 21st

THROUGH

TUESDAY, JAN. 1, 2019

We will resume normal office hours on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.

(If you have an EMERGENCY or an urgent need to speak with a priest, please call the emergency # 540-98-3170)