Thank you for your interest in serving our parish through our Liturgical Ministries! No matter your particular gifts and talents, we have a way you can help out community pray at Mass.

Altar Servers
Servers assist in the liturgy, preparing the altar, and acting as leaders of congregational response and singing. Generally, youth ages 5th grade and older serve Sunday Mass and adults serve 6:30 am and 8:30 am daily Masses.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
EMHC assist the priests of the parish in the distribution of Communion, and some ministers also take Communion to our homebound parishioners. Extraordinary Ministers typically serve once a month at Sunday Mass or Holy Days of Obligation.  Ministers to the homebound take Holy Communion to a designated group, usually 3 to 5 people, about once a month. For more information about being trained as an EMHC, contact Max Maksimoski at rmaksimo@stmatthew.net.

Lectors
Lectors proclaim the Scripture readings at weekend Masses and other special liturgies. Lectors prepare by meditating on the readings prior to their assignment by use of a workbook provided by the parish. The workbook contains the readings, tips on proclaiming the message, and a pronunciation guide for difficult biblical words. For more information about being trained as a lector, contact Max Maksimoski at rmaksimo@stmatthew.net.

Sacristans
Sacristans are responsible for the care and security of the sanctuary and sacristy. Mass sacristans are scheduled approximately once a month to prepare vessels for Mass and clean up afterwards. Sacristans clean the church vessels, prepare candles and other liturgical items. Laundry sacristans wash and iron the altar linens and albs and are scheduled on a monthly basis. For more information about being trained as a sacristan, contact Vicki Wengert at vwengert@icloud.com.

Ushers and Greeters
Ushers and greeters welcome members of the St. Matthew community at Mass by extending a personal greeting to all members and visitors to the parish. Activities include: leading people to open pews; assigning a family to present the gifts at the offertory; organizing the offertory procession; efficiently performing the collection during Mass; distributing bulletins after Mass; bidding farewell to members or inviting them to stay for parish activities, when offered. For more information about being an usher or greeter, contact Aaron Schrein at amschrein@yahoo.com.

Music Ministry
We are blessed to have a variety of music groups to assist in our worship. For information about any of our choirs, please contact Dawn Shininger, Director of Music at dshininger@stmatthew.net or (614) 532-0627.

Adult Choir will resume singing at the 10:00 Mass in October.  Women singers are especially needed!  Rehearsals will be held before Mass on Sundays at 9:15 and on select weeks on Thursdays each month. 
  
Handbell Choir practices on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. and playing times are determined as ready.  Contact Andy Cabe at mracabe@gmail.com for more information.

Men’s Choir sings once a month and rehearses on Wednesdays twice a month.  Contact Deacon Chris Walsh at cwalsh5358@gmail.com for more information.

The Parish Youth Choir will begin rehearsals in October.  All youth in the parish aged 2nd grade and older are welcome.  Please click here to see the schedule and additional details. 

The Exult contemporary group sings once a month and practices as scheduled.  Contact Dawn Shininger for more information.

Funeral Choir is open to any parishioner interested in singing for funeral Masses and who has flexibility to sing during the weekday and sometimes on weekends, whenever funerals are scheduled.  No regular commitment needed; just come as often as schedules allow.  Contact Dawn at dshininger@stmatthew.net to join the contact list.

Through an emphasis on learning and growth in discipleship, we are placing faith formation in the center of our parish life. As a community, we are committed to the formation of mature adult disciples of Jesus Christ. We pray all our adult members will commit to this rich and fulfilling lifelong formation process.

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For Everyone

Bible Study
Bible Studies are offered throughout the year to help us as Catholic Christians to grow in our faith by reading, discussing, and understanding God’s written Word. Studies are offered at the start of summer, fall, and spring. This ministry serves all adult members of our community and welcomes anyone, whether new to scripture study or with experience. It is a great way to learn the Catholic faith through the Holy Scriptures, the Catechism, and the writings of the Popes and Church Fathers. For more information, contact Lorraine Curtin.

Book Club
The Book Club provides an opportunity to read and discuss non-fiction, fiction, or spiritual literature at a monthly gathering.  Members may come to one, all, or selective meetings as they choose. For more information, contact Mary Lager.

RCIA/Catholic Inquiry
Catholic Inquiry is a time of questioning and searching and becomes the entry point to the RCIA process. Periodic meetings are held to provide education, faith sharing, friendship, and hospitality. The primary purpose is to provide a resource for non-Catholics who would like to know more about the Catholic faith. Catholic Inquiry and RCIA are open to all members of the parish who wish to learn more about Catholicism or who would like to share their faith with Inquirers.For more information, contact Jennifer Cabe.

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Men's and Women's Ministries

Catholic Men's and Women's Conferences
Each February, the Columbus Diocese hosts Men's and Women's Conferences at the Ohio State Expo Center. Click for more information on the Men's Conference and the Women's Conference. Our parish Men's Conference Team offers support to both conferences and helps organize registration and promotion of both the Men's and Women's Conferences.

Men's Prayer Group
This group meets Wednesday nights for prayer for formation. For more information, contact Jeff Bernard at jbernard@ohiocat.com.

That Man is You
Join the men of our parish on Saturday mornings for a light breakfast, friendship, and discussion about the challenges of living out our faith. For more information, contact Brian Gatch at brigat2021@gmail.com.

Walking with Purpose
Walking with Purpose is a women's discussion, faith-sharing, and Bible study community at St. Matthew the Apostle. All adult women at any stage of life are welcome to join us! If you have questions, please contact Pat Shields at p2shields@sbcglobal.net.

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For Children and Teens and their Families

Catholic Kids Camp (VBS)
Catholic Kids Camp is our version of Vacation Bible School. Children from age three through (entering) 5th grade will spend a week learning about Jesus and our Catholic faith through crafts, games, songs, and prayer time. We have been blessed with high enrollment the last few years, and we need many adult volunteers to help us out! Please contact Family Life Office Coordinator Julie Ratliff for more information.

Family of Faith (Religious Education)
Family of Faith is our new religious education program replacing PSR. This program will enrich your family with Catholic catechesis, fun-faith-filled family time, flexibility for your busy schedule, and meaningful worship of our Lord. For more information, contact Ashley Allwein, Religious Education Coordinator, by email or at (614) 532-0620.

First Steps in Faith
“First Steps in Faith” is a monthly gathering of children ages 0 - 5 and their families. This program parallels the “Family of Faith” program that school age children participate in with their families. Both of these programs are designed to meet families where they are in their journey of faith and help them move forward together. Family catechesis is effective because it bridges the gap between what happens at church and what happens at home. It equips families to pray and learn together at home and in their daily lives. 

At the monthly  “First Steps in Faith” gathering we provide hands-on activities for parents and children to explore together; circle time with stories, prayers, and songs; and time for parent discussion and formation while the children play and learn together. For more information, contact Katie Ryzenga at kryzenga@stmatthew.net

Middle School Youth Group: Ignite
Middle school youth can grow in their Catholic faith through our Middle School Youth Group, which meets on Thursdays during the school year. For more information about KRIC, contact Maggie Smith, mallwein@stmatthew.net.

High School Youth Group: The Flame
High school youth have the opportunity to grow in their faith through High School Youth Group, which meets on Sunday evenings from 6-8 pm throughout the school year. Youth group is an environment of joy, fellowship, food, and fun. Come gather with your peers and live out the adventure of the Catholic faith! For more information on TIC contact Maggie Allwein, mallwein@stmatthew.net.

Supporting our Parish Family

GriefShare
Have you lost a loved one or someone close to you? GriefShare is a welcoming group of people who will walk alongside you through your journey. The group is led by people who understand what you are going through and who want to help. For more information, contact Mary Lager by email at: mary0613@hotmail.com or call 614-395-9099 (and please leave a message).

St. John's Helpers
St. John's Helpers, named for St. John the Evangelist, the patron saint of caregivers, is a group of parishioners who are available to offer occasional assistance to other parishioners in need. Helpers can assist with small errands, such as grocery shopping, rides to the doctor, etc. If you are a parishioner who needs occasional assistance, please call the parish office at (614) 471-0212 or fill out the form linked here to be connected with a Helper. If you are parishioner who would like to be a Helper, click here.

Bereavement Committee
The Bereavement Committee reaches out to anyone in our parish family who has experienced the death of a loved one. Volunteers may provide a food item for a funeral luncheon, set-up, or serve the luncheon. Other volunteers contact the family after the funeral to determine if the family is in need of other parish services and to provide a compassionate outreach to those who are grieving. For more information, contact Linda Strapp or momlakes@aol.com.

DivorceCare
Do you want help and healing from the hurt of divorce? DivorceCare is a nurturing group ready to help you on your path to healing . We are people who understand what you are going through. Please contact Mike Workman for more information.

Stone Soup
Stone Soup ministry provides dinner to families experiencing a crisis or death in the family. A volunteer with Stone Soup would be scheduled, at their convenience, to provide dinner to a family in need. A volunteer is usually not asked more than several times a year. For more information, contact Linda Strapp.

Visiting Ministry
Saint Matthew Parish has numerous care facilities for the elderly within its boundaries. In these care centers as well as in private homes, there are numerous parishioners whocould enjoy a visitor every once in a while. Please consider becoming a part of our Visiting Ministry and sharing a half hour of your time each week or every other week with someone who is lonely. This is an excellent way for a whole family to volunteer together. If you are interested, please contact Carol Ann Lombardi.

Call to Come Home
This ministry provides outreach to people who have been away from the Church for a while, but who feel called to come back. Volunteers listen gently and non-judgmentally and meet people where they are in their spiritual journey. For more information, email Pat Martin at comehome@stmatthew.net.

Military and Veterans Affinity Group
This group works to provide support to the military families in our parish and to show support for the struggles they face. For more information, please contact Mark Mauri.

Nursery
The parish nursery ministry provides child care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers while their parents attend Mass, permitting them to fully participate in the Mass. Our nursery is currently staffed with volunteers during 10:00 Mass and for other adult faith formation programs. For more information, contact Julianne Burkholder at nursery@stmatthew.net. If you'd like to learn more about volunteering, click here.

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Praying for our Parish Family

Rosary Guild
The Rosary Guild meets regularly to make rosaries and to pray together. Contact Judy Sater for more information.

The Militia of the Immaculata
The Militia of the Immaculata (MI) is a worldwide evangelization movement founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1917 that encourages total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a means of spiritual renewal for individuals and society. Marian consecration is a formal act of self-giving that does not stop at Mary, but is Christ-directed. It is really consecration to Jesus. The MI’s mission is “To Lead Every Individual With Mary to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.” By joining the MI, members become willing instruments of Our Lady, the woman foreshadowed in Genesis 3:15. She leads them to personal sanctification, the conversion of Church opponents and ultimately the universal reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The MI movement is open to all Catholics (men, women and children of the age of reason) and employs prayer as the main weapon in the spiritual battle with evil. For more information, contact Jeff Bernard.

Legion of Mary
The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church in almost every country of the world.  Members become instruments of the Holy Spirit, under the banner of Our Blessed Mother, through a balanced program of prayer and service. Works include evangelization, prison ministry, visitation of the sick or aged, religious education, visiting the newly baptized, Sacred Heart enthronements, and any other tasks assigned by the pastor.  Members meet once a week for prayer, planning, and discussion, followed by work decided upon under the guidance of a spiritual director. The sole purpose of a Legion member is self-sanctification and saving souls. For more information, contact Manuel Xavier.

Seven Sisters Apostolate
A Seven Sister:
One Holy Hour, One Priest, Each Week, One Heart of Prayer

The Seven Sisters Apostolate is a call to strengthen the Church by ensuring that a Holy Hour is prayed each day of the week for the sole intention of a specific priest or bishop—a “holy wasting” (cf. Mt. 26:10) or lavishing of prayer for his deeper conformity to Christ. Please visit SevenSistersApostolate.org for more information or contact Julia Hoenig at (614) 404-6366 or JulieMayHoenig@reagan.com for information on the spiritual sisters of Fr. Sill. 

Lazarus Ministry
Members of our Lazarus Ministry commit to praying for the deceased members of our parish community and for their families. When we hear of a death in our community, we will send a notification to the member of this ministry, and we will also share funeral details, with the permission of the families of the deceased. To join this ministry, click HERE.

Compassionate Prayer Ministry
Prayer is where we profess our need for Christ and His solution to our problems.  It is also a place where we learn to worship Him and grow spiritually in His loving presence. As we spend time with Him, God lovingly teaches us how to pray and how to listen for His still voice replying to our humble requests.  Our “Prayer Warriors” receive a monthly email or mail list of individuals requesting our daily devotional prayers. For more information or to request prayers, contact Jeannine Kern.

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration
We are blessed to have the Divine Mercy Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel here at St. Matthew. Every hour of the day and night, people are praying before the Blessed Sacrament, and we always have room for more. If you feel called to spend a dedicated hour in prayer each week, we encourage you to sign up for an hour. Contact divinemercypea@gmail.com for more information.

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Fellowship and Service in our Parish

St. Matthew Moms Group
Moms and their young children meet monthly on Thursday and Saturday mornings in the nursery to pray and play together. Join the Facebook group here or contact Trisha Mathis at trisha.mathis460@gmail.com

The Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal, family-oriented organization that focuses on four principles: charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. The organization renders aid/assistance to the sick, disabled and needy members of our community. Our council is involved in parish life, raising money and providing manpower whenever a need arises. Annually our council donates nearly $20,000 to a variety of causes such as Catholic scholarships, ALS, the mentally challenged, youth groups, pro-life causes, and to the seminarians at the Josephinum. The Knights also sponsor several events to raise money for the above charities, including a Spaghetti Dinner, Lenten Fish Fry events, and Pancake Breakfasts. For more information contact Mike Morante at mike.morante@outlook.com.

The Ladies of St. Jude
The Ladies of St. Jude was established in late 2015 to unite the women of the St. Matthew parish.  We are a group of Catholic women (18 and over) from every corner of the parish – church, school, PSR – who like to have lots of fun while raising funds for pro-life causes and promoting family events in our parish.  We work with other ministries to support their goals.  We look for needs in the community and support where we are able.  Our main purpose, however, is to be a casual and comfortable environment for Catholic women to meet, be in fellowship, and share life all the while bolstering community support and the inclusion of all families. Visit our monthly meeting – ALL are welcome – or contact an officer at ladiesofst.jude@gmail.com!

Boy Scouts
Scouting strives to help boys develop into honorable men through character development, citizenship training, and mental and physical fitness. Our Boy Scout (sixth grade through age 18) programs follow the activity and advancement guidance provided by the national Boy Scouts of America. Boy Scouts have opportunities to attend yearly high adventure training along distant trails, mountain ranges, and rivers. For more information, contact Trey Porter.

Cub Scouts
Cub Scouts is a family oriented program whose motto is “Do Your Best.” The goal of Cub Scouts is fun with a purpose. Cub Scouts (first to fifth grade) serve boys in an atmosphere where character development is a concomitant to fun. The outdoor conservation projects, parish service projects, monthly Pack meetings, parades, camps and pool parties are just some of their annual activities. For more information, contact Eve Lemle.

Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts helps to build courage, confidence, and character in girls. Girl Scouts is fun but it is also an opportunity for girls in grades K-12 to develop important life skills, discover themselves, and make a difference in the world around them. Through engaging programs and activities, we help today’s girls become tomorrow’s women leaders. For more information, contact Dawn Pertner.

Donut Social
The Donut Social helps to promote a fellowship in Christ and provide an opportunity for everyone to become aware of our many ministries and get involved. The Social occurs every third Sunday of the month and consists of 2-4 volunteers to host in the St. Anthony Room immediately following the new parishioner sign-ups. Hosts are responsible for ordering and picking up doughnuts, fruit, and juices, as needed. (All receipts are turned in to the church office for reimbursement.) We are in need of people to serve as Lead Hosts, who will schedule their teams/family members and be the points of contact to turn in receipts, and Co-Hosts, who will provide support as required. This is great opportunity to get your family involved and provides a great opportunity for students requiring service hours. 

Festival Committee
The Festival Committee hosts the annual parish festival, a major parish fund-raiser and community builder. Proceeds help fund the school, religious education, and youth ministry programs within the parish besides promoting fellowship, faith, and unity within the parish. Volunteers can choose to work games, booths, kitchen, hospitality, set up, clean up, personnel, or other duties. For more information, contact stmatthewparishfestival@gmail.com.

Garden Ministry
The Garden Ministry gives the parish grounds a little extra care to make God’s beauty shine through and shares in fellowship at the same time. We have many opportunities for volunteers: participate in one of our work days; “adopt-a-bed” with your family or group to plant and maintain on your own time; volunteer with your group (class, team, bible study, etc.) for a work day; or supervise young volunteers during a work day. We also always need people to pray for our volunteers and to thank God for the bounty of his beauty. We accept donations of perennials from your garden (contact us first, please!), monetary donations, and tools. For more information, contact Denise Maksimoski.

Golden Mustangs
The Golden Mustangs is a group designed for parishioners age 55 and older. We meet monthly in the Saint Anthony room for dinner and socialization.  Each month, we have a theme with associated activities.  After our meal, we normally have a short business meeting.  We have occasional guest speakers.  We visit local restaurants for breakfast on First Fridays after the 8:30 Mass.  We participate in community service projects.  Besides the monthly meetings, we schedule social events that include visiting local museums and sites, attending professional and collegiate theater productions, and go to movies. We make  pilgrimages to Ohio shrines.  If you qualify (55+), we invite you to join us at our monthly meetings on the 3^rd Wednesday of each month or to attend any of our outings or participate in any of our service projects.  For more information contact Joan or Paul Rovnak at pjrovnak@msn.com or 614-205-9396.

55+ Singles
Singles 55 and older are welcome to join together for prayer and community events! Contact Carol Ann Lombardi at ezcalomba@gmail.com.

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Supporting the Dignity of Life

Social Concerns Committee
The St. Matthew Social Concerns Committee advocates for multiple aspects of Catholic Social Teaching, including pro-life work, advocacy for the poor, and other social issues. If you are interested in learning more about this group or would like to be involved, please contact Jim Gernetzke at jimgernetzke@noslumine.com.

Pro-Life Committee
Our Social Concerns Committee's Pro-life Subcommittee works promote the dignity of life at all stages. They organize our parish's presence at the 40 Days for Life campaign each October and sponsor other pro-life events throughout the year. If you would like more information about the Pro-Life Group at St. Matthew, please fill out the form below or contact Jeff Solinger at jksolinger@aol.com or (614) 506-2382.

Julia Greeley Committee
The Julia Greeley Committee is our parish Social Concerns subcommittee on racial justice. Our mission is to educate our community on the rich contributions people of color have made to our faith and to work for racial justice. We have chosen Julia Greeley as our namesake and patron because of her work for justice and because of her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to which our parish has been enthroned. For more information, contact Julie Ratliff at jratliff@stmatthew.net.

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Serving the Larger Community

Charitable Works
The St. Matthew Charitable Works ministry provides support to individuals and families experiencing emergency short-term needs. The ministry operates within the general area of the Gahanna zip code. Activities include staffing and operating the parish food pantry, clothing collection and distribution, monthly sandwich program, and transportation. The ministry also channels contributions to other service agencies within the Diocese and, when needed, assists families with short-term monetary needs. Members collect donations after Masses once a month to support the work of this ministry. For more information, cwm@stmatthew.net.

Walking with Moms in Need
Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be "islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference." Everyone in our parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. In order to assess, expand, and better communicate resources to local pregnant moms and families in need, our parish is joining a nationwide effort from October 2020 to October 2021 entitled: "Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service."

We invite all parishioners to join us as we embark on this Year of Service. For more information please contact: Brooke Warren at brookewarren13@gmail.com

Interfaith Hospitality Network (YWCA)
Interfaith Hospitality Network ministry provides dinner and fellowship to homeless families at the YWCA shelter on the first Monday of every other month.  Some volunteers drop off a salad, fruit, rolls, dessert or milk at St. Matthew to be served to the families.  Other volunteers prepare the main course, serve the meal, and visit with the families at the shelter. For more information, contact Patti Herrick at 614-440-1708.

Knitting & Crocheting Ministry
The Knitting/Crocheting Ministry makes baby blankets, hats, scarves and lap robes for the homeless and needy of central Ohio.  The ministry consists of volunteers of all age groups and skills, and instructions are given to those who want to learn. For more information, contact Glenda Neely.

Meals on Wheels
LifeCare Alliance prepares meals for homebound residents, and our volunteers deliver hot/cold lunches in the Gahanna area.  Volunteers are scheduled on Thursdays, once a month or according to their preference. St. Matthew volunteers deliver for two different Gahanna routes from the pick-up point at Traditions. For more information, contact Janet McIntyre.

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For additional ways that we support our community, click "Community Support" in the top menu