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

PARISH WEBSITE

www.stmatthewspotsylvania.org

MUSIC MINISTRY

Melanie Bolas, Choir Director Grayson Cordova, Organist

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 volunteer, or 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 Saturday 9AM-11AM; closed 5th Weeks. Volunteers and donations needed on a continuing basis.

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL: Saint Faustina Conference SVdP Assistance Line: 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. Mike Strain

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Joanne Warren, DRE: 540-582-5575 stmatthewre@comcast.net

YOUTH MINISTRY Deacon Mike Strain

deaconmike2@comcast.net

FACILITIES MANAGER

Jared Darr: 540-582-5575 stmatthewfacilities@comcast.net

CHURCH OFFICE stmatthewsec@comcast.net

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

Masses

Mon (12/23) 8:00 AM - CHRISTINE & JIM WALSH Tues (12/24) 8:00 AM - CLARK+ & KIM EVERSOLE+ 5:30 PM - DEACON JOHN & JANE HUBBARTH Wed (12/25) 12:00 MN - FR. PAUL EVERSOLE 8:30 AM - PEOPLE of ST. MATTHEW’S 10:30 AM - DEACON ED+ & MARY WHELAN Thu (12/26) 6:30 AM - TOM & ANDREA FARLEY Fri (12/27) 7:30 PM - AMY WHITTAKER Sat (12/28) 8:00 AM - FR. DUESTERHAUS 5:30 PM - JOHN C. BERNARD+ Sun (12/29) 8:00 AM - PEOPLE OF ST. MATTHEW’S 9:30 AM - MARY LOU FELTS 11:00 AM - CHRIS HUBBARTH

DECEMBER 22, 2019 4th SUNDAY of ADVENT

Current and Upcoming Collections

This weekend (12/21-12/22) 1) Regular

Next weekend (12/28-12/29) 1) Regular

. PARISH SUPPORT UPDATE

The First Collection for Dec. 15TH

will be reported in the Dec. 29

th bulletin. 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.

Online giving: www.stmatthewspotsylvania.org., go to General Information and choose Online Giving.

FROM THE PASTOR Dear Parishioners,

As I wish you all a Merry Christmas, it is a joy to give you the good news that a parochial vicar is being assigned to St. Matthews! Fr. Michael R. Duesterhaus will be assigned here as of New Year’s Day. Many of you will remember Fr. Duesterhaus from his previous time here, approximately 10 years ago; ordained for our diocese in 1991, Father has also served as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy, and is currently completing advanced studies in canon law.

As we enter the Christmas Season, I would like to thank our deacons, staff and volunteers who have worked so hard to make Advent and Christmas a time of solemn joy, in which Christ’s Birth is celebrated and His charity is extended to those in need. Yours in Christ, Fr. Eversole

SUNDAY READINGS December 29, 2019

Sir 3: 2-6, 12-14

Col 3:12-21 Mt 2:13-15, 19-23

VOCATIONS

“God chose to become man to lead us in a path of righteousness; is God calling you to grow in

holiness?”

He may be inviting you to the priesthood, diaconate or consecrated life. Contact Fr. Isenberg at (703) 841-2514 or michael.isenberg@arlingtondiocese.org

SCHEDULE for CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR’S

CHRISTMAS EVE--TUESDAY, DEC. 24TH

8:30 AM CONFESSIONS

4:45 PM CHILDREN’S PAGEANT

5:30 PM VIGIL MASS

11:20 PM CAROLS & SING-ALONG

CHRISTMAS DAY--WEDNESDAY, DEC. 25TH

12:00 MIDNIGHT MASS

8:30 AM MASS

10:30 AM MASS

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

SOLEMNITY of MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER of GOD

TUESDAY, DEC. 31ST-VIGIL MASS

5:30 PM MASS

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1ST

9:30 AM MASS

11:00 AM MASS

Thrift Store/Food Pantry Holiday Hours

St. Matthew’s Thrift Store will be closed from Tuesday, Dec. 24

th through Thursday, Dec. 26

th. It will reopen on

Dec. 27th. It will then be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 31

st &

Wednesday, Jan. 1st

. It will reopen on Thurs., Jan. 2nd

.

The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 25

th through Friday, January 3

rd.

It will be open on Wednesday, January 8th.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

ADULT FAITH FORMATION

Adult Faith Formation will NOT meet during December.

Join us in January when Deacon John Hubbarth will discuss, “What makes our Catholic faith unique?” What problems are facing the Catholic Church today and how do we respond to them?

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

12/24 & 12/25 No RE Classes-Merry Christmas

12/31 & 01/01 No RE Classes-Happy New Year and Solemnity of Mary

01/07 & 01/08 RE Classes

Peace of Jesus Christ, Joanne Warren

Children will enjoy this heartwarming dramatization that recounts the story of the very first Christmas, as told by Brother Francis. With music, songs, and engaging storytelling, you will experience the wonderful events that

led up to the birth of God's Son and the story of redemption. Sign up for free at www.Formed.org

YOUTH MINISTRY

Youth Ministry will NOT meet this evening, Dec. 22

nd, or Sun., Dec. 29

th. Contact Deacon Mike

Strain: deaconmike2@comcast.net for information on Youth Ministry.

ST. JOHN PAUL the GREAT H.S. NEWS

Applications for SJP the Great H.S. school year 2020-2021 are due by January 10, 2020; they are available at jpthegreat.org. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a “shadow” day, contact the Director of Admissions, Mr. John Sawyer, (703) 445-0218 or admissions@jpthegreat.org

“How to High School,” a readiness & skills workshop for 7

th & 8

th graders, will be held on Sat., Jan. 11

th, from

12:00 noon-4:00 p.m. at St. John Paul the Great. RSVP at the Middle School Events page at www.jpthe great.org

THE PARISH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED FROM

12:00 NOON, MONDAY, DEC. 23RD

THROUGH

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2020

We will resume normal office hours on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.

(If you have an EMERGENCY or an urgent need to speak with a priest, please call the emergency # 540 498-3170)

PLEASE PRAY for OUR SICK

Eleanor Achille, John Bernard, Rita Bobik, Mary Buccigrossi, Mary Cave, Bernadette Costello, Joe Fillare, Alice Foley, Charlotte Fregoso, Mary Gibbons, George Granofsky, Gregory, Louise Harrington, Raymond Harrington, George Heston, David Hunziker, Carolyn Jones, Lazaro Lovos, Jimmy Long, Mark McDougal, Stephen Middleton, Jude Murphy, Ed O’Brien, Maria Osorio, Renee Pellas, Ellen Rooney, Susan Sablon-Harrington, Marguerite Schwab, Vera Schwartz, Les Sexton, Sid Sidelko, Bunny Siraco, Mary Ann Smith, Chris Sousa, Harry Thomas, Jim Walsh, Chris Warren, Charles & Stephen Weaver, Chrissie Weaver, Amy Whittaker, Angela Wood, and Zach Yorio.

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.”

MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP ENHANCEMENT

Feeling disconnected from your spouse? Adjusting to a change in the family? Learn how to handle these or other challenges this winter with your spouse through the Relationship Enhancement Group .

Beginning Jan. 29, 2020, Catholic Charities of the Arlington Diocese will be begin an 8 week skills-based therapy group for couples. Meetings will be held in Fredericksburg on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Both members of the couple will be asked to be present for at least 7 of the 8 sessions. There is a fee to participate, based on household income/size. Space is very limited, so sign up early by calling Catholic Charities, Fredericksburg office, 540-371-1124.

ST. MATTHEW’S WOMEN’S GUILD

Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 8th

, 10:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., when St. Matthew ’s

Women’s Guild will host, “Sip and Sew,” for all women in the parish. Soup will be provided, so please bring a side dish to share (bread, salad, dessert, etc.) If you do crafts, please bring your project to work on or learn something new--like quilting. See you there!