Greetings and peace, St. Matthew Parishioners,
Happy 40th Anniversary!
The traditional gift for a 40th wedding anniversary is the ruby, symbolizing deep love, passion and prosperity. In the Bible, the number 40 often represents a period of testing, trial and purification that precedes a major transition, renewal or fulfillment of God’s promises.
As we celebrate 40 years of St. Matthew, these themes feel especially fitting. St. Matthew Parish is a force to be reckoned with. Our vision of being “Connected in Christ and Moved by the Spirit” is made real every day and begins with deep love. We love God deeply, worship Him alone and are passionate about serving Him and our brothers and sisters in need. We are also blessed to be part of a growing and prosperous community.
How many Catholic churches in 2026 get to be part of establishing a new parish? We are in the midst of that transition as the Waxhaw campus becomes a standalone parish. This rededicates each of us to our mission to love and serve Jesus so much that we share Him with others.
I remember my first visit to St. Matthew when I was in high school, around 1996. We did not yet have a church building, and I remember seeing families folding chairs in the Parish Center after Mass. Before that, we celebrated Mass in a movie theater, sharing in the uncertainty and challenges of those early years. Since then, we have endured our share of trials, uncertainty, purification and sacrifice. Yet through it all, we have remained strong and are still standing. Bravo!
As we look to the future, our 2026-2032 Pastoral Plan gives us a path forward. Shaped by nearly 3,000 parishioner responses, the Disciple Maker Index and Bishop Martin’s vision for the Diocese of Charlotte, the plan calls us to grow as missionary disciples, serve those in need, welcome others to Christ, strengthen faith formation and community, and prepare our parish for the needs of future generations. Our hope is not simply to grow larger, but to grow deeper in our relationship with Christ and wider in our invitation to others.
Thank you for the important role each of you has played in these first 40 years and for the role you will play in the years to come. My heart is full. Cheers to 40 years!
God bless you all,
Father Pat Cahill
Pastor
Friday, Sept. 18
We’ll begin with a special 40 Hours Devotion Opening Mass at 7 pm, followed by 40 hours of Eucharistic Adoration beginning at 8 pm in the Daily Chapel and continuing through Sunday at noon.
Sunday, Sept. 20
Following the 10:45 am Mass, we’ll gather for a Eucharistic Procession before coming together for an afternoon of celebration.
From Noon–5 pm, our 40th Anniversary Festival will fill the campus with food, fellowship and fun! There will be bounce houses, a petting zoo, live entertainment, face painting, a dunk tank, temporary tattoos, lawn games, bingo and more. Enjoy a meal or sweet treat from the Knights of Columbus and local food trucks, including Chef in the Streets, UnosTacos NC, Abbott’s Frozen Custard and Lil Orbits Donuts & More. You can also enjoy visits from police K-9s and fire trucks, Heavenly Honey and commemorative T-shirt sales, and a special parish history display celebrating the people, moments and milestones that have shaped St. Matthew over the past 40 years.
Let’s come together to give thanks for our past, celebrate our present and look with hope toward all that God has in store for St. Matthew!
We’ll begin with a special 40 Hours Devotion Opening Mass at 7 pm, followed by 40 hours of Eucharistic Adoration beginning at 8 pm in the Daily Chapel and continuing through Sunday at noon.
Sunday, Sept. 20
Following the 10:45 am Mass, we’ll gather for a Eucharistic Procession before coming together for an afternoon of celebration.
From Noon–5 pm, our 40th Anniversary Festival will fill the campus with food, fellowship and fun! There will be bounce houses, a petting zoo, live entertainment, face painting, a dunk tank, temporary tattoos, lawn games, bingo and more. Enjoy a meal or sweet treat from the Knights of Columbus and local food trucks, including Chef in the Streets, UnosTacos NC, Abbott’s Frozen Custard and Lil Orbits Donuts & More. You can also enjoy visits from police K-9s and fire trucks, Heavenly Honey and commemorative T-shirt sales, and a special parish history display celebrating the people, moments and milestones that have shaped St. Matthew over the past 40 years.
Let’s come together to give thanks for our past, celebrate our present and look with hope toward all that God has in store for St. Matthew!
- St. Matthew was established as a new parish for South Charlotte on September 21, 1986.
- Our first Mass was celebrated in a movie theater on Highway 51 on November 2, 1986.
- The Ballantyne campus spans 28 acres.
- Our Waxhaw campus opened in 2015.
- The 12 trees at the front church entrance represent the Twelve Apostles.
- Marian Circle features a vibrant collection of rose varieties, each symbolizing the diversity of our parish community.
- Our campus is home to a thriving colony of bees, rescued from a 5-by-7-foot hive discovered in the roof of our New Life Center. Each summer, they produce Heavenly Honey, harvested right here on campus!
- Our parish is home to more than 30 active ministries dedicated to serving our community, along with more than a dozen support groups offering outreach, care, and support to individuals and families facing hardship.
- Today, our parish has grown into a vibrant community of more than 12,000 registered parishioners.
