Parish Life

Seasonal offerings such as: Reflections on the seasons of Advent and Lent; Bible Studies;  Cup of Joy Women's Reflection Morning; Men's Retreat.

For more information, contact Carol Daun, cdaun@stmattoc.org, or 414-762-4200 ext. 113.

Thank you to all the donors, bakers and volunteers who helped make the St. Matthew Blood Drive a huge success.  Your generosity resulted in a collection of 108 units of blood. Your efforts and kind donations saved 324 lives that day, and helped us exceed our lifetime goal of 10,000 lives saved. 

Congratulations to Maureen Novak who donated the 101st unit of blood to meet our goal. This a remarkable achievement for our community. 

 See you on Wednesday, May 14th for our next blood drive.

The Building and Grounds Committee oversees the maintenance and upkeep of the parish property, buildings, and cemetery grounds. It also plans for future needs and capital improvements.  Individuals are needed that are willing to help with projects or that possess special skills. Meetings are scheduled monthly generally on the fourth Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM. 

For more information, contact Dan Wachs, dwachs@stmattoc.org, or 414-762-4200 ext. 126.

Next Meeting: Thursday, February 20th, 6:00pm in the Good Shepherd Room.

 If you have a loved one who lives with any mental health challenge, this group offers a confidential place to listen, share, and pray for each other as we support our loved one(s) through their struggles. No need to RSVP – if you have questions, please email Carol Daun: cdaun@stmattoc.org or Eileen Aalderks: emaaldwy@gmail.com

St. Matthew’s Parish holds an authentic Door County Style Fish Boil several times a year. The fish is cooked outside in large kettles over an open flame. The fish boils are held between 4:00 and 7:00 PM in the Parish Cafeteria.  Advanced tickets are available at the Parish Office during Normal Business Hours the week before the Fish Boil.  Help is needed preparing on Thursday evening, and serving on Friday evening. For more information, contact stmatthewfishboil@gmail.com.

Upcoming dates are:

• Friday, April 4th, 2025, 4:00pm-7:00pm in the school cafeteria
• Friday, May 16th, 4:00pm-7:00pm in the school cafeteria.

The menu consists of:

• Boiled potatoes
• Carrots
• Onions
• Delicious Fish
• Coleslaw
• Bread
• Home-made desserts
• Beverages

Honors the name of Jesus by encouraging an active religious life and promoting the spiritual welfare of the men of the parish.   Contact Mark Zapp, Mark.Zapp@yahoo.com for more information.

Holy Name Society activities:

• Men's Lenten Retreat (annually)
• Mother's Day Brunch (annually)
• Card Party Social:  February 28th, 2025 at St. Matthew.
• Various Raffles to support the parish
• Past Raffles have included:  Snowblower, Meat Products

Recommends and implements programs and events designed to facilitate growth of the parish community, collaboration between the school and parish community and encourage the gifts and talents of parishioners.   Click the button below for a list of upcoming events.

The plarn ministry began as part of our parish Lenten project in 2023.  Parishioners have continued to dedicate their time and efforts to continuing this ministry.  How can you help? Find out below!

For more information, please contact Janice in the parish office, parish@stmattoc.org, or 414-762-4200 ext. 120.

What are plarn mats? 

Plarn mats or mercy mats are sleeping mats made out of plastic grocery shopping bags.  The mats are used by those experiencing homelessness to protect their sleeping bag or box from the elements.

How can I make a mat, or contribute to the plarn making process?

We are happy to have help in any of the various stages of plarn-making. Is crocheting not your gift? No problem! We welcome help with any of the following steps.

A full tutorial on how to make plarn and mercy mats is available on this YouTube link and on these step by step instructions.

• Collecting plastic grocery store bags (No Sendiks or thicker plastic bags, please), and bringing them to the parish.
• Cutting the plastic bags into four strips
• Looping the cut strips and creating a "plarn ball"
• Crocheting the mats--see the link above for additional information and step by step instructions.

Where do I drop off my plastic bags/loops/plarn ball, or completed mat?

Please drop off your items to the south wing office. We will take care of dropping off the mats to the agencies. 

The Prayer Network supports parishioners, their families, and friends through daily prayer. Petitions come from the parish community for those who need healing, guidance or have a special request. Make a request by clicking the button below. Intentions are received weekly and are sent to Prayer Network members via email. 

What is a prayer shawl? Who should have one?

Prayer shawls are lap blankets or shawls for anyone who is in need of healing prayers.  The shawls are made while praying for the person who will recieve them.  They can be knit, crocheted, sewn or quilted.

I need a prayer shawl or know someone who needs one.  How do I pick one up?

Prayer shawls can be picked up from the Religious Formation Office located in the South Wing – we have many to choose from!  There is also a basket in the gathering space with prayer shawls – both lap size and pocket size.   

How do I make a shawl?

Prayer shawls can be created at home, on your own.  

Patterns are available by going to the websites below, or contacting the Religious Formation Office.  Please call 414-762-4200 ext. 115 or email Mary Gross using the button below.

http://www.shawlministry.com/index.htm

http://www.shawlministry.com/tipsheet.html

http://www.shawlministry.com/instructions.html

I have created a shawl—what happens next?

Bring your shawl donation to the Religious Formation Office and we will take care of display and distribution.

Plans and facilitates the monthly collection and distribution of needed items to different agencies in the community that serve families and individuals in need.  Each month, we collect items for a different local agency (please see below).  These items may be brought to church and left in the large, wooden "Reaching Out" container located in the main hallway outside of the church.   For more information, please contact  Jane Januszewski  (djanuszewski@wi.rr.com).

2024 Monthly Collection Items 

January: Meta House - 2024 planners, coloring books, baby wipes, diapers, baby bottles & brushes, tweezers, nail clippers, Q-tips, glue sticks,, board games, puzzles, playing cards, duffel bags.

February: Just One More Ministries - Non-perishable food items and cash donations.

March: Franciscan Peace Makers - Travel size: toothpaste, hand sanitizer; toothbrushes, hats, gloves & socks for women, toilet paper, individual packets of tissues, chapstick, paper towels, paper plates, paper cups, garbage bags.

April: Milwaukee Street Angels -  Mini Flashlights, blankets, batteries (AA & AAA), men's new socks and underwear, men's jeans (waist 30-34), sweatpants (M - XL), toilet paper, sleeping mats.

May: Hope House - Towels, twin size sheets, blankets, pillows, non-perishable food items, kitchen utensils, deoderant, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, acrylic paint, arts & crafts supplies.

June: Sandwich Sunday Outreach - lunch bags, baggies, juice boxes, small bags of chips/snacks, grocery store gift cards and cash donations

July: St. Vincent dePaul Ministries - All school supplies, backpacks and cash donations

August: Casa Maria - Bibles, 33 gallon garbage bags, toilet paper, cleaning & laundry supplies, dish soap, cereal, peanut butter, Hamburger Helper.

September: South Milwaukee Human Concerns - Non-perishable food items, new or gently used men's, women's and children's clothing, cookware, lamps, blankets

October: Women's Care Center & Care Net Pregnancy Center - Diapers (all sizes), baby wipes, bottles, pacifiers, baby hygiene items, toys, baby clothing (newborn-3T), baby blankets/quilts, baby hats, socks, toys, children's books.

November: House of Peace - New clothing, personal care items, non-perishable food items.

December: Guest House - Non-perishable canned goods, towels & washcloths, shaving cream, disposable razors, lotion, deoderant, Q-tips, cotton balls, new flip flops, paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, oral hygiene products.

The Respect Life committee promotes the Catholic Church's teaching that all life is sacred from the moment of conception to natural death.  There are different events held throughout the year, including:  baby shower, spiritual adoption of unborn babies, and mother's day rose sale. For more information, contact Carol Daun.

On the second Sunday of the month, volunteers gather to make sandwiches and put together bag lunches, which are sent to Guest House of Milwaukee.   Guest House then distributes the sandwiches to those in need.   The group meets at 9:00am in the school kitchen.  For more information, please contact Marilyn Krueger.   

Donations of sandwich sized Ziplock bags, brown paper lunch bags, and snack sized bags of chips are always welcome!