Description

This course of study is designed to introduce the inquirer to the beliefs and practices of the Catholic religion, especially how it is experienced in the life of our particular faith community at Saint Matthew Ecumenical Catholic Church. This study will seek to survey the origin and development of Catholic tradition and the evolution of its organizational structure, Catholic spirituality, and Catholic theology.

The course is being offered as a 25-week series that will begin on Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 7:00pm in the classroom at the church. Classes are one hour long.

Those adults who complete this course of study would be eligible to become candidates for baptism and/or confirmation if they so desire and if they have not yet received these sacraments. However, the Inquiry Class is open to all who would seek a greater understanding of Catholicism, especially as it is practiced at Saint Matthew Church.

Watch Recorded Sessions

View the Videos page (Scroll down to “Spiritual Education” | “Introduction to Theology (2022): Faith Seeking Understanding – An Inquiry into the Catholic Faith Tradition”) to watch the recorded sessions.

Attend Mass in Person (inside the church)
English and Spanish

Beginning Sunday February 14th, all are welcome to attend Mass indoors again. Please note that Mass will no longer be held outdoors, only indoors and online. Join us at 9:30 a.m. (English) and 12:30 p.m. (Spanish). We will be keeping with the recommended practices listed below for everyone’s safety and as per California COVID guidelines. We look forward to seeing you all again inside our beautiful church sanctuary!

Please remember:

• Please stay home if you are sick, and join us at church when you are well again.
• Please wear a mask that covers both your nose and mouth. We will also be checking temperatures.
• Please continue to keep a distance of 6 feet from those not in your household.
• We will continue to have our food drive every Sunday.

Watch on Facebook Live
English and Spanish

Click on the link below at 9:30am PST (English) or 12:30pm PST (Spanish). Please note that you may need to refresh the page to see the live video.

Click here to join the service on Facebook Live

Click here to access the Liturgical Aids (scroll down to “Liturgical Aids for Online Mass”)

Mass Recordings

St. Matthew’s Social Justice and Outreach ministry will begin collecting food and toiletry donations weekly at the 9:30 am and 12:30 pm masses. Donations can be left at the church door closest to the outdoor-mass tent. Donations needed include healthy canned and dried food, toiletries, sanitizing and cleaning supplies, diapers (adult and children) and baby wipes. This collection supports working-poor families of our community and is distributed by Western Service Workers Association of Santa Ana.

• Fr. Art will take pictures of all donations and pass them on to appropriate members of the PC.
• Fr. Art will work with volunteers from the 12:30 mass to assure donations are dropped off at WSWA in a timely manner.
• In the event there’s a Sunday without volunteers for drop off, Fr. Art will place donations in the confessional until we can find time/volunteers for drop off.

A Little Information About WSWA

Western Service Workers Association (WSWA) is a free and voluntary, private, unincorporated membership association which operates on an all-volunteer basis and does not accept government funds. WSWA serves Orange County’s lowest paid workers; domestic workers, temporary and part-time workers, “workfare” workers, independent contractors, landscapers, and other low-paid service workers.

WSWA members join together to provide a means of survival through a benefit program including emergency food and clothing, non-emergency dental care, preventative medical care, job information and more. To help please call 714-835-9961.

Special Request from WSWA: Western Service Workers Association needs volunteers with cars to help pick up and distribute food donations to hungry people in need who don’t drive. Days/times they need help with include Fridays at around 10:30 am and Sunday mornings to pick up perishable food (no later than 10:30 or 11:00 am) and other volunteers to deliver food to hungry folks in the community Sundays 12-3 pm. Even if people can volunteer once in a while, not necessarily every Sunday, that is helpful. Distribution is done in a no-contact manner. If you can help, please contact WSWA at 714-835-9961.

Our plan is to open up the class in the children’s classroom at 11 AM on Sundays beginning September 19th. We will still be doing Facebook livestreaming during the class. Go to the Facebook ‘Saint Matthew  Ecumenical Catholic Church Facebook page ‘  But we are encouraging kids from 4-12 to come. We ask that parents permit their children to be in the livestreaming, as we will be integrating them into the lesson. The livestreaming portion lasts half an hour, and in the rest of the class time, we will have activities, prayers, treats. We encourage the Spanish community to come early, bring their kids to Son Shine Club, and then attend the adult education events that are going on simultaneously.

Learn more about the Parish Council here.

All are welcome to attend the open session (first part) of any Parish Council meeting.

During the Covid-19 crisis, Parish Council meetings are being conducted via Zoom at with the details below. Please email Parish Council Moderator Bob Moranno at bobsmpcc2020m@gmail.com to be given access to the meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89096114385?pwd=MWFkd2dmT0tBOTQxRTBiMkdSY2Z2Zz09
Meeting ID: 890 9611 4385
Password: 943986