We, at St. Matthews, as the Body of Christ, are stewards of the gifts received who strive to share our gifts in the service of the Lord. We are nourished by God's Word and the Eucharist so that we may be leaven in our world.
The Calling of Saint Matthew is a masterpiece by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, depicting the Calling of Matthew. It was completed in 1599-1600 for the Contarelli Chapel in the church of the French congregation, San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome.
Message from Father Hewes:
It was officially announced this week that Saint Matthew’s Parish will be affected by the general transfer of priests. Father Chadwick after his long and active service here is being transferred to the Parish of Saint John Nepomucene in Bohemia; and Father Raymond will also be receiving a new assignment. I know this unexpected development will have an impact on all of us here in Saint Matthew’s in so many ways. We will have an opportunity to bid farewell as a Parish to Fathers Chadwick and Raymond on June 23rd . Details will follow.
Due to the shortage of priests, we will be receiving just one replacement. I am grateful to Bishop Murphy that Father Allan Sikorski , a priest of our Diocese who was ordained 5 years ago will be coming here to assist me and to serve you.
These transfers will take effect June 26th.
Father Hewes
The Diocese of Rockville Centre joins with Long Island Citizens for Religious Liberty, a non-partisan group of concerned citizens dedicated to the protection and promotion of the First Amendment right to the free exercise of religious belief, to work against the federal government's rule, issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, requiring religious organizations to buy, or subsidize, products and services that violate their religious beliefs and moral consciences ("the HHS mandate.")
We are asking citizens across Long Island to petition our representatives in Congress to vote to rescind the HHS mandate and to repeal the provision of the law that allows the federal bureaucracy to issue future mandates of this kind. We seek only to protect the ability of religious persons and organizations to live out their faith according to their own sincerely held beliefs, free from government interference and coercion. We hope that all Long Islanders who cherish the natural and constitutional right of religious freedom will work to secure this most ancient pillar of American civic life.
Add your voice today by clicking here to send a message to your representatives in Washington, DC. The HHS mandate's callous disregard for the bedrock religious liberties sacred to all Americans cannot be permitted to stand.
Thank you for your help in this critical battle.
Most Reverend William F. Murphy Robert C. Minion
Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre Long Island Citizens for Religious Liberty
The 1stAmendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Pope Benedict XVI "The spirit of our age is profoundly secular and secularism accepts religion - if it accepts it at all - only on its own terms. Under this view, religion is subordinated to the political interests of the secular state and it is precisely this subordination of religion to the state that the First Amendment seeks to prevent."
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput,Philadelphia “While Americans presume that the Constitution guarantees their rights, in practice our rights survive or disappear based on how firmly we defend them.”
Please go to the "Music" tab for exciting news concerning the establishment of a Youth Choir program at St. Matthew's.
Parish Funeral Information click on the Worship tab; and for the Funeral Music policy click on the Music tab.
