Our Mission

At St. Matt’s we believe in accepting everyone where they’re at in their faith journey. One way we strive to live out that belief is by creating a parish environment where all individuals, whether they are first-time visitors or long-time members, feel welcomed, valued and included. We want to be a safe, comfortable and healing place where all Catholics, including those who may feel marginalized, can gather to celebrate God’s love and live out our faith.

Situated on St. Paul’s Westside, St. Matt’s is surrounded by a richly diverse community, and we value the variety of life experiences members bring to our faith community. St. Matt’s is a place where we want everyone to feel free to be their authentic self. We strive to honor and respect our members' differences, while offering spiritual nourishment to all and encouraging everyone to actively engage in the life and leadership of our Catholic community.

Day by day and week by week we sit and open our hearts and minds to the challenge of the Word of God, a Word which comforts and confronts. We then gather at the altar of the Lord and celebrate the mystery by which the Spirit of Jesus renews the face of the earth. Then we are sent forth. We believe the work of the Eucharist is not found within the walls of the church, but in the streets of the city. We go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

We are committed to creating a dynamic and inclusive parish community where young people feel valued, respected, and are inspired to deepen their spiritual lives. Programs include Early Childhood Family Faith Formation program (ECFFF), Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Youth Faith Formation, and Youth Club for students in grades 8-12.

Hospitality is at the heart of how we show our love for one another. At St. Matt’s, it begins when someone walks through the doors for weekend Mass. We try to greet everyone as they enter the church and invite them to wear a name tag so we can address each other by name. The intent is to cultivate a spirit of connection, inclusion and openness. We also host events throughout the year where everyone can gather to enjoy food and fellowship, including Coffee Sundays, Boy Scout’s Pancake Breakfast with Santa, Lenten Fish Frys, and Mass-in-the-Park. 

Due to the shortage of priests, instead of a pastor, St. Matt’s has sacramental minister who presides at weekend Masses and other services. At St. Matt’s, lay members who serve on the parish council, the finance council, and as trustees, work with the parish administrator to lead our faith community and live out our mission. St. Matt’s has a small staff with part-time employees, so we also rely heavily on volunteers to complete the work of the parish. Everyone is encouraged to find a way to get involved and there are many options to choose from. We believe getting involved, even in a small way, leads to greater spiritual enrichment.

We believe that by making connections and building partnerships, we can make greater progress towards our mission. We have relationships with other West Side organizations who share our commitment to support a vibrant neighborhood where all people feel connected, safe, healthy, and successful. St. Matt’s also strives to partner with other Catholic parishes to advance shared goals around youth ministry and adult faith formation.

St. Matt’s embraces Catholic teaching on social justice which emphasizes the inherent dignity of every person and the call to build a just and compassionate society. We partner with a number of organizations to address the needs of the poor and vulnerable in our community, including: Loaves & Fishes, which provides free meals in our social hall Mondays – Fridays; St. Mary’s Health Clinic, which offers free health care to the uninsured; Raices Sagradas, which offers Mental Health services to immigrants struggling with trauma, and Casa Guadalupana, which operates out of our former rectory to provide housing and supports to families with refugee status. We also support Isaac’s Blessing Bags, founded by one of our members, which provides assistance to homeless people.