St. Matt’s Parish 2025 Accomplishments
Administration & Facilities
Financially stable – Continued to pay our bills, maintain a balanced budget and significantly reduce the elevator loan.
Improved online presence by developing a new logo and updating website to enhance communication and engagement.
Parish Council set annual goals based on community input and recommendations from Future Planning Task Force.
Made substantial progress on parking lot renovation.
Reinstalled parish sign at Humboldt & Robie.
Installed AV system in church.
Successfully repaired clay roof tiles and fixed two of four leaks in school building.
Liturgy & Sacraments
Established relationships with Vatican II aligned priests as back up clergy.
Strong sacramental programs, with more baptisms performed and a larger Confirmation class than in previous year.
21 baptisms in 2025.
21 students received sacrament of Confirmation through St. Matthew’s.
28 students made their First Communion at St. Matthew’s.
27 Catholic school students registered for a sacrament in 2025-26.
Developed new partnership with St. Stanislaus which led to four students from St. Stanislaus participating in Confirmation program for the 2025-26 school year.
Faith Formation
44 students (31 families) registered for weekly Faith Formation classes in fall 2025.
10 regular weekly volunteer catechists and helpers plus a list of substitutes make Faith Formation happen at St Matthew.
Updated the handbook for Faith Formation families.
Programs & Activities
Provided many opportunities for fellowship including Coffee Sundays, Rosary Society’s Spring Tea, Nite to Unite, Men’s Club Breakfast with Santa, and Lenten Fish Fry.
Honored Fr. Steve with multiple events throughout the year.
Parish Council hosted a Youth Engagement Retreat where staff, ministry volunteers & families discussed how to better serve young people through current and new programs.
Youth Club engaged in monthly activities and in September hosted Celebrate St. Matt’s event with support from the Men’s Club and Rosary Society.
Piloted Early Childhood Family Faith Formation (ECFFF) Program.
State Fair Strawberry Cleaning combined fundraising and fellowship.
Rosary Society
Donated financial gifts totaling $5,158, with donations going to Casa Guadalupana, Loaves & Fishes, Neighborhood House, Neighbors Inc., Our Lady of Peace Hospice, and St. Mary’s Health Clinic.
Provided hospitality for multiple parish events including funeral lunches, community concerts, and Coffee Sundays,
Contributed to Community of Saints Regional Catholic School teacher appreciation event.
Helped with meal prep and take-out meals at Lenten Fish Fry.
Sponsored Christmas Bake Sale and Boutique and hosted annual Spring Tea event.
Hosted the Saint Paul Deanery Quarterly meeting February 20, 2025.
Hosted the Rosary in Cherokee Park in June, July, and August.
Led Mary’s Way of the Cross during Lent.
Started new event in October – Women’s Social Hour.
Building Community Beyond St. Matthew’s
Hosted public events such as St Paul Civic Symphony concert and Lex-Ham Community Band.
Men’s Club Fish Fry during Lent involved five different groups working together for seven Fridays to serve 300-400+ dinners per night.
Men’s Club participated at West St. Paul Winterfest.
Rosary Society hosted and prayed the rosary with women from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church who brought the Traveling Icon from their church to St. Matthews in November.
Strengthened connection to community through book written by parishioners, Ralph & Judy Brown, which tells the history of the West Side Community Organization (WSCO).
Participated in the Festival of Rights, a West Side grass roots initiative.
Continue to support our partner ministries –Loaves & Fishes, People of Praise, St. Mary’s Clinic, Raices Sagrades, Casa Guadalupana, Community of Saints School, and GAB (Gifted and Belonging.)
Parish band formed and played at various events including some Fish Fry’s.
Celebrate St. Matthews Event in September was open to the public and featured live music along with family-friendly games and activites.
Hosted Night to Unite/National Night Out event for neighborhood.