Liturgical Ministries
Staff Liasion: Kelly Ott, kott@stmatthewtn.org
Altar Servers
Altar servers have the important responsibility of assisting the priest and deacon during Mass and other special liturgical events. Potential servers must be in the 5th grade or higher and attend training sessions before serving.
Art & Environment
Leslie Van Kerkhove
The Art & Environment Ministry strives to create a beautiful surrounding for worship and prayerful celebrations. Members enhance the Church and Chapel for special feast days throughout the year, most notably Easter and Christmas and the liturgical seasons of Lent and Advent. Tasks include placing flowers in the sanctuary, setting up the nativity scene or arranging palms to name a few.
Children’s Choirs
Rebecca Harding
Laura Holderman
The Children’s Choirs including Kids Choir (Grades 1-2), Liturgy Choir (Grades 3-8), and the Liturgy Choir Cantors & Psalmists (Grades 5-8).
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) are commissioned ministers appointed by the Pastor to distribute the Blessed Sacrament during Mass liturgies. To become an EMHC, one must be a Catholic in good standing.
First Friday Adoration
The Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place the first Friday of every month after the 8:00 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction on Saturday morning. Participants may sign up for desired time slots. The sign up sheet is sent out via email, put in the bulletin, and posted on facebook each month. You do not have to register to come, but we encourage you to sign up for a half hour time slot.
Funeral Ministry
The Funeral Ministry assists in planning or pre-planning funeral arrangements.
Homebound Ministry
Homebound Ministers are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who have been further trained and instituted to bring Holy Communion to the homebound in residential or healthcare facilities and individual homes.
Hospitality Ministers
Hospitality Ministers greet those attending Mass with the objective of instilling a sense of belonging. Duties include participating in the offertory, distributing bulletins and straightening the Sanctuary after Mass. Eligible volunteers include men, women and young adults with a warm, welcoming personality.
Lectors
Patricia M. Smith
Lectors proclaim the Word of God during Mass. New lectors complete a training period and workshops, and other training may be required as liturgical needs merit.
Liturgy Guild
Weddings and Funerals are ministries of the parish, and the Liturgy Guild ministry provides assistance by helping the priest and deacons with weddings, funerals, and other liturgies. We need volunteers to meet with the clergy, the wedding party, and their families for the Nuptial Mass/Wedding Service and rehearsal. For funerals, volunteers are needed to greet the families at the visitation and at the funeral itself and providing logistical support during the funerals.
Martha Ministry
Gina Marsden
marsdenlodge@gmail.com
The Martha Ministry is a behind-the scenes group of dedicated women who care for the linens used during Mass. Handling these linens is done with great care and respect as these linens come in contact with the Precious Body and Blood. Volunteers launder and iron the linens on a one-month/year rotation.
Music Ministries
Rebecca Harding
Psalm 146:2
“I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have being.”
BECOME A PART OF THE MUSIC MINISTRY:
5pm Saturday Vigil Mass:
The music at the 5pm Saturday Vigil Mass is our most contemporary in style. We strive to provide music that utilizes a praise and worship sound while remaining authentically and liturgically Catholic.
The Saturday Mass musicians are a group of singers, the piano, the bass and occasional additional instruments.
We rehearse on the first Monday night of every month at 7pm, on Saturdays from 3:45-4:45pm and provide music for the 5pm Mass.
We welcome all interested singers and instrumentalists to come join us, especially if you enjoy a contemporary sound!
8:30am Sunday Mass:
The 8:30am Sunday Mass music is the most classical of the three Masses we offer each weekend. We draw into the rich musical history of the Church with many traditional Catholic hymns, and provide a more classic take on many Catholic favorites.
Accompanied by the organ, and with the addition of several violins, there is a true choir presence at the 8:30am Mass.
We rehearse on Wednesdays from 7:30-8:30pm and meet on Sundays at 8am to provide music for the 8:30am Mass.
If you are a musician and find yourself drawn to a more traditional sound, this is the Mass for you!
11am Sunday Mass:
The music for our 11am Sunday Mass is made up of a blend of traditional and contemporary musical styles, and we offer many post Vatican II Catholic standards.
Our 11am Sunday Mass group includes the piano, guitar, upright bass and full choir, as well as occasional additional instruments.
The choir rehearses on Wednesday nights from 7:30-8:30pm, and meets on Sundays at 10am to prepare for the 11am Mass.
The style of the music for this Mass is more diverse, so if you sing or play an instrument and you enjoy a range of music, consider getting involved!
Additional Opportunities:
Handbell Choir: Our handbell choir plays periodically throughout the church year, especially for big feast days. They rehearse every Wednesday and perform several times a year at Mass.
Men’s Gregorian Schola: This group sings the traditional Gregorian chants of the Church and rehearses two Sunday evenings a month. They sing for special Masses throughout the year.
Little Light Choir: This choir is for children in grades K-2nd Grade and is led by our music director, Rebecca Harding. It teaches how to be part of an ensemble and participate in the Mass. The group rehearses on Thursdays, from 3-3:45pm.
Liturgy Choir: This choir is for children in grades 3rd-8th and is led by our school music teacher, Laura Holderman. It provides music for all school Masses and occasional parish Masses. Students may also cantor. The choir rehearses on Thursdays from 3-4, and cantors rehearse from 4-4:30.
There is a place for you here in our music ministry!
Sacristan Ministry
Sacristans are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who have been appointed by the Pastor to assist by preparing the church and chapel for all liturgies.
Family Life
Staff Liasion: Alex Halfmann ahalfmann@stmatthewtn.org
Boy Scouts
Christopher Joly, Scoutmaster
Boy Scout Troop 226, located in Franklin, TN, has been chartered with Saint Matthew Catholic Church since 2010. We meet in the Cohan-Hansom Building each Sunday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Boy Scouts focuses on being a boy-led organization, which participates in activities of their choosing, from Boy Scout Camp at Boxwell, backpacking in the backcountry, canoeing, whitewater rafting, and more! Over the years, our troop has successfully assisted several young men attain the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts. The national average of Boy Scouts attaining this rank is less than 6%.
Thank you for you interest in Troop 226. For more information, please contact our Scoutmaster, Christopher Joly, at troop226@stmatthewtn.org.
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College Outreach
Mary Starr
collegeoutreach@stmatthewtn.org
This program maintains contact with parishioners who are away at college. Cards and care packages are sent to help encourage and strengthen our college students. Volunteers are needed to write letters and assemble care packages.
Community Sunday
Community Weekend is held once a month August -May following the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses. This event gives parishioners an opportunity for fellowship over coffee and pastries. Volunteers are needed to help with set-up, preparing coffee, serving and clean-up.
Cub Scouts
Doug Kennedy
Family Service Ministry
Theresa Chau
Our mission is for families to prayerfully serve our parish and community guided by the Holy Spirit.
Family Weekend
George Adams
This ministry coordinates a fun weekend at Tims Ford Lake for families to gather and enjoy.
Girl Scouts
Kelly Anne Jensen
kellyannejensen1@gmail.com
Colleen Tran
mcolleen.tran@gmail.com
Lunch Bunch
Ellen Wade
The Lunch Bunch meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 12:00 p.m. in the church narthex for lunch and bingo. A small fee is charged for lunch and white elephant prizes. This next meeting will be September 10, 2024.
Men’s Club
Jon Sowa
All male parishioners over the age of eighteen, both Catholic and non-Catholic are eligible to become active members. In addition to providing a social forum for the men of the parish, the Club sponsors many activities and events. Meetings are held the first Thursday of every month.
Natural Family Planning
Matt & Franchelle Jaeger
This ministry teaches a class and assists couple in practicing Natural Family Planning, which is the general title for the scientific, natural, and moral methods of family planning.
Prayer Chain
This group prays for the needs and special intentions of parish members. Volunteers may sign-up to be on the prayer chain list by e-mailing us at info@stmatthewtn.org.
St. Gianna Circle
Elizabeth Abaray
St. Gianna Circle is designed to support and affirm women in the many roles they have as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters and friends. Our ministry is focused on women bonding through their shared vocations and Catholic faith. Moms of all ages and stages are welcome to participate in our ministry.
Join us on the first Tuesday of each month from 7-9 p.m. in the Cohan-Hansom Building.
Troops of Saint George
Jonathan Prenares
The Troops of Saint George is a national fraternal Catholic apostolate for young men (ages 6-18) looking for a life of adventure coupled with virtue. The Troops of Saint George apostolate aims to use the outdoors as a canvas and the sacraments as a path to light the way for the formation of holy Catholic men and boys. Whether called to the vocation of the priesthood, the religious life, or that of holy fatherhood, fathers and sons will take a prayerful pilgrimage together to fulfill Christ’s desire to grow in virtue and their holy Catholic faith as they journey toward heaven.
Women’s Club
Connie Vargas
Cynthia Myers
As women of Saint Matthew Catholic Church, our mission is to serve our parish, community and God through fellowship, service, and faith formation.
- Click above to see this year’s schedule of events. Volunteers are needed for most events. Please contact Connie or Cynthia to help with these events.
Youth Ministries
Frankie Tripodi
Rise is Saint Matthew’s Youth Group open to all high-school-aged students who desire a place to breathe. This world is crazy, and we often find ourselves going a mile a minute with everything. Rise Youth Group is an opportunity to not necessarily slow down, but rather intentionally get to know God, ourselves, and others. Our group doesn’t exist to just sit around the entire time; we play plenty of games and sports, enjoy delicious food and ultimately build community. Additionally, we help teens truly grow in their relationships with Jesus through talks, discussions, prayer nights, the sacraments, and retreats.
The Junior High Youth Group called Ignite follows a similar model, but is designed for youth in 7th-8th grade (regardless of school attended).
Various activities are offered throughout the year for both groups. Activities are spiritual, social, and service oriented.
Parish Life
Staff Liasion: Kelly Ott, kott@stmatthewtn.org
Bereavement Ministry
Gina Bonn
Ellen Wade
The Bereavement Ministry at Saint Matthew seeks to provide solace and consolation for loved ones who have experienced loss. This is done through Mass intentions, phone calls, email, and personal visitation. GriefShare is another ministry available to help loved ones grieve. Contact us at any time.
Religious Education & Formation
Staff Liasion: Tony Jesse, DRE 615-550-5100, tjesse@stmatthewtn.org
Adult Faith Formation
This committee provides educational opportunities throughout the year to help our adult community grow in faith.
Book Clubs
Joan McGranaghan (Daytime)
Molly Wuller (Evening)
A variety of books are discussed at the St. Matthew Book Club. A daytime group meets at 9:30 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. The evening group meets the first Monday of each month.
Catechists (Religious Education Teachers)
Catechists are ministers of the Word who require sound orientation, preparation, and dedication. Because of their love of the Catholic faith, these volunteers must be enthusiastic about sharing their faith with their students. Classes are held Sunday mornings during the school year.
Religious Education
The Religious Education program of Saint Matthew Parish seeks to provide our children, youth, and adults with the knowledge, experience, and skills necessary to become faithful and fruitful disciples of Jesus.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
Tony Jesse, DRE
RCIA is a process for those who would like to learn more about the Catholic Church, and who are considering the possibility of joining. It is open to all non-Catholics who would like to learn more.
Vacation Bible School
Tony Jesse, DRE
tjesse@stmatthewtn.org
Vacation Bible School is held for one week during the summer for children ages 4 through 10. Volunteers are needed to teach classes and provide administrative support.
Social Action & Outreach
Habitat for Humanity
Patricia M. Smith
This Ministry assists the Habitat for Humanity organization to help people in our community improve a place they can call home. Volunteers are needed to help build, provide meals, and coordinate efforts.
Haiti Ministry
Valerie Canning
The Haiti Ministry supports our sister parish, Our Lady of Miracles in Gobert, Haiti. The group provides support through prayer, funding, education, medical support, and other general needs.
Knights of Columbus Council 12012
Mark Abolins
rocksandfaultsandfolds@gmail.com
Ladies of Charity – Nashville
Arlene Smith
The Ladies of Charity organization began with the mission “To Serve Rather Than Be Served.” We strive to serve all residents of Davidson County with food, or financial help if they are experiencing a hardship in their life. We provide help in those times of crisis.
Loaves and Fishes
Bill Thomson
Loaves and Fishes – Brownie Makers
This group prepares and serves lunch to the homeless on the first Wednesday of every month at Holy Name Church.
Respect for Life
Elizabeth Abaray
This ministry is dedicated to a respect for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Through education and a public information effort, the ministry works to identify and address sanctity of life issues and needs of the parish and community.
Room in the Inn
Rhea Forte
Chris Holt
Thomas Langdon
This group provides a warm, safe place to sleep for a small group of homeless men during the winter months. Volunteers are needed to drive, prepare dinner, prepare bag lunches and spend the night in the Cohan-Hansom Building.
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Paul Stigamier svdpfranklintn@gmail.com
https://www.svdpfranklintn.org
This ministry serves the needs of those in the community with financial help in paying a bill as well as delivering food and household items such as dishes, clothes, and furniture. Their goal in this ministry is to grow in spirituality as they assist others, providing a hand up as opposed to a handout. They meet on the first and third Mondays of every month at 7:00 p.m.