St. Matthew Parish 19 Dora Lane, Limerick, Maine 04048-3527

Tel. 207-793-2244 Website: www.stmatthewlimerick.org

Email: StMatthew@portlanddiocese.org Diocese of Portland Diocesan website: www.portlanddiocese.org

We welcome you to the Catholic Community of St. Matthew and the celebration of the Eucharist.

ST. MATTHEW PARISH STAFF:

V. Rev. Wilfred Labbe, Pastor

V. Rev. Jack Dickinson, Parochial Vicar

Deacon Paul Lissandrello, Pastoral Associate

Heather Silva, Administrative Assistant

Deacon Paul Lissandrello, P.C.L.

Deacon Paul Lissandrello Altar Server Coord.

Gail Libby, Music Director, 207-423-5998

FINANCE COMMISSION:

Kevin LaFreniere

Theressa Harrigan

LaurieJane Kelley

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS:

Jon DiCentes, Grand Knight, 247-8875

BIRTHPLACE HELPLINE:

Abortion Alternatives/Project Rachel,

1-800-227-3002

WEEKEND MASSES:

Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

Sunday at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m.

WEEKDAY MASSES:

8:00 a.m. - Monday Prayer Service

8:00 a.m. - Tuesday*, Thursday*, Friday*

7:30 a.m. - Wednesday* *Check weekly bulletin for possible time changes.

BAPTISMS: Parents who want to have their child(ren) baptized are

asked to please call the parish office (793-2244).

WEDDINGS: Anyone planning to get married must call the parish

office at least SIX MONTHS PRIOR to the proposed wedding date.

CONFESSIONS: Saturday at 3:00 p.m., AND ANYTIME BY APPOINTMENT.

NEW PARISHIONERS: Welcome to St. Matthew Parish. Please fill out the Par-

ish Membership Form below and drop it in the collec-tion basket or mail to the parish office.

DOMESTIC ABUSE HOTLINE: 324-1802 or 1-800-239-7298

PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN: www.portlanddiocese.org/protecting-gods-children

We joyfully welcome back to the Church any of our brothers and sisters who may have been away. PARISH MEMBERSHIP: Name ______________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ City _______________________________________________ Zip Code ___________________________________________ Phone No.___________________________________________ Email Address________________________________________ Check _____New Registration _____Updating Info. _____Change of Address _____Moving out of Parish

MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEKEND (May 2 & 3)

Saturday 4:30 p.m. Glen Googins by The Estrella Family

Sunday 9:00 a.m. Matthew Webb by His Family

MASSES FOR THE WEEK

Monday Miraculous Medal Novena & 8:00 a.m. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

Tuesday 8:00 a.m. Corbett Snyder by The Snyder Family

Wednesday 8:00 a.m. Our Lady of the Rosary for Prayers Answered By Constance Cote

Thursday 8:00 a.m. Souls in Purgatory by Constance Cote

Friday 8:00 a.m. Raymond Chaloux by Constance Cote

MASS INTENTIONS NEXT WEEKEND (May 9 & 10)

Saturday 4:30 p.m. Robert & Gail Mercer by The Snyder Family

Sunday 9:00 a.m. Myron Francis by Mark & Debbie Francis

Readings for the Week of May 3, 2020

Sunday: Acts 2:14a, 36-41/Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 [1]/1 Pt 2:20b-25/Jn 10:1-10

Monday: Acts 11:1-18/Ps 42:2-3; 43:3, 4 [cf. 3a]/ Jn 10:11-18

Tuesday: Acts 11:19-26/Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7 [Ps 117:1a]/Jn 10:22-30

Wednesday: Acts 12:24—13:5a/Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8 [4]/Jn 12:44-50

Thursday: Acts 13:13-25/Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27 [2]/Jn 13:16-20

Friday: Acts 13:26-33/Ps 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab [7bc]/Jn 14:1-6

Saturday: Acts 13:44-52/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 [3cd]/Jn 14:7-14

Next Sunday: Acts 6:1-7/Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 [22]/1 Pt 2:4-9/Jn 14:1-12

Would you like to have the Sanctuary Lamp burn in the church for your loved one? There is a list in the Narthex you can sign up for the weeks you want.

Donations of $10 for 7 Days and $20 for 14 Days.

Sanctuary Lamp burning:

April 28—May 4—

St. Matthew Church Limerick

TODAY FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER. THE READINGS BEGIN ON PAGE 89 OF THE MISSALETTE.

Pastor’s Pondering

As this time of confinement lingers on, I am coming to the realization that this is not a time for a sedentary lifestyle. Put another way, I need to get up from my desk, step away from the table, and spend less time on the couch. This is, for me, more difficult than it sounds. Desk work is about the only work I get to do these days, I like to eat, and my couch is more comfortable than I care to admit. Be that as it may, I am trying to be better at getting outside and walking for at least an hour a day. It would be helpful if the weather would cooperate. The other day the sun was out, it was relatively warm, so I put on some shorts and a sweatshirt and headed out for a walk. My path for the day was to leave the rectory in the direction of downtown Sanford and to come back by way of Number One Pond. I prayed the Rosary for the first part of the walk, and then I listened to music. The mix of music I listened to on Pandora was called “feel good” music. I have to admit that after about two songs I felt a weight lifted and a little spring in my step. I also have to admit that at some points I actually felt like dancing. If I knew I would not embarrass myself because of my dancing awk-wardness I would have danced the whole way home. So why do I mention this? I think it’s because in this little moment of euphoria in the midst of the heaviness that seems to be lingering over us, I found normalcy. In the warmth of the sun, in the rush of exercise, in the joy of music I was able to see that in time all will be well. It wasn’t some great proclamation that the pandemic is over, it was not in an announcement that a cure had been found, it was simply in the appreciation of little things. There is no doubt that what we are all going through is hard. We have no idea how long this will continue, we have no idea about how this will affect us financially for the long term, we hear news about food shortages, and a summer with no vaca-tions and we wonder if we will ever have reason to be happy again. A little walk, a little sunshine, and a little music has con-vinced me that not only will we be happy again, but we may very well be happier than we ever have been. Why you ask? Let me give you another example from my own experience. While I do not have much hair, I do like to keep it neat and short. As with most of you I haven’t been able to get a haircut for weeks. But today a parishioner who has heard me whining about needing a haircut showed up at the office and cut my hair. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for this generous gesture. This little thing which in the old-world order I might have taken for granted is now something that causes me to be grateful which causes me to be joyful. Soon enough we will all be set free and able to resume our routines. But if our routine does not include an appreciation for the little things, if our routines do not remind us to be grateful for the kindness that others show us, if our routines see us taking the little things for granted, than all this time spent in confinement will really be time wasted. We have been given a once in a life-time opportunity to learn the power of appreciation and gratitude, it would be a good idea if we make the best use of this gift so that our return to routine will not be simply normal but can be extraordinary.

~Fr. Bill

The Fourth Sunday of Easter

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

As it was announced at the live-streamed masses last week-end, I will be retiring from active ministry, effective April 30th. This is in accordance with a new diocesan policy that requires all deacons to retire when they reach the age of 75. My retirement has been approved and I am now being given Senior Deacon status. Father Bill has agreed that I may still serve the parish in a ministerial role (assisting at Mass, officiating at baptisms, marriages, wakes and burials, etc.) but I will no longer be involved in Faith Formation and related activities. I have enjoyed a fruitful ministry of almost seventeen years at Saint Matthew’s and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Father Nadeau, who hired me, Father Colpitts, with whom I served for eleven years, and Fathers Phil, Jack, and Bill, who have supported my diaconate in the past three years. I am especially grateful to the many Faith Formation and Youth Ministry teachers and parents I have worked with and for those in the committees and commissions who helped me to “build up the kingdom in our midst.” My wife, Pat, and I will continue to be active members of this parish that has been so welcoming and special to us since we first came here in 2003.

In gratitude for the many blessings of being able to serve you,

Deacon Paul

A BIG THANK YOU!

To all our parishioners who made online donations to the Food Pantry! You are all a blessing in disguise. We are so grateful for your generosity to help us out! We will use it to buy food from the Good Shepherd and area stores as needed to fill our shelves and to feed the many families we serve in our community every month. With these trying times our numbers are slowly growning each week. Our need of food and paper goods is always in demand. We have switched to a drive through service for the safety of everyone. This process is totally hands free for the families. All they have to do is unlock their trunk and we put the items in the car and off they go. We will probably be continuing this process for the next couple of months. Thank you again!

God Bless! Dianna Ouellette

ST. MATTHEW CHURCH FOOD PANTRY

THE PANTRY SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS:

1st Monday of the month: 6-7pm EVERY Tuesday 10am-12pm

**Serving residents of Limerick, Newfield, Parsonsfield or parishioners.

St. Matthew Food Pantry is always in need of a few items they have a hard time purchasing from Good Shepherd. Would you be willing to donate these items? A collection container can be found in the Narthex under the tables.

Pasta Hamburger Helper* Condiments* Canned Meat Spaghetti Sauce* Chef Boyardee* Jelly & Jams* Soups Cereal* Oatmeal* Canned Veggies Mac & Cheese Crackers* Granola Bars* Fruit Snacks*

Bread & Eggs are always useful, if you can drop during pantry hours.

*These items we tend to have a shortage of.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!

Plastic & paper bags are needed for the Food Pantry. You may leave them in the narthex in the Food Pantry bin.

PARISH FINANCES Amount needed weekly to operate parish $ 4,200.00 Offertory 4/26/20 $ 1,715.00 WeShare 4/22/20-4/28/20 $ 1,365.50 APRIL 2020 OFFERTORY $ 16,162.00 BELOW April Offertory Goal $ 638.00

WHAT SHALL I BRING TO THE LORD, THE GOD OF HEAVEN, WHEN I COME TO WORSHIP HIM? - Micah 6:6

PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO SUPPORT OUR PAR-ISH IN THIS CHALLENGING TIME. Our parish op-erates solely on your donations. You may mail your do-nations, drop them in the white box by the office door or go online and make your donations that way. Our

online giving site can be found at: https://stmatthewlimerick.weshareonline.org/

The St. Matthew Food Pantry is remaining open, but will do pantry to go. We would like you to remain in your car, volunteers will be on the look out and direct you where you should go. Food will be brought out to you by a volunteer. If you are unable to get to the pan-try, please call the office and we will make delivery plans with you, 793-2244.

HOME BOUND: If you are home bound and unable to go to the store for necessary items, please call the office, 793-2244. We have people willing to do your shopping for you and deliver to your home.

IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROGRAM “PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN”

In the interest of children’s safety, we ask that children not be allowed to leave Mass to use the restrooms downstairs, unless they are accom-panied by an adult. Because we are a public building, doors are required to be unlocked, allowing entrance to all.

May 3, 2020

Please include the following priests serving in our diocese in your daily prayers this week:

May 03 Bishop Robert P. Deeley, JCD May 04 Rev. Peter A Shaba SMA/Rev. Antony Mullaney May 05 Rev. William F. Modlin/Rev. James L Nadeau May 06 Rev. Thomas M Lee/Rev. John R. d’Anjou SJ May 07 Rev. Richard MacDonough SS/Rev. James R Roy MM May 08 Re.v Dac J Phillip J Clement/Rev. Andrew Bisson OFM May 09 Rev. David M Affleck/Rev. Paul E Coughlin

Dear Mother, cover them with your maternal mantle and hold them in your Immaculate Heart.

On this Good Shepherd Sunday we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life, especially for our diocese, that God will raise up good shepherds in our midst. If you think God is calling you to serve the Church as a priest or in the consecrated life, call Father Seamus Griesbach at (207) 773-6471 or write: seamus.griesbach@portlanddiocese.org

EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP - RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS

Recognizing the Voice of Jesus

When my wireless provider introduced HD Voice, the voice I heard on my phone was unbelievably clear, and it felt at times like both the caller and I were in the same room. The best aspect of this feature is that it didn’t cost the customer any additional fees, and it didn’t require any changes to the phone. I could say it was free, but I suspect I was already paying for it in my monthly bill anyway. At least it felt free. The clearer the voice calling you, the easier it is to recognize who it is on the other end of the line. In John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of the gatekeeper who opens the gate and calls for his sheep. They respond because they know his voice. Others try to lure the sheep when the gatekeeper is not there, but the sheep find their voices unclear or unfamiliar. Jesus is our gatekeeper. But unlike receiving something for free from a wireless company, to be able to hear his voice we need to pay attention and practice listening. By developing a stewardship way of life that is mindful and prayerful, we become attuned to his voice and are able to discern when the call is from our Lord and when it is from an imposter. It is great to talk about all the things we can do and all the gifts we can share, but if we are not listening for his call to hear where our offerings are needed, we can end up like a lost sheep searching for the gatekeeper. —Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS ©LPi

All parish events and activities have been cancelled with the exception of Mass and Confession. Please check the website, or our Facebook page frequently for updated information. We are holding online LIVE Masses through Facebook. These can find out our website.

St. Matthew Church

Weekly Facebook LIVE

Saturday: 4:30 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM

Monday: Prayer serv. 8:00 AM

Tuesday—Friday: 8:00 AM*

*Subject to change video will be available for 24hrs after LIVE post

Confessions will be heard during the following:

Saturdays 3-4pm

As always, appointments can be arranged outside of this time. Please call the office at 793-2244 for more

information.

May 3, 2020