Sept. 4, 2025
Campaign Reminders and Thanks…
Thank you to all Parishioners for their generous commitment to our Campaign. Because of faithful parishioners like you, we are on track to pay off our parish debt within the next three years – what a blessing!
Monthly invoices will be mailed out beginning this week as a friendly reminder of your pledge and due date. If you have already made a payment, please accept my thanks, and kindly disregard the notice.
August 25, 2025
Fr Frank Hoffmann_August 25, 2025 Campaign Update Letter
Dear Parish Family,
Last weekend at all of the Masses, I shared some wonderful news with you. This month, our Parish received a generous bequest that, together with your pledges, will assure us of the ability to pay off the entire parish debt by the end of the three years of our Forward in Faith Campaign!
Important Clarification
First and most important: Contrary to what some may have heard, the Parish debt is NOT yet paid off. With money from the bequest, along with the pledges made during the campaign and the money collected from the monthly debt reduction, we will be able to reach that goal within three years.
While the bequest amounts to nearly $2 million, the donor stipulated that only 50% may be applied toward the debt. It is also important to keep in mind that the success of this effort depends on parishioners faithfully completing their pledges to the Forward in Faith Campaign.
Pledge Totals and Next Steps
As of this week, the 3-year pledge total stands at $1,196,000, with about $320,000 already paid and $876,000 still outstanding. Next month, we will make a significant payment that will bring the debt under $1 million. At that time, we will also renegotiate the loan, lowering our monthly obligation and easing the pressure on our budget. We will, however, continue making loan payments over the next three years until the debt is fully paid off.
Bequest Funds for Parish Maintenance
The portion of the bequest not used for the debt will go toward much-needed maintenance issues, beginning with replacing the 1994 HVAC system and roof of the Parish Center. There are other needs like this that we will review and repair/replace as necessary. It is truly a blessing to have the money to do this and not have to come to parishioners to make these repairs.
Ongoing Parish Support
Even with this blessing, we still need everyone to continue to support the parish financially through the weekly collections and various fundraisers. This will enable us to pay our monthly bills and keep the parish running.
Thank YOU
Once again, thanks to all who have helped to make this happen! This progress has been made possible through the generosity of a longtime parishioner, the faithfulness of all who pledged, the gifts given in the monthly collection, and the tireless work of our many volunteers and office staff who put in countless hours to make the Campaign a success. We are very blessed that this has all come together in this way and that we will no longer have the burden of paying the interest on the note.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly.
In Christ,
Fr. Frank
August 16-17
Forward in Faith Capital Campaign
The pledge total is close to $1.2 million, with 356 pledges – thank you to everyone who has made a donation or pledge!
There are still many parishioners we have yet to hear from who can get us to our final goal.
If you have yet to respond, please do so! Your gift/pledge will help ensure the financial stability and future of our parish.
If you submitted a pledge gift online, PLEASE FILL OUT AND SUBMIT A PLEDGE CARD ALSO so we can have a record in the Parish Office.
Thank you, all, for your generosity and support of our campaign.
Dear Friends in Christ,
Since its opening in 2021, the Monsignor Walter C. Orlowski Recreation and Wellness Center has become a vibrant hub for our parish and community. As Monsignor Walter said, “We’re building on what we already have-to encourage health in body, mind, and spirit. It’s all about creating a parish even more welcoming than ever before.”
This vision was made possible through the generosity of parishioners who supported the We Stand with Christ campaign, along with additional donations. However, to complete construction, we needed to take out a 3,000,000 loan in the fall of 2021. Thanks to campaign funds, weekly offertory, and monthly mortgage reduction collections, we’ve been making monthly payments of $15,000. Unfortunately, only $3,000 of that goes toward the principal. With the final We Stand with Christ distribution now complete, we rely solely on parishioner support to cover this debt. At this rate, it could take decades to pay off-and over $2,000,000 in interest could be lost that could otherwise support a variety of parish events and initiatives.
That’s why we’re launching the Forward in Faith campaign, with a goal of $1,500,000 and a challenge goal of $2,500,000; this will allow us to retire the debt and fulfill our parish’s obligation to the Annual Bishop’s Appeal which is, as it has been for the last years, $154,000.
Pledges can be paid over three years, and every gift matters. While not everyone can give the same amount, we can all make the same sacrifice. As Jesus reminded us in the story of the Widow’s Mite, the value of a gift lies in the spirit of generosity behind it. May our gifts be a reflection of our true appreciation to God for the gifts He has given us.
As the Lord has blessed us in the past, may He bless us abundantly once again as we move Forward in Faith toward a debt-free future that empowers our mission to spread the love and mercy of Our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Gratefully,
Fr. Frank Hoffmann, Pastor
Click here to download Fr. Frank’s letter, Forward in Faith.
Prayerfully consider joining us in our Forward in Faith Capital Campaign. This initiative aims to strengthen our community and further our mission, and your support could make a significant difference in our efforts. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help us move forward in making a lasting impact. We believe that together, we can achieve remarkable things.
June 19-20: To date, we have received $1,045,833 in gifts and pledges to the campaign. I want to thank every person who has made a gift or pledge. This is an outstanding achievement, however, there are still a significant number of families we have yet to hear from.
Because this project is crucial for St. Matthew’s future, we’re contacting all parish families until we get a response. Please save us time and resources by filling out a pledge envelope today and returning it to the parish office as soon as possible. Extra pledge forms are in the pews. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated as we move forward with our plans.
May God continue to bless our St. Matthew Parish Family!
In Christ,
Fr. Frank
June 12-13: I wanted to share some exciting news with you regarding our capital campaign “Forward in Faith.” We have received over $1 million in pledges and gifts so far. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who has pledged to give us such a terrific start!
Our phone volunteers are also reaching out to parishioners who haven’t had an opportunity to respond. Please be gracious when they call and feel free to ask them any questions you have bout the campaign.
In Christ,
Fr. Frank
Challenge Goal: $2,500,000 to pay the bank debt in full.
Campaign Goal: $1,500,000
Total Pledged over 3 years: $1,000,050 (40% of Challenge Goal) Current Down Payments: $212,316
If you have not yet participated, please prayerfully consider making a donation or pledge: Click here.
Campaign Card: Click here.
June 7-8, 2025
This weekend is Commitment Weekend for our Forward in Faith Capital Campaign. All registered parishioners should have received a packet with a detailed description of why we are conducting this campaign, that is, to reduce or eliminate our parish debt to enable us to avoid large amount of money being used to pay interest on the loan, and allow us to use the money saved to do more for our parish and its members.
Please read this material and bring your commitment card with you to church this weekend. Even if you cannot give, please return the card and let us know that you will pray for the success of the campaign. That will help us to know not to contact you again. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
In Christ,
Fr. Frank
Thank you to everyone who attended a reception! Well over 100+ parish households were represented at the series of receptions we held to talk about the Forward in Faith Campaign!
We will be mailing a Campaign Packet to all registered households who did not attend a Campaign Reception in the past week.
Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40″ Many of us say that we believe in God. We attend Sunday Mass and participate in parish events. But when life gets hard and the pressure is on, when things aren’t going our way, do we really believe? Do we really put our trust in the Lord? When we live a life of gratitude, recognizing all that we have been given, we really do see that God is providing for our needs. Living a grateful and generous life allows us to see God’s active presence in our daily lives and we become “partakers of the divine nature.”
May 18, 2025
CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS THIS WEEK!
To fully explain our current Campaign, several informational receptions have been scheduled. At these events we will share details on how we arrived at this moment in the life of St. Matthew, more about the Forward in Faith Campaign and how you can contribute to help us reach our goal. These receptions are informal social events that will provide a wonderful opportunity to be a part of our Parish’s mission. Email to rsvp: stmatthewcampaign@gmail.com
RECEPTIONS (IN THE GREAT ROOM)
May 19th at 7pm
May 20th at 1pm
May 20th at 7pm
May 22nd at 7pm
Stewardship Thought
“Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus, will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not.” Exodus 16:4
When the Israelites gathered more than their daily portion of manna, the surplus became wormy and rotten. In the same way today, self-reliance, pride, and ego lead to hoarding an excessive surplus of goods and money. Living a stewardship lifestyle helps us discern our “wants” from our “needs.” Living a grateful and generous lifestyle reminds us that God will provide all that we need and that we have plenty to share.
Capital Campaign Update: May 10-11
Invitations for our campaign receptions were mailed to all registered families. If you have not received an invitation and would like to attend a reception, feel free to pick up an invitation at one of the Church exits. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at one of the receptions.
Click here to respond by email.
RECEPTION SCHEDULE
- May 19th at 7pm
- May 20th at 1pm
- May 20th at 7pm
- May 22nd at 7pm
May 2025 Campaign News & Updates
May 3-4
RECEPTIONS: Reception invitations were dropped in the mail the week of April 28!
Please plan on attending one of our receptions.
You can RSVP by returning the reply card included in the invitation that was mailed to you or by emailing us at: StMatthewCampaign@gmail.com
RECEPTION SCHEDULE
May 19th at 7pm
May 20th at 1pm
May 20th at 7pm
May 22nd at 7pm
KICK-OFF WEEKEND RECAP
Last weekend marked the Kick-Off/Recruitment Weekend for the Forward in Faith Capital Campaign. We want to express our gratitude to the parishioners who volunteered their time and effort to support our cause. Your teamwork and dedication are greatly appreciated!
Reception & Phone Volunteers will meet: Monday, May 5th at 6PM in the Great Room.
You will have an opportunity to help with receptions and/or sign up to make RSVP phone calls.
New volunteers are always welcome!
Stewardship Thought
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” John 6:9
The miracle of the Loaves and Fishes carries two important messages. First, no matter how little we have, we always have enough to share. Second, Christ can take our humble gifts and do great things with them if we are just willing to let Him. Nothing is impossible with God. All of our gifts, big or small, were given to us for a reason. No gift is too small or insignificant!
Campaign Kick-Off & Volunteer Recruitment Weekend
April 26-27
From Fr. Frank
This weekend we will kick off our Forward in Faith Capital Campaign. You will be hearing more about it from me this weekend. Look forward to seeing you at Mass.
Campaign News & Updates
You will be invited to an informational gathering Reception. Invitations are being mailed to all registered families to choose between four dates and times to attend a reception.
- To RSVP, please email: StMatthewCampaign@gmail.com
Volunteer Recruitment Weekend
With a Parish community of over 2,000 families, we need volunteers to assist with phone calls and preparing mailings. The more involved, the easier our task! Please give your prayerful consideration to volunteering.
- To Volunteer, please email: StMatthewCampaign@gmail.com
Additional information can be found in the April 27 bulletin, click here.
ST. MATTHEW EXECUTIVE PLANNING STUDY
CLICK HERE for St. Matthew_Executive Planning Summary_2025