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Frequently Asked Questions
For answers, click on any of the questions
below.
Location
- How can
I get to St. Matthias?
Sacraments
- What
is the best way to choose godparents for my baby?
- Is
there anything that a godparent needs to do before
the Baptismal ceremony?
- What are
the requirements for becoming a sponsor for confirmation?
- How do I arrange
a wedding at St. Matthias?
- What is the
pre-Cana program like?
- What is meant
by an annulment of a marriage?
Music Ministry
- Do I have to
know how to read music to join one of the parish choirs?
- To join a choir,
is an audition necessary?
- Why is all of
our congregational music so high?
- Why don't we sing
Gregorian chant anymore?
Religious Education
- When do religious
education classes begin each year?
- Is it too late
to register for religious education classes?
- What grade do
children begin preparation for First Communion?
St. Vincent de Paul
- Do you know anyone
who can use a couch and chairs?
- Do you know
anyone who could use secondhand clothing?
Stewardship and Development
- What is
Christian stewardship?
- What is the role
of the St. Matthias Stewardship Committee?
- What is ‘development’?
General
- What is the ‘Giving
Tree’ that I hear mentioned every year at Christmastime?
- Is Latin used
during any Masses at St Matthias? I enjoy traditional
rituals and would like to hear Latin spoken once in
a while.
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1. What is the
best way to choose godparents for my baby?
Select a person or persons, only one male or one female
(someone other than the legal parents), who can best represent
the Christian Catholic community. The role of a godparent
is to assist the child’s parents in raising their
child in the Catholic faith. The godfather and godmother
must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly-baptized
child or adult on the road of Christian life. He or she
must be at least 14 years old (for maturity sake), be
a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received
the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist and leads a life
in harmony with the faith and the role undertaken.
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2.
Is there anything that a godparent needs to do before
the Baptismal ceremony?
There is nothing specific that a prospective godparent
needs to do before the Baptism ceremony.
3.
What are the requirements for becoming a sponsor for
confirmation?
To serve as a Confirmation sponsor, contact the parish
office for a letter from the pastor. Requirements state
that the person must be at least 14 years old (for maturity
sake), be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has
already received the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist
and leads a life in harmony with the faith and the role
undertaken. One suggestion is to choose a godparent
to be a sponsor.
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4.
How do I arrange a wedding at St. Matthias?
Contact the church at least one year prior to the anticipated
wedding date. There will be paperwork to fill out and
meetings to attend with the pastor or a deacon.
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5.
What is the pre-Cana program like?
It is a one-day meeting with
married couples giving presentations on various aspects
of married life followed by discussions both with a
couple and then in a group setting.
6. What is meant by
an annulment of a marriage?
A marriage annulment declares that there was something
present that prevented a sacramental marriage from taking
place. It does not deny the civil marriage. It is a
declaration by the Church that a given marriage was
not valid at the time the parties attempted to contract
it, meaning that the parties were not genuinely married
by it and so are or were free to contract a subsequent
marriage. An annulment is a declaration that there never
was, in actuality, a marriage whereas a divorce is the
dissolving of a marriage that really existed.
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1.
Do I have to know how to read music to join one of the
parish choirs?
Being able to read music is a help, but it is not necessary.
The choirs have singers who read music and who are more
than willing to help participants who cannot read their
parts. Also, you will find that as you rehearse, you
will automatically learn to read music.
2. To join a choir, is
an audition nesessary?
No. An audition is not necessary. Just sign up through
the parish office, or stop by after any Mass and speak
to Joan Best Seamon.
3. Why is all of our congregational
music so high?
To respect the composer's intent, the music of a song
or hymn is usually played in the key that it was written.
Occasionally, a piece is lowered, if it is out of our
congregation's range. If our music seems high to you,
try warming up with your favorite tune in the shower
or in the car on the way to church.
4. Why don't we sing Gregorian
chant anymore?
We do sing it occasionally, especially
during Advent and Lent. Unfortunately, chant sounds
best in churches, old or new, with excellent acoustics,
which St. Matthias doesn't have. However, organ music
and piano music that is based on chant is played often
to allow you to hear those beautiful melodies, at least
subconsciously!
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1.
When do religious education classes begin each year?
Religious Education classes are held Sunday morning
in two sessions: 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. and 10:40 - 11:55
a.m. For children in grades Pre-K through 6, classes
begin Sunday, September 10. Cluster groups of seventh
and eighth graders begin the week of September 17 and
also have the option of meeting on weekday evenings.
2. Is it too late to register
for religious education classes?
It is never too late to register for classes. However,
do not delay. The two sessions are filling up quickly.
To register, pick up a form in the Parish Office from
9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. or call the Religious Education
Office (828-3786) to have one mailed.
3. In what grade do children
begin preparation for First Communion?
Preparation for First Communion is a two-year process
that begins in the first grade.
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1.
Do you know anyone who can use a couch and chairs?
St. Matthias does not have the storage space for furniture.
However, an organizatin called FISH that will pick up
and store furniture. You can call them at 732-356-0081.
If we have families who need furniture, we can get it
from FISH.
2. Do you know anyone
who could use secondhand clothing?
Clothing can be taken to the Saint Vincent de Paul Shop
in Old Bridge. The address is 1119 Englishtown Road,
and the phone number is 732-251-5285. To get to the
shop, travel Route 18 South to the Englishtown Road
exit. Take the exit and make a left. After the first
light, you will see the shop on the right in a strip
mall. We can get clothing there for our clients who
are in need.
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1.
What is Christian stewardship?
Christian stewardship is an awareness that all our gifts
are from God. A Christian steward receives God's gifts
graciously and cherishes them in a responsible manner.
The gifts are shared in justice and love with others
and returned to the Lord. The more we give back o God
of our time, talent and treasure, the more we receive.
Through our giving, the parish can continue its many
ministries, which bring strength to our faith community
and beyond.
2. What is the role of the
St. Matthias Stewardship Committee?
The Stewardship Committee endeavors to keep the mission
of stewardship--the challenge to share some of our time,
talent and treasure within our faith community and beyond---
in the forefront in our parish community. The committee
is responsible for the parish Stewardship Renewal efforts,
organizing the annual Thank You Dinner for all parish
Ministry Volunteers, and planning the annual "Ministry
Fair" to encourage ministry participation and to
acquaint the parish community with our many opportunities
for service.
3. What is ‘development’?
The Ministry of Development in The Catholic Community
of St. Matthias is the meaningful involvement of people
in our mission and vision for the future. Development
is a process, not a program, that involves the Six I's-
Identify, Inform, Invite, Implement, Invest and Improve.
The development process focuses mainly on fundraising
projects.
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1.
What is the ‘Giving Tree’ that I hear mentioned
every year at Christmastime?
The ‘giving tree’ is a symbolic tree that
is put in church. On it are names of people including
their ages and a suggested item that can be bought for
them as a Christmas gift. This is a way that we can
share with those less fortunately than ourselves.
2. Is Latin used during
any Masses at St Matthias? I enjoy
traditional rituals and would like to hear Latin spoken
once in a while.
No, Latin is not used at St. Matthias. Some parishes
in the diocese, however, on occasion hold a Latin Mass,
Tridentine. A schedule of these Masses and the parishes
are published in the 'Spirit', the Diocesan newspaper.
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