About St. Matthew Catholic Church · Winter Haven, Florida
St. Matthew Catholic Church is a eucharistic-centered parish in Winter Haven, Florida, founded in 1973 to serve the growing Catholic population of the area. Located at 1991 Overlook Drive, the parish belongs to the Diocese of Orlando and today worships in a 1,200-seat worship center completed on April 1, 1999. The parish describes itself as 'a family of believers called by God the Father to make disciples of Christ,' offering daily and Sunday Mass, the sacrament of Reconciliation, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), Family Faith Formation, youth ministry, outreach through Matthew 25:35, and a Thrift & Gift Shop in downtown Winter Haven. St. Matthew also operates a parish school and a Catholic cemetery/columbarium on its grounds.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- St. Matthew the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Nicholas O'Brien
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
St. Matthew is a eucharistic-centered parish where the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is at the heart of worship and community life. Daily and Sunday Masses, regular confession times, and a robust formation program — Family Faith Formation using the Word of Life curriculum, OCIA for adults, and a Wednesday-evening youth group for grades 9–12 — make it a place for the whole family to grow in faith. Its Matthew 25:35 outreach feeds the hungry and welcomes the stranger through a Thrift Shop, Blessing Bags, Angel Tree, Families Feeding Families, and Blood Mobile, while care ministries like GriefShare, Divorce Care, Health Ministry, and Ministry to the Sick walk with parishioners through every season of life.
Mass times at St. Matthew Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:30 AM
- Thursday: 8:30 AM
- Monday & Friday: after the 9:00 AM Mass
- And by appointment
Our History
St. Matthew was founded on August 25, 1973, when Bishop William Borders appointed Fr. William Keane to lead a new parish of 600 in growing Winter Haven. Five acres on Carl Floyd Road were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pope, Sr., and the parish was soon led by Fr. Gerard Granahan (1974), who celebrated Masses in borrowed spaces around town — including the second-floor lounge of the Sheraton, where he competed with an icemaker behind the bar. Bishop Thomas Grady dedicated the first permanent church on March 6, 1977; the vestments he wore were later given to the parish in memory of Matthew Smith, a local man who once walked five miles at 3:00 a.m. to catch a train to Tampa for Mass. In 1988 the parish purchased 20 acres on Overlook Drive, and under Fr. Fred Ruse (1993) the parish developed a Master Plan for a 1,200-seat worship center. On April 1, 1999 the new worship center was dedicated and the old Carl Floyd Road church was sold. Fr. Charles Viviano (2005), Fr. Matthew Mello (2012) and current pastor Fr. Nicholas O'Brien (2015) have led the parish since.
- 1973 — Founded with 600 parishioners; Fr. William Keane appointed founding pastor
- 1974 — Fr. Gerard Granahan succeeds as pastor; Masses in borrowed spaces
- 1977 — Bishop Thomas Grady dedicates the Carl Floyd Road church
- 1988 — Twenty acres purchased on Overlook Drive for future growth
- 1993 — Fr. Fred Ruse appointed; Growth Expansion Analysis begins
- 1999 — 1,200-seat worship center opens on Overlook Drive (April 1)
- 2005 — Fr. Charles Viviano becomes pastor
- 2012 — Fr. Matthew Mello becomes pastor
- 2015 — Fr. Nicholas O'Brien becomes pastor and launches Matthew 25:35 outreach
Pastoral Team & Staff
The current pastoral team combines ordained clergy, deacons and lay staff to serve the parish's liturgical, formation and administrative needs.
- Rev. Nicholas O'Brien — Pastor
- Rev. Delvis Mederos — Parochial Vicar (also serves Centro Guadalupano Mission, Wahneta)
- Rev. Mr. Roger Riesberg — Deacon
- Cal Leferink — Director of Music & Liturgy
- Claudia Tejada — Parish Catechetical Leader
- Maria Montejo — Administrative Assistant to the Pastor
Faith Formation
St. Matthew forms the whole family in the Catholic faith through three core programs.
Family Faith Formation
The parish's Family Faith Formation program uses the Word of Life curriculum, a prayerful, conversational approach that returns to the heart of the Christian faith — Jesus Christ. Classes begin each year with a Parent Orientation (for 2025–2026, August 2, 2025 from 9:00 to 10:30 AM). A discount is offered for two or more children in the same household.
- Curriculum: Word of Life
- 2025–2026 orientation: August 2, 2025, 9:00–10:30 AM
- Multi-child discount available
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Formerly known as RCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is a year-round Journey of Faith for adults who wish to become members of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes four steps: Evangelization/Inquiry, Catechumenate, Enlightenment (culminating at the Easter Vigil with Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist), and Mystagogia. It welcomes non-baptized seekers, Christians from other traditions seeking full communion, and adult Catholics who have not yet received Communion or Confirmation.
- Step 1 — Evangelization / Inquiry
- Step 2 — Catechumenate
- Step 3 — Enlightenment (Lent, culminating at Easter Vigil)
- Step 4 — Mystagogia (ongoing growth)
- Open to non-baptized, baptized Christians, and uncatechized Catholic adults
Youth Ministry
St. Matthew's youth ministry is a Catholic community that empowers young people to be active in the Church, drawing on the USCCB's 'Renewing the Vision' framework. Teens are invited to serve as lectors, choir members and Eucharistic ministers. Meetings are open to students in grades 9–12, Wednesdays from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM in Parish Center Room #1.
- Open to grades 9–12 (ages 14–18)
- Meets Wednesdays, 6:30 PM–8:30 PM
- Location: Parish Center Room #1
- Contact: Parish Catechetical Leader
Outreach: Matthew 25:35
Matthew 25:35 is the parish's outreach initiative, started by Pastor Fr. Nicholas O'Brien with the support of the Pastoral Team and many volunteers. Inspired by Christ's words in Matthew 25:35 ('For I was hungry and you gave me food…'), the ministry feeds bodies and souls through ongoing and seasonal programs.
Ongoing Outreach
- Thrift Shop — in the historical 1st Publix building downtown; sales fund ministries and supply clothing to the downtown Mission
- Gift Shop — same downtown building; serves as evangelization
- Blessing Bags — small toiletries and snacks distributed to the homeless
- Blood Mobile — American Red Cross 'Big Red Bus' every other month, Sundays 8:00 AM–1:00 PM
Seasonal Outreach
- Angel Tree — Advent giving to Guadalupe Mission, St. Vincent de Paul, Farmworker Ministry, Catholic Charities, the Mission, and Heartland for Children
- Families Feeding Families — Thanksgiving bags of food and gift cards for Catholic Charities, Farmworker Ministry and parish families
- School Supplies — backpacks, tablets, pencils and crayons collected for distribution to needy families
Care Ministries
St. Matthew walks with parishioners through illness, grief and loss with a family of care ministries.
- Ministry to the Sick — brings the Eucharist to the homebound
- Health Ministry — meets the third Wednesday of the month after morning Mass; phone ministry for check-ins
- GriefShare — 13-week program, Wednesdays 6:00 PM–8:00 PM
- Divorce Care — support for those hurting from marriage breakup
Mary Queen of All Saints Cemetery & Columbarium
St. Matthew operates Mary Queen of All Saints Cemetery, including an octagon-shaped columbarium centered on a large crucifix and surrounded by four niche units. In-ground burial is also offered, and reservations can be purchased in advance or by the family after a loved one's death. Two special niches reflect the parish's pastoral heart: the 'Peace in Christ Niche' is reserved for families of modest means, and the 'Kingdom of Heaven Niche' is consecrated for the burial of unborn, miscarried and stillborn babies — provided at no charge. Inquiries can be made through the website or by calling the parish office at (863) 324-3040.
- Columbarium — octagon with central crucifix and four surrounding niche units
- In-ground burial available
- Peace in Christ Niche — for families of modest means
- Kingdom of Heaven Niche — consecrated burial for unborn/miscarried/stillborn babies at no charge (Jeremiah 1:5)
- Single or double niche reservations available
- Contact: parish office at (863) 324-3040 or saintmcc.com
Centro Guadalupano Mission (Wahneta)
St. Matthew sponsors and staffs Centro Guadalupano Mission in nearby Wahneta, a Spanish-language Catholic outreach served by Parochial Vicar Fr. Delvis Mederos. The mission extends the parish's reach to the Spanish-speaking community of Polk County.
- Spanish-language Catholic mission in Wahneta
- Served by Fr. Delvis Mederos (Parochial Vicar of St. Matthew)
Sacraments
Information about celebrating the seven sacraments — including baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Confession, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders — is available through the parish. Confession is offered at the regular weekly schedule and by appointment, and OCIA guides adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation or full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Matrimony (Marriage preparation)
- Anointing of the Sick / Ministry to the Sick
- Holy Orders (vocations)
- OCIA for adults seeking initiation or completion of sacraments
St. Matthew School
St. Matthew Catholic School is associated with the parish community. In January 2025, students marked Catholic Schools Week by partnering with Servants with a Heart to pack over 50,000 meals for local and global communities.
- Catholic school serving the parish community
- Service highlighted during Catholic Schools Week 2025
Visit Us & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at 1991 Overlook Drive, Winter Haven, FL 33884, with a 'Map & Directions' page on the website. The parish office can be reached at (863) 324-3040 or [email protected]. St. Matthew's Thrift and Gift Shop is separately located in the historical 1st Publix Supermarket building in downtown Winter Haven.
- Address: 1991 Overlook Dr, Winter Haven, FL 33884
- Phone: (863) 324-3040
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.saintmcc.com
- Downowntown Thrift & Gift Shop: historical 1st Publix building
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Keane1973–1974
Founding pastor, appointed by Bishop William Borders to lead the new parish of 600.
- Fr. Gerard Granahan1974–1993
Young Irish-brogued priest who celebrated Masses in borrowed spaces around town during the early years.
- Fr. Fred Ruse1993–2005
Led the parish through the Master Plan process and the 1999 move to the new Overlook Drive worship center.
- Fr. Charles Viviano2005–2012
Succeeded Fr. Ruse and continued ministry at the new worship center.
- Fr. Matthew Mello2012–2015
Served the parish for three years.
- Fr. Nicholas O'Brien2015–Present
Current pastor; launched the Matthew 25:35 outreach initiative.