St. Matthew

Our Vision, Mission & History

St. Matthew describes itself as a community on an 'Adventure of Faith.' Founded in 1990 by the Diocese of Raleigh and about 100 families from Immaculate Conception, the parish moved from an initial location to its permanent home on Mason Road in northern Durham in 1994 and has grown to more than 450 families. The community also stewards St. Matthew Catholic Cemetery, the only Catholic cemetery in Durham County, established in 1997.

• Founded July 1990 by the Diocese of Raleigh
• Land purchased on Mason Road, December 1991
• Construction began on the Feast of St. Matthew, 21 September 1993
• First Mass in the new church celebrated July 1994
• St. Matthew Catholic Cemetery established 1997
• 25th Anniversary celebrated in 2014

Meet Our Staff & Clergy

The parish is led by Administrator Rev. John Curran, LC, a Legionary of Christ priest appointed in summer 2024. He is assisted by Deacon Desider (Desi) L. Vikor. Lay staff include Mariza Mandujano-Ortiz (Pastoral Associate / Director of Faith Formation and Hispanic Ministry), Tina Lilley (Director of Finance and Administration / Office Manager), Robert Cook (Music Director), Susan Clifton (Pastoral Associate), and Tom Brunner (Administrative Assistant). The Parish Council is chaired by Julian Ramirez.

• Rev. John Curran, LC — Administrator ([email protected], ext. 303)
• Deacon Desi Vikor
• Mariza Mandujano-Ortiz — Pastoral Associate / Director of Faith Formation & Hispanic Ministry (ext. 301)
• Tina Lilley — Director of Finance and Administration (ext. 306)
• Robert Cook — Music Director (919-479-9848)
• Susan Clifton — Pastoral Associate
• Tom Brunner — Administrative Assistant (ext. 302)
• Julian Ramirez — Parish Council Chair

Worship & Sacraments

Beyond the regular Mass schedule, the parish prepares Catholics for the sacraments of Christian initiation. Children prepare for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist through a two-year Sacramental Preparation program that typically begins in First Grade, with the sacraments celebrated in Second Grade. Adults seeking initiation are welcomed through the OCIA (formerly RCIA) process.

• First Reconciliation — late November
• First Eucharist — late April or early May, with a Pancake Brunch sponsored by the Ladies of St. Matthew and the Knights of Columbus
• Sacramental Preparation for children (two-year process, Grades 1–2)
• OCIA / RCIA for adults (contact Mariza Mandujano-Ortiz)

Music Ministry

Music at St. Matthew is led by Music Director Robert Cook. The Sunday 1:00 PM Spanish Mass and the bilingual character of the parish are supported by this ministry, which recruits and trains cantors and musicians for weekend and holy day liturgies.

St. Matthew Catholic Cemetery

Established in 1997 and consecrated by the Diocese of Raleigh, St. Matthew Catholic Cemetery is the only Catholic cemetery in Durham County. It sits on 40 quiet acres of forested, rolling hillside on parish grounds at 1001 Mason Road. The cemetery offers both full burial and cremation plots, with perpetual care and ground-level markers, and includes a memorial garden, benches for quiet prayer, an Outdoor Chapel, and a Meditation Trail. Veterans are honored each Memorial Day with American flags at their graves.

• Full plot for parishioners — $1,000
• Cremation plot for parishioners — $500
• 1st Full plot for non-parishioners — $2,000
• 1st Cremation plot for non-parishioners — $1,000
• Co-Chairs: Mike Peters (919-818-6307) and Mike Memrick (919-604-0976)
• Funeral Mass coordinator: Tina Lilley (919-479-1001 x306)

Parish Life & Community

Community life at St. Matthew is shaped by a small but active set of lay groups. The Ladies of St. Matthew and the Knights of Columbus co-sponsor a Pancake Brunch after the First Communion Mass each year, and other ministries — Healthcare Ministry, the Cemetery Committee, and the Parish Council — keep the parish connected to its members and the wider northern Durham community.

• Ladies of St. Matthew
• Knights of Columbus
• Healthcare Ministry
• Cemetery Committee
• Parish Council (Chair: Julian Ramirez)