About St. Matthew · Flint, Michigan
St. Matthew Catholic Church is a thriving Roman Catholic parish in downtown Flint, Michigan, belonging to the Diocese of Lansing. Founded in 1911, it is the oldest remaining Catholic church in the city, with its current Romanesque-style building completed in 1920 and staffed for nine decades by the Order of St. Augustine (O.S.A.) until 2016. Today it serves as both a parish and the home of the Diocese of Lansing's Traditional Latin Mass Community, offering the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo) and the Extraordinary Form daily. Under pastor Father Anthony Strouse, who also pastors St. Pius X in Flint and serves as a chaplain with the Michigan State Police, St. Matthew has experienced the highest percentage rise in Sunday Mass attendance in the diocese over the past five years.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Anthony Strouse
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
Why belong here
St. Matthew is a historically rooted but actively growing downtown parish where the full range of Catholic life is offered — daily Mass in both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms, robust faith formation for children through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Middle School Bible Study, Confirmation preparation, and a twice-monthly Youth Group. The parish explicitly prioritizes supporting families of all ages, offers a Catholic-education scholarship for families sending children to Catholic schools or homeschool programs, and runs men's formation through the Alpha & Omega program along with discernment evenings like Vocations Night. As the home of the Diocese of Lansing's Traditional Latin Mass Community since 2015, St. Matthew is also a destination for Catholics attached to the older liturgical forms, while welcoming anyone seeking reverent, life-giving worship in the heart of Flint.
Mass times at St. Matthew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:45 AM – 9:30 AM
- Sunday 1:30 PM – until the last penitent
- Monday 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Adoration times
- Monday 12:45 PM – 7:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (30-minute lunch break 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)
- Wednesday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (30-minute lunch break 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)
- Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
History of St. Matthew Parish
Founded in 1911 by Father Michael J. Comerford in an empty store on South Saginaw Street, St. Matthew grew rapidly: a school building was added in 1913, the cornerstone of the present church was laid in November 1919, and the building was completed in the 1920s. After pastors Hennessey and McQueen, the Augustinian Order took charge in 1926 with Father Mortimer Sullivan; Father Luke Powers served nearly four decades (1929–1966), eliminating the parish debt and building the convent, field house, and rectory. The Augustinians ministered here for 90 years until withdrawing in June 2016, when the Diocese of Lansing resumed direct staffing.
- 1911: parish established; first Mass in a store on S. Saginaw St.
- 1913: first school building constructed
- 1919: cornerstone laid for present church (Nov 2)
- 1920: first Mass in new basement on Ash Wednesday
- 1926: Augustinians invited; half-million-dollar debt at handover
- 1927–1930: pews, marble altars, organ, and stained-glass windows installed
- 1955–1960: convent (1955), field house (1958), rectory (1960) built
- 1966: Fr. Ambrose J. Godsil begins; Fr. Powers retires
- 1970: K-12 school closes; building demolished in 2008
- 1980: Fr. Joseph F. Hartman, O.S.A., becomes pastor
- 2015: Latin Mass Community moves to St. Matthew
- 2016: Augustinians leave; Diocese of Lansing takes over
- 2021: Fr. Anthony Strouse installed as pastor (July 1)
Church Architecture & Sacred Art
The present church was designed by the Detroit firm VanLeyen, Shilling & Keough in a Romanesque style and built between 1919 and 1926. Its interior is rich with devotional imagery befitting nine decades of Augustinian care: marble altars, stained-glass windows donated by parish societies, hand-cut mosaic flooring, and statues and paintings honoring St. Matthew, St. Augustine, St. Monica, and St. Rita. Apse, transepts, and clerestory are decorated with murals and scriptural scenes, and a Lourdes grotto and belltower stand outside.
- Romanesque style by VanLeyen, Shilling & Keough of Detroit
- St. Matthew with angels in the apse above the altar; John 1:29 inscribed around the apse
- Medallions of the four evangelists surround the altar
- Side altars: Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Augustine & St. Monica, St. Thérèse
- South transept windows: Holy Family, Nativity, Annunciation
- North transept windows: Multiplication of Loaves, Jesus Blessing Children, Wealthy Young Man (Mt 19)
- Window pairs of St. Jerome & St. Charles Borromeo; St. Paul & St. Stephen
- Murals of the Betrothal of Joseph and Mary and St. Anne with Child Mary
- Augustinian Order emblem throughout the church and on the rectory
- Lourdes grotto and belltower outside
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Under Director of Faith Formation & Parish Life Amanda Williams, St. Matthew offers a complete program for children and youth built largely on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (a Montessori-based method). The parish also runs a Middle School Bible Study using the Ascension Press 'Encounter' program, a Confirmation preparation track, and a twice-monthly Youth Group for teens who have already been confirmed. OCIA (formerly RCIA) prepares adults — including those baptized in other Christian traditions — for full reception into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Levels 1 & 2
- Middle School Bible Study — 'Encounter' (Ascension Press), Mondays 5:30–6:30 PM
- Confirmation Prep — $30 materials fee, beginning in September for spring Confirmation
- Youth Group — twice-monthly Monday meetings for post-Confirmation teens
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — contact Amanda Williams
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are celebrated or prepared for at St. Matthew. Infant baptism is typically scheduled within Sunday Mass so the wider parish family can welcome the child; adult baptism (age 7+) is celebrated through the OCIA process at the Easter Vigil. Couples prepare for Holy Matrimony with the parish, and the Anointing of the Sick is available for the homebound, hospitalized, or elderly. Vocations to Holy Orders are actively encouraged, and the parish hosts a Vocations Night each year.
- Baptism — infants/children (birth–7) and adults through OCIA (7+)
- Eucharist — First Holy Communion preparation
- Confirmation — preparation beginning in September for spring reception
- Penance / Reconciliation — see confession schedule
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders — Vocations Night hosted at the parish
- Holy Matrimony
Ministries, Formation & Outreach
Beyond faith formation, St. Matthew runs men's formation through the Alpha & Omega program ('The New Man'), an annual Vocations Night for those discerning priesthood or religious life, and a Catholic-education scholarship assisting registered, contributing parish families who send their children to a Catholic private school or Catholic homeschool program (2026–2027 application deadline March 30, 2025). The parish has articulated a clear set of priorities — supporting families, building a strong domestic church, evangelization and apologetics, community outreach to 'the least of his brothers' (Matthew 25), and reverence for every human life from natural conception to natural death. Father Strouse's chaplaincy with the Michigan State Police (since 2017) extends this outreach into the wider community.
- Alpha & Omega men's formation
- Vocations Night discernment evenings
- Catholic Education Scholarship (Catholic schools and homeschool)
- Parish purpose priorities: family, evangelization, outreach, life
- Fr. Strouse's chaplaincy with the Michigan State Police Flint Post
Parish Staff
St. Matthew is led by Father Anthony Strouse, who also pastors St. Pius X in Flint and was appointed Dean of the Deanery of Flint in 2023. He is supported by a parish deacon, a Director of Faith Formation & Parish Life (Amanda Williams), a Campus Minister (Justin Flemming), an Office Manager (Katie), and a Maintenance Supervisor (Damien). Parish office contact is (810) 232-0880 or [email protected].
- Rev. Fr. Anthony Strouse — Pastor
- Parish Deacon (on staff)
- Amanda Williams — Director of Faith Formation & Parish Life
- Justin Flemming — Campus Minister
- Katie — Office Manager
- Damien — Maintenance Supervisor
Traditional Latin Mass Community
Since the summer of 2015, St. Matthew has hosted the Diocese of Lansing's Traditional Latin Mass Community, originally launched by lay Catholics in 1989 at All Saints Church in Flint. Bishop Earl Boyea appointed Father Louis Madey as its chaplain in 2015; Father Madey served until his death in December 2020. The community continues to gather at St. Matthew, with a Missa Cantata at 12:00 PM each Sunday, a 9:00 AM Low Mass on the first Saturday of each month, and Latin Masses at 6:00 PM on most Major Feasts and Holy Days of Obligation.
- Sunday 12:00 PM — Missa Cantata
- First Saturday 9:00 AM — Low Mass
- Major Feasts / Holy Days of Obligation — usually 6:00 PM
- Chaplain: Fr. Louis Madey (2015–2020)
Renovation Vision & Facilities
The parish has unveiled plans for a renovation project centered on a fully reimagined undercroft — redesigned from the ground up to serve the growing ministries of St. Matthew. Framed as 'more than a building project,' the renovation is intended as an investment in every generation of the parish family, from young children through college students and beyond. The original 1920s church, 1950s convent, 1958 field house, and 1960 rectory remain in active use, while the 1920s school building (closed 1970, demolished 2008) is now a parish parking lot.
- Renovation of the undercroft for expanding ministries
- Active worship and ministry in the 1920 church
- Conv (1955), field house (1958), and rectory (1960) still in use
- Former school site now parish parking
Plan Your Visit
St. Matthew Catholic Church is located at 701 Church Street, Flint, MI 48502 (the Diocese of Lansing's directory lists 706 Beach Street, the parish's mailing/school address). The parish office can be reached at (810) 232-0880 or [email protected]. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any of the daily Masses, and the parish notes that anyone not in a state to receive Holy Communion is invited to come forward for a blessing instead.
- Address: 701 Church St., Flint, MI 48502
- Phone: (810) 232-0880
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stmatthewflint.org/
- Diocese directory address (706 Beach Street, Flint, MI 48502)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Michael J. Comerford1911-1916
Founding pastor; organized the new parish, purchased original property at West Third and Beach, oversaw the 1913 school building; died in office in 1916.
- Rev. Fr. Thomas G. Hennessey1916-1920
Succeeded Fr. Comerford; oversaw the parish's relocation to its present site and the groundbreaking and basement construction of the new church (cornerstone laid Nov 2, 1919).
- Rev. Fr. Francis W. McQueen1920-1926
Third pastor; completed the church, built the K-12 school, expanded the rectory and convent. Resigned in 1926 with the parish half a million dollars in debt, prompting the Augustinians to take charge.
- Rev. Fr. Mortimer A. Sullivan, O.S.A.1926-1929
First Augustinian pastor; installed the present pews (1927), added marble altars (1928), introduced the organ at Christmas 1928. Transferred in 1929 and later elected Provincial of the Augustinian Order.
- Rev. Fr. Luke M. Powers, O.S.A.1929-1966
Longest-serving pastor; eliminated the half-million-dollar debt, spent $75,000 redecorating the church, acquired additional property and built the convent (1955), field house (1958), and rectory (1960), and introduced a forward-facing altar in 1962. Retired in 1966 due to declining health.
- Rev. Fr. Ambrose J. Godsil1966-1980
Guided the parish through the years of post-Vatican II liturgical renewal.
- Rev. Fr. Joseph F. Hartman, O.S.A.1980-
Assumed the pastorate in 1980. Listed as pastor through 1986 in the parish history book reference.
- Rev. Fr. Louis Madey2015-2020
Appointed by Bishop Boyea as chaplain of the Latin Mass Community when it moved to St. Matthew in 2015; served until his death in December 2020.
- Rev. Fr. Anthony Strouse2021-present
Installed July 1, 2021; also pastor of St. Pius X, Flint; appointed Dean of the Deanery of Flint in 2023; serves as a chaplain with the Michigan State Police since 2017.