About St. Matthew · Saint Paul, Minnesota
St. Matthew's Catholic Community is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, rooted on Saint Paul's West Side since 1886. Founded by German immigrants as a daughter parish of the Church of the Assumption downtown, it describes itself as 'a visible expression of God's love' and 'the Good Samaritan on the banks of the Mississippi.' The parish is best known for combining weekly worship and faith formation with a remarkable campus of social-justice ministries — including Loaves & Fishes meal service, Casa Guadalupana for asylum seekers, and a free health clinic — that have shaped the West Side for generations.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Matthew the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Antony Skaria (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Matthew's is a small, engaged West Side parish where Sunday Mass and faith formation are tightly woven into hands-on service of neighbor. Members pray together, volunteer in the on-site Loaves & Fishes kitchen, mentor students at Community of Saints School, and help host Casa Guadalupana's asylum-seeking families — a chance to live out Catholic social teaching as the parish's own mission statement puts it, 'a visible expression of God's love in the world.'
Mass times at St. Matthew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00–3:30 PM
- Sundays after Mass on request
- By appointment — call the parish office
- Communal Penance Services offered twice a year during Advent and Lent
Our Story: From German Immigrant Parish to West Side Beacon
St. Matthew's traces its roots to 1886, when German immigrants on Saint Paul's West Side established it as a daughter parish of the Church of the Assumption downtown. Over more than a century it has grown into a community defined by the motto 'Good Samaritan on the banks of the Mississippi.' The Easter 1968 fire destroyed the original church; the current sanctuary was dedicated in 1970 in the immediate wake of Vatican II, and its movable-chair worship space has shaped the parish's flexible liturgical style ever since. For the 100th anniversary in 1986, alumni artists painted interior murals honoring neighbors who lived and worked in the surrounding blocks.
- Founded 1886 by German immigrants (daughter parish of Assumption)
- 1968 fire destroyed the original church the day after Easter
- New church dedicated 1970 with movable chairs (Vatican II design)
- Centennial murals by parish-school alumni, 1986
- Community of Saints Regional School formed 2012 (with St. Michael, St. John Vianney, Our Lady of Guadalupe)
Sacramental Preparation
Families wishing to celebrate First Reconciliation, First Communion, or Confirmation register for and participate in sacramental preparation regardless of whether their children attend Community of Saints or another school. All students must be baptized before receiving further sacraments; the parish office can help families arrange baptisms for older children.
- First Reconciliation — Grade 2 and up
- First Communion — Grade 2 and up
- Confirmation — Grades 8–11
- Baptism coordination for older children via parish office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Matt's runs the full arc of faith formation — from Early Childhood Family Faith Formation for parents with infants through 5-year-olds, through Children's Liturgy of the Word for ages 3–7 during the 10:15 AM Mass, to weekly Youth Faith Formation classes for students in Grades K–10 on Wednesday evenings from 6:30–7:45 PM. The curriculum follows the liturgical calendar and uses Gospel Weeklies for age-appropriate catechesis.
- Early Childhood Family Faith Formation (birth–age 5)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (ages 3–7, during 10:15 Mass)
- Youth Faith Formation (Grades K–10, Wednesdays 6:30–7:45 PM, Sept–May)
- Gospel Weeklies curriculum
Music Ministry
Music is described by the parish itself as integral to worship at St. Matt's. The choir rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, September through May; cantors lead congregational singing at every weekend Mass; and instrumentalists of all kinds are welcome to share their gifts. The post-Vatican II worship space (with its flexible, movable chairs) was designed in part to host visiting theater and music groups, and the parish presents regular public concerts in the church.
- St. Matt's Choir — Wed 7:00–9:00 PM (Sept–May)
- Cantors leading weekend Masses
- Instrumentalists welcomed year-round
- Public music concerts hosted in the church
Liturgical Ministry: The Work of the People
St. Matthew's lives out the meaning of the word 'liturgy' — the work of the people — through a full roster of lay liturgical roles coordinated by the Director of Music and Liturgy, Cristina Czaia. From the door to the altar, members of the parish contribute their time as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Sacristans, Greeters, Gift Bearers, Cross Bearers, and members of the Liturgy Committee that shapes each season's worship.
- Eucharistic Ministers (must be confirmed Catholic)
- Lectors (Grade 7 and older)
- Ushers, Greeters, Gift Bearers, Cross Bearers
- Sacristans (with prior Eucharistic Minister or Lector experience)
- Liturgy Committee
Social Justice & Outreach
St. Matthew's is best known on the West Side for the cluster of ministries it hosts and partners with on its own campus. The parish believes that faith expressed in service of neighbor's bodily needs is at the heart of Catholic social teaching. Its Justice and Outreach partnerships — Casa Guadalupana, Loaves & Fishes, St. Mary's Health Clinics, NeDA, and Neighborhood House — make the parish a true community center, not just a Sunday church.
- Casa Guadalupana (asylum-seeker housing since 2005)
- Loaves & Fishes kitchen (~300 meals/day Mon–Fri)
- St. Mary's Health Clinics (free medical care)
- NeDA — Neighborhood Development Alliance
- Neighborhood House food shelf (~1,200 lbs/year from parishioners)
- AA / 12-Step, Men's Club, Rosary Society
- Quantum STEAM Academy (lessee of school building)
Loaves & Fishes: Free Meals Mon–Fri
St. Matthew's is one of the longtime host sites of Loaves & Fishes, the Twin Cities nonprofit that has served free hot meals in a spirit of dignity and hospitality since 1982. Each day from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, the St. Matthew's Social Hall serves roughly 300 meals. Teams of volunteers cook and serve on-site under a coordinator.
- Free hot meals served 5:00–6:00 PM, Monday–Friday
- Averages about 300 meals per day at this site
- Volunteer teams cook, serve and clean
Casa Guadalupana: A Catholic Worker House
Since 2005 the former St. Matthew's rectory on the corner of Hall and Robie has been home to Casa Guadalupana, a Catholic Worker house in the spirit of Dorothy Day that welcomes immigrant and asylum-seeking families in crisis. Volunteers transformed the 125-year-old building into a welcoming space that can host up to 16 adults and children at a time and often runs at capacity.
- Located in the former priests' rectory at Hall & Robie
- Hosts up to 16 adults and children
- Welcomes asylum-seekers and immigrant families in crisis
- Operates in the spirit of Dorothy Day / Catholic Worker movement
Community of Saints Regional Catholic School
St. Matthew's former parish school became part of Community of Saints Regional Catholic School in 2012, a regional pre-K–Grade 8 Catholic school combining the students and parishes of St. Matthew, St. Michael (West St. Paul), St. John Vianney (South St. Paul), and Our Lady of Guadalupe. The regional school is located on the former St. Michael campus in West St. Paul and reflects the diversity of its four parishes.
- Regional Catholic school formed in 2012
- Sponsoring parishes: St. Matthew, St. Michael, St. John Vianney, Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Pre-K through Grade 8
- Located at 335 Hurley Street East, West St. Paul
- St. Matthew's historic 'open enrollment regardless of tuition' ethos continues
Leadership & Staff
The parish is led day-to-day by Parochial Administrator Rev. Antony Skaria and Sacramental Minister Rev. Thomas M. Kommers, with Pastoral Administrator Phil Grant coordinating operations, Safe Environment, and parish life. The paid staff also includes a Director of Music and Liturgy, Faith Formation coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, and Maintenance Engineer, supported by elected parish trustees and a robust tradition of lay leadership that the parish traces to Vatican II.
- Rev. Antony Skaria — Parochial Administrator
- Rev. Thomas M. Kommers — Sacramental Minister
- Phil Grant — Pastoral Administrator / Safe Environment Coordinator
- Cristina Czaia — Director of Music and Liturgy
- Janelle Rohr — Faith Formation
- Mary Leibl — Volunteer Coordinator
- Angela Rakow — Administrative Assistant
- Steve Kowal — Maintenance Engineer
- John Del Vecchio & Karen Thompson — Parish Trustees
Visiting & Contact
The church is at 510 Hall Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55107; the parish office (and mailing address) is at 490 Hall Avenue. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (closed Fridays). The parish phone is (651) 224-9793, fax (651) 222-2688. The church sits in the heart of Saint Paul's West Side, alongside the West Side's main commercial district and within walking distance of Neighborhood House.
- Church: 510 Hall Ave, St. Paul, MN 55107
- Parish office (mailing): 490 Hall Ave, St. Paul, MN 55107
- Office hours Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–1:00 PM (closed Fri)
- Phone: (651) 224-9793
- Fax: (651) 222-2688
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. James Cecka
Pastor at the time of the Easter 1968 fire that destroyed the original church; also professor of Church History at St. Paul Seminary.
- Fr. Bill Whittier
Succeeded Msgr. Cecka; led the parish through early post-Vatican II implementation.
- Fr. Gene Pascholl
Mid-20th-century pastor who, with Cecka and Whittier, helped the parish embrace the spirit of Vatican II.
- Fr. Steve Adrian1978–2012 (pastor); sacramental ministry until spring 2024
West Side native, ordained 1968; led the parish for 34 years; built many of its outreach ministries; d. 2024.
- Fr. Bob Kelly, OPfrom November 2017
Dominican parochial administrator.
- Rev. Antony Skariacurrent
Current Parochial Administrator as of 2025.
- Rev. Thomas M. Kommerscurrent
Current Sacramental Minister as of 2025.