About St. Matthew · Spotsylvania, Virginia
St. Matthew Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located in Spotsylvania, Virginia, serving approximately 700 families (about 2,345 parishioners) in the Fredericksburg area. It belongs to the Diocese of Arlington and is pastored by Father Paul M. Eversole, with two permanent deacons assisting. The parish is known for its strong outreach to the poor and its devotion to the corporal works of mercy, operating a food pantry, baby closet, St. Vincent de Paul conference, and a thrift store in nearby Breezewood Shopping Center.
- Established
- 1999
- Patron
- St. Matthew (the Apostle and Evangelist)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul M. Eversole
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
St. Matthew offers the full rhythm of Catholic life — a robust daily and Sunday Mass schedule with confession after most daily Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Monday mornings with Benediction, religious education for children, OCIA for adults, a high school youth ministry, and a music program led by a parish music director. The parish is especially distinctive for its works of mercy: an on-site food pantry and baby closet, the St. Matthew Thrift Store, a St. Vincent de Paul conference, Good Samaritan visitation of the homebound, and a Knights of Columbus council. Newcomers can plug in through Vacation Bible School, the choir, or parish ministries, making St. Matthew a welcoming home for both growing families and adults new to the faith.
Mass times at St. Matthew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – after 8:00 a.m. Mass
- Tuesday – after 8:00 a.m. Mass
- Wednesday – after 11:00 a.m. Mass
- Thursday – after 6:30 a.m. Mass
- Friday – 7:00 p.m. (heard until the line ends or 5 minutes before Mass, whichever comes first)
- Saturday – 3:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- Monday – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 11:00 a.m.
History and Anniversary
St. Matthew was first established as a mission of St. Patrick Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia, before growing enough to be erected as a parish in 1999. It has grown to serve about 700 families and roughly 2,345 parishioners in the Spotsylvania area. On November 24, 2024, the parish celebrated its silver anniversary with a Mass on the Feast of Christ the King celebrated by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, followed by a reception in the parish hall.
- Founded 1999 (grew from St. Patrick mission)
- Silver anniversary celebrated November 24, 2024
- Approximately 700 families / 2,345 parishioners
- Pastor since 2010: Fr. Paul M. Eversole
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Father Paul M. Eversole, who has served as pastor since 2010. He is assisted by three permanent deacons and a lay staff that manages religious education, youth ministry, music, business, and parish facilities. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and an after-hours priest emergency line is available for urgent pastoral needs.
- Pastor: Rev. Paul M. Eversole
- Deacon Mike Strain (also Director of Youth Ministry)
- Deacon John Hubbarth
- Deacon Paul Gregory (also St. Vincent de Paul President)
- Religious Education Director: Joanne Warren
- Assistant Director of Youth Ministry: Sheila Kinley
- Music Director: Melanie (Strain)
- Business Manager: Jared Darr
- Facilities Assistant: Ben Crane
- St. Matthew Thrift Store Manager: Mrs. (per parish bulletin masthead)
- Parish Secretary / Receptionists
- After-Hours Priest Emergency Phone: 540-498-3170
Faith Formation
The parish runs religious education for children and a youth ministry for teens, supported by a Director of Religious Education and a Director of Youth Ministry. Vacation Bible School is offered each summer as a fun, multiday program for children of the parish and surrounding community.
- Religious Education (Joanne Warren, DRE)
- Vacation Bible School
- Youth Ministry (Deacon Mike Strain & Sheila Kinley)
Adult Education and OCIA
Adults seeking to learn more about the Catholic faith, complete initiation, or receive the sacraments are welcomed through the OCIA (formerly RCIA) program. The parish also promotes the FORMED digital content platform for ongoing adult formation and faith enrichment at home.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Adult Education
- FORMED online content
Music and Liturgical Ministry
St. Matthew maintains a parish music program with a choir led by Music Director Melanie Strain. The parish also supports liturgical ministry roles for those who serve at Mass as lectors, extraordinary ministers, ushers, and altar servers.
- Parish Choir / Music Program
- Music Director: Melanie Strain
- Liturgical Ministry (lectors, EMHCs, ushers, altar servers)
Outreach and Charity
Outreach to the poor, elderly, and sick is the heart of St. Matthew's parish identity. The parish operates an on-site food pantry and a baby resource closet, runs the St. Vincent de Paul St. Faustina Conference for financial assistance, supports a Good Samaritan ministry that visits the homebound, and operates the St. Matthew Thrift Store at the Breezewood Shopping Center about ten minutes from the church. Bishop Burbidge publicly commended these works of mercy at the parish's 25th anniversary.
- Food Pantry (on parish grounds)
- Baby Closet / Resource Closet (on parish grounds)
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — St. Faustina Conference
- St. Matthew Thrift Store (Breezewood Shopping Center)
- Good Samaritan Ministry / Visitation of the Homebound
- Knights of Columbus Council
- SHARE
Contact and Parish Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person during business hours. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin online with announcements, Mass intentions, collection updates, and ministry news.
- Address: 8200 Robert E. Lee Drive, Spotsylvania, VA 22551
- Phone: 540-582-5575; Fax: 540-582-8639
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- After-Hours Priest Emergency Phone: 540-498-3170
- Website: www.stmatthewspotsylvania.org
- Weekly bulletin posted online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Paul M. Eversole2010–present
Ordained May 20, 1995 by Bishop John R. Keating; previously parochial vicar at Our Lady of Angels (Woodbridge), All Saints (Manassas), and St. William of York (Stafford); associate rector at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; administrator and then pastor of Our Lady of Angels before being named pastor of St. Matthew in 2010.