A church building is the story of a common people united in faith. It is a story about the life of a particular community, of those who believe and their relationship to God, and their relationship with the universal Roman Catholic Church.

We, the church of St. Matthew the Apostle, treasure our rich Catholic tradition and seek to build on that tradition as we embrace the challenge of making God present in every aspect of our lives.

Much time was devoted and sacrifices made to shape the physical aspects of our church building. The principal beauty of this house of praise and worship will be the spiritual unity of our assembly, the eagerness with which we hear the Word of God, the devotion with which we celebrate the sacraments – especially the Holy Eucharist – and the love which we embrace as we build up God’s Kingdom on earth. We remember our shared history, we celebrate who we are and are called to be, and we believe in a future full of promise and hope for all of God's people. This is the story that finds expression in our church and our parish community.

In thanksgiving, may all who gather in this holy temple come to recognize it as our spiritual home when, gathered together in Christ’s name, we may grow even more united in spirit, truth and His love.

CHURCH EXTERIOR

St. Matthew the Apostle Church is a cruciform church, of traditional design by Meacham & Apel Architects, constructed of simulated stone and stucco by Messer Construction Company.

THE BELL TOWER

The bell tower houses three bronze bells purchased from The Verdin Company, topped with a Celtic cross. Blessed on November 1, 2004 by Fr. Paul Noble, the largest bell was forged in 1872 at the Meneely & Kimberly foundry in Troy, New York. The Verdin Company at their foundry in Belgium forged the two smaller bells. The tones for the respective bells were taken, via digital measurement, from the tone of the large bell. They form a major chord producing what is known as the American Peel. The bells will ring on the hour daily from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. with the Angelus being rung at 7:00 a.m., 12 Noon, and 7:00 p.m. A three-bell peel will be rung for weddings and special celebrations; the large bell will toll for funerals.

ENTRIES

The main entry faces the rectory, with a secondary entrance beneath the portico facing the school. The cornerstone, placed to the left of the main entrance, is carved with the Roman Numerals MMIV A.D. (2004) with the original 1968 cornerstone placed beneath it. The original statue of St. Matthew the Apostle is located to the left of the main entrance.

GATHERING SPACE

Parish staff offices, the Sacristy and restrooms flank the gathering space. It is here where people may gather prior to or after Mass to meet and converse, for inside the actual church Sacred Silence is always to be observed for all who are in prayer.

THE CHURCH NAVE

The Stations of the Cross, located on the interior walls of the Nave, are replicas of antique prayer cards. The tapestries made of wool and silk are from a digitized image, and were mechanically woven in Canada.

The organ pipes within the choir loft come from the museum collection at Holy Family church.

The central painting within the dome of the ceiling is indicative of the outpouring of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit – wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

THE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS

Designed and crafted by Redbarn Studios in Powell, Ohio the stained glass windows are Tiffany style. The Annunciation window depicts the Angel Gabriel bringing the news to Mary that she will be the Mother of God. The window will be flanked by the Joyful and Luminous mysteries of the rosary. The Resurrection window depicts the angel proclaiming the news to the women that Christ has risen from the dead. The window will be flanked by the Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries of the rosary. As you look at both of these windows, you will notice the sun setting in the Annunciation window and rising in the Resurrection window. The significance of this detail is to remind us of the ending of the old covenant and the beginning of the new.

The centerpiece of our three windows is the rose window. While the Resurrection and Annunciation windows tell their story through pictures, the rose window is rich in symbolism. In the center of the window, are the letters I.H.S. Latin for Jesus the Christ, these fire-orange letters symbolize Jesus as the consuming fire, central to all life. The twelve golden rays tipped with red represent the twelve apostles receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.

THE SANCTUARY

Hand-carved from Alabama limestone by Tennessee artist John Czernoczky are the altar, the ambo, and the baptismal font. The relics of St. Eulogius and St. Vigilans are deposited in the aperture of the altar. A Celtic cross is carved in the front of the altar to mirror the Celtic cross atop the bell tower. Carved within the base of the baptismal font are three arches that replicate the architectural design of the latticework behind the altar and the stained glass windows. Within the ambo is carved the Greek Alpha and Omega – symbolic Christ being the Beginning and the End.

The corpus from the 1968 church has been mounted on a cross and is positioned above the altar. Also reused from the 1968 church is the tabernacle. Encased in a carved base, the tabernacle is appropriately given a central focus within the church, and is illuminated under the baldicino.

The prayer chapel is located behind the tabernacle, with seating for six and a rail for kneeling; the prayer chapel will serve as a quiet area for private prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

THE UNDERCROFT

Located beneath the church is the undercroft. Within the undercroft are the parish meeting rooms, the choir rehearsal room, the youth gathering space, the nurseries and several offices. St. Anthony is the largest of the meeting rooms and includes a kitchen and seating for 100. St. Gabriel, St. Michael, and St. Raphael are the three smaller meeting rooms with seating for 20. The St. Monica and St. Martin rooms serve as the infant and toddler nursery, complete with a mounted television for watching the Mass. Our youth group will meet in the Spirit Room and the choirs will rehearse in the St. Cecilia Room.