St. Matthew Catholic Church

Pope Francis officially declared 2025 a Jubilee Year for the Church in May 2024, with a papal bull titled “Spes Non Confudit,” which means “Hope Does Not Disappoint.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I hope this Advent season finds you well and fills you and your loved ones with joyful anticipation of the celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas.

Karen Robinson’s first-grade science assignment called her to write about making a flying saucer. Instead, she wrote about what she wanted to be when she grew up: a nun.

“We can never have too many Legos!” For the past 22 years, as autumn turns to winter, the conference room at the Catholic Charities in Enid is taken over by heaping piles of clothes and toys, including countless boxes of Legos. Eighty kids in the Enid area will be the recipients of those items. Those kids would go without the joy of presents this Christmas if not for Stacy Kurtz, Laura Maixner and their program: A Very Giving Christmas.

Through suffering, Michelle Morris found her way to Mother Mary. "Don't let your suffering go to waste," said Morris, a woman who, despite a life riddled with suffering, has found strength, comfort and joy through a special devotion to Mary.

We can say wonderful things about Christmas: that it is a time of joy, of being with family, of sharing among friends, of being generous and giving gifts, etc. Yes, that is usually and habitually done every year in the month of December.

Irish students continue to prosper in academics and extracurricular activities, with the academic team placing second at regionals, a successful canned food drive, a state championship in cheer and strong performances in football and wrestling.

With this time of year devoted to the celebration of Thanksgiving and preparation for the Christmas season, it is beneficial to note some of the greatest blessings that being a Rocket can bring.

Basketball season arrives The girls basketball team claimed its first win on Nov. 15, a game that saw the Royals fight to the end.

The National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) will hold its annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection, scheduled in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City on the weekend of Dec. 21-22.