A dynamic national speaker and specialist on “Stewardship and the Eucharist: Helping the Sacraments Come to Life” will be heard at St. Matthew Church during Lenten weekend services April 1-2 and evening sessions April 3-5.

Father Joseph Creedon is the author of 14 Lenten and Advent booklets and the recent keynote speaker at the International Catholic Stewardship Conference. He is a former college campus ministry director and educator and now a pastor at Christ the King Church in Kingston, R.I.

Father Creedon will preach at all the weekend Masses April 1-2, which include a 5 p.m. Saturday Mass and 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday Masses. He will speak April 3-5 at 7 p.m. on the topics of baptism, the Eucharist, and forgiveness, respectively.

“A lot of times we tend to look at sacraments such as baptism and the Eucharist as static events. I will be suggesting ways to incorporate these sacraments into our daily lives. Baptism is a lifelong commitment to respond to the call of ministry when God welcomes us to join his people. Stewardship of our time, talent and treasure is what helps the sacraments come to life,” he said.

On the topic of forgiveness he said, “Most people think that their sins are so serious God won’t forgive them. As a result, they don’t forgive themselves. A church can sometimes appear to be a gathering of saints, but in truth it is a gathering of sinners who haven’t given up yet.”

The Eucharist is also not a static event. “The Second Vatican Council does challenge all the baptized to receive the Eucharist in a manner which is full, active and conscious. I will challenge us to integrate this more fully into our everyday lives. We do have a long way to go.”

All are invited. The church is located at 215 Kirkley Road. Call (770) 964-5804.