My dear parish family,
A recent document released by the Vatican indicates that the Catholic Church worldwide has seen a significant growth in the last few years. This increase has been concentrated mostly in Africa, Asia and here in the United States. The document also revealed that the Catholic Church continues to be the leading provider of education, healthcare and social services across the world. Despite this great news, it also revealed that we continue to experience a decline in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. While this decline is a familiar reality, it is important that we pay closer attention to the consequences it may have for our growing family of faith.
Every religious vocation is the fruit of a community grounded in the faith and love of Jesus Christ. As we seek to address this crisis, we must acknowledge that the great challenge plaguing our society today is the growing isolation and division caused by political polarization. This division compromises our ability to present the totality and beauty of our Catholic faith to younger generations without alienating them due to one extreme or another.
This Sunday, we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, invites us to direct our attention, first and foremost, to him in prayer and worship. He challenges us to seek his face and to listen in love to his commandments. He reveals that true transformation ought to begin with personal conversion. Therefore, as we celebrate the gift of our growing Church, but also recognize the challenges of the shortage of religious vocations, we pray that God will give us humble hearts to seek his mercy and grace so that we can love Him above everything else.
God bless you and see you at Mass!
Father Henry
For more information on the other events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of St. Lawrence Parish, visit our parish website.
You can stop by after Mass to purchase your tickets with cash or checks.
Mother's Day Novena
May 13-May 21
We will be celebrating our Mother's Day Novena as we ask God to bless our mothers, grandmothers, Godmothers, mother-in-laws, stepmothers, wives, aunts, sisters, friends or any woman who has kindly nurtured you with a special motherly love.
If you would like to honor or memorialize a special woman in your life in our Mother’s Day Novena, please pick up an envelope from the information table in the Narthex, fill it out and return it to the parish office prior to Mother's Day, May 12, 2024. For your convenience, for our online giving users, you also have the convenience of using an online form.
Attention all Parents, Grandparents, and Volunteers:
A Virtus: Protecting God’s Children session will be offered at St. Lawrence on Saturday, April 20 from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm in Johnson Hall. The Archdiocese of Atlanta requires that every volunteer who work with or around children, youth, and/or vulnerable individuals should complete the Safe Environment requirements, but I invite parents and grandparents to attend this most informative training session as well.
To register for a session, go to http://www.virtus.org/virtus/.
If you have questions, please contact Tarcy Hernandez at thernandez@saintlaw.org.
770-962-1676.
Registration is now open!
Your parish preschool offers weekday classes for children ages 2 through 5. Our highly trained staff plans activities that help foster growth in physical, cognitive, social and spiritual development. Call today for more information or to schedule a tour.
Tutorial Videos for ParishSOFT (My Own Church)
Visit our My Own Church page to access the tools (videos, instructions, frequently asked questions, and quick links). Please allow our administrative office up to 48 business hours to review and approve any profile changes (new registrations and edits). Check your email - in many cases you have been emailed by us and we are waiting on you for further action.
If you have any issues, please contact Darleine Arce at darce@saintlaw.org or Brandy Lake at blake@saintlaw.org.
For those who are not comfortable with technology or who would prefer a more traditional method of registering or updating information, you can always fill out a paper form found at the welcome window of the parish office.
Class Updates
REMINDERS
- Sunday, April 21, is the last session of K-5 and Edge.
- Wednesday, April 24, is the last day of Life Teen/Confirmation.
**Important Meetings
- If your child is going to receive their First Holy Communion
next year in Spring 2025, there is a mandatory parent
meeting on Sunday, April 21 in the Gym while your child is in class! You will receive the calendar, paperwork requirements, dress code, etc., everything you need to know to prepare for the first time they receive Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
Enrollment for Faith Formation 2024-2025
Links to register your child/children are available below.
Please register your child(ren) according to their upcoming grade level. If you have questions, contact our faith formation staff.
Doughnuts for a cause!
Now that our Lenten fasting is over, St. Lawrence Catholic Church is giving you the best reason to indulge in a dozen (or two) of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Until May 19, 2024, 50% of your order will be donated back to St. Lawrence to benefit our middle school teens when you purchase via our fundraising sales page! Doughnut coupons can be redeemed anywhere around the country, and at any time throughout the year.
All proceeds from the sale will help make it more affordable for our St. Lawrence families to send their middle schoolers to Camp Hidden Lake this summer. Last year we were able to send 14 teens, who had life changing experiences, and this year we are we are sending 30 teens to be immersed in the love of God, and have the opportunity to worship Him in the midst of His beautiful creation.
You can purchase Digital Dozens from our St. Lawrence Campaign Promotion Page, and you can redeem your order in-store or during your next visit to a participating Krispy Kreme. Treat yourself or gift to friends and family!
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Save the dates of June 3 to June 7 for our Vacation Bible School, with the theme SCUBA, where we will be "Diving into friendship with God!"
Children will go on an amazing underwater adventure where they will experience the ever-flowing, neverending love of God.
High school and adult helpers are needed! Information about registration and volunteering will come soon!
2024 Vic Egidi Memorial Scholarship
Each year the St. Lawrence chapter of the Knights of Columbus presents scholarships in memory of lifelong member and educator, Vic Egidi. Available to graduating high-school seniors from our parish in good standing. Good standing is defined by existing parish registration, weekly participation at Mass on Sundays with your family, involvement as a volunteer with any of our parish ministries, or possibly supporting the parish in some other manner.
This fund was established in 2013 by the Egidi family and the Knights of Columbus to honor Vic’s lifetime commitment to education and to the Knights of Columbus. The scholarship was first presented in 2013 and continues today.
Applications must be completed and submitted by May 30, 2024. Decisions regarding the scholarship will be announced on June 30, 2024.
Questions? Contact Nic Schmitz at nschmitz@saintlaw.org
Wear your nametag to Mass or stop by the table by the church entrance to make one as you come in so that we may come to know one another by name.
Name Tag Sunday
will be celebrated this weekend, April 20-21.
If you would like to order a personalized name tag, please fill out the order form below. Please note, it may take up to 2-3 weeks for your tag to arrive.
Steubenville Atlanta
July 26 - 28, 2024
OPPORTUNITIES TO DEEPEN YOUR
SPIRITUAL LIFE
The Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study Group resumed its weekly bible study sessions on April 7. We meet at 9:00 am each Sunday in the Divine Mercy room. We are studying The First Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians, using the Ignatius Bible Study Guide and Commentary. The inspirations contained in this book are extremely relevant for our times. All adults are invited! No previous bible study experience is necessary and extra copies of the book will be made available.
Catholics Returning Home
St. Lawrence is offering Catholics Returning Home sessions beginning tomorrow, Thursday, April 18.
If you are a Catholic who has been away from the Church, we have an invitation and a warm welcome for you.
This is your chance to get issues addressed, questions answered and learn about your Faith. We miss you and are not complete without you! Please consider attending.
To register or get further details please call 770.963.8992 or email
Young Families of Faith
Young Families of Faith is a welcoming, faith-based community where families and friends gather to enjoy delicious meals. After dinner, children ages birth to 6 go to the nursery; children 7 and older go to Johnson Hall to play games while parents have engaging discussions and the sought-after adult time.
Our next gathering will be our EASTER PARTY on Friday, April 19, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Cogswell Hall. We are looking forward to seeing/meeting you and your family!
Our next gathering will be our EASTER PARTY on Friday, April 19, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Cogswell Hall. We are looking forward to seeing/meeting you and your family!
This ministry is perfect for families with children in the 5th grade or lower.
RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY
The Respect Life Ministry was able to collect and donate 716 pounds of food at the March food drive. Thank you to all who supported this event!
Your next opportunity to donate will be Tuesday, April 30th from 4pm - 6pm!
The April Drive will be a Diapers & Depends Drive and we will be collecting all sizes of children's diapers and adult depends/diapers. These will benefit Mending the Gap and the Lawrenceville Co-op!
Opportunities to help:
Mending the Gap (mending-the-gap.org) is looking for volunteers for the following times: Mon/Wed/Fri 10-2 and the Third Wed/Fri of the month from 10-4.
They need help packing boxes, arranging shelves, bagging up produce & meat for delivery, etc., people to make phone calls to seniors weekly or biweekly to check-in on them and are also hiring a part-time warehouse manager.
Two upcoming 5K Run/Walk Events
Divorced? Divorced and Remarried? Separated?
Join the Monthly Divorce Support Group forming at Saint Lawrence.
Come join to Learn, Share, Grow, Pray, Socialize and Heal.
The first meeting will be Thursday, May 9 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm in the Divine Mercy Room.
If you would like to join but are unable to attend at that time, or for more information, please email Paul Krauth at divorcecare@saintlaw.org.
RSVP not required but highly encouraged.
Coming this summer!
Weekly on Tuesday nights beginning June 4 through July 30, from 7-8:30 pm, in Cogswell Hall.
Registration information is now available on our parish website or sign up below!
EUCHARISTIC PILGRIMAGE
Pilgrimage events will include Masses, Eucharistic adoration and prayer, as well as service projects. All public events are free of charge. Below is a list of parishes and Catholic centers in Atlanta where they will be processing with the Blessed Sacrament on pilgrimage.
Planning has begun for our next Eucharistic Congress in Atlanta. It will take place on June 20-21, 2025.
Building a Community of Prayer
Let us pray...
For our faithful departed, Evelyn Moore Nash
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
For the sick of our parish, especially Ricardo Betancurt, Victor Bute, Gabriela Calle, Sonny Canfield, Frances D’Amato, Judy Fletcher, Isabel Garcia, Lynne Gormley, Peggy Grannan, Diana Jaramillo, Bill Jones, George Lappan, Eva Macakova, Rose Mackin, John Monsalve, Luis Monsalve, Martha Muñiz, Murakami family, Irene Muse, Jaime Orozco, Merilee Pavik, Mary Peterson, Carl Raimondi, Joan Romeo, Judy Szekely, Oscar P. Tolentino, Nicole Topoleski, Paul Van Name, Louisa Wiles, Ann Woodson, along with their families and caregivers.
The prayer list will be cleared every 90 days. To add names or remove prior to the 90 days, contact Darleine Arce, administrative assistant, at (770)963-8992 x442 or by email at darce@saintlaw.org.
For our men and women in uniform, especially Vallerie Azansou, Danykha Nicole Backus, Philip Balmes, Nathan Barrick, Brandon Crocker, Jordan Crocker, Nathan Crocker, Ryan Crocker, Justin Ellis, Mario Flamenco, Giovanni Gachelin, Edgar Godinez, Isaac Gomez, Mark F. Gonzalez, Simone Hardy, Matthew Herbig, Brian Hodgson, Mariana Lacuzong, Nick McNabb, Brendon Murray, Kangudia Ntumba, Wesley Phillips, Rapheal Quarshie, Dillon Riedlinger, Dethan Stafford, Eileen Dilks Tatum, Philip Turner, Da’Maris Vanzandt, Brandon Ware.
If you have a son or daughter serving in the military and would like for his or her name to be on our prayer list, please contact Mary Jo Ware OR Laura Herbig at careforthetroops@saintlaw.org.
For all pregnant mothers and mothers to be, especially Bridgette Adams, Rosemary Burns, Lauren Farkas, Stefanie Hauck, Sterling Henderson, Luz Mariela, Yesenia Medellin-Anastasio, Katie Merriman, Tiffany Morley, Nneze Eluka Nwankwo, Virginia Partridge, Nathalie Smith.
To add your name to this list, please contact our Respect Life Ministry at respectlife@saintlaw.org.
Please continue to pray for our Neophytes
(those who were newly initiated (received) through the Sacraments of Initiation)
and
meet our new candidates for Pentecost
RESOURCES FOR THOSE IN NEED
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Need Assistance? To request help contact our local St. Vincent de Paul Society (For zip codes 30019, 30043, 30045 & 30046) call (678)215-4514
For all other Zip Codes, call (678)892-6163
Grief Support is available at St. Lawrence. If you're in need, please contact Barb Kennedy, R.N., at (678)427-4116.
Our parish Stephen Ministry provides confidential one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties in their lives, such as:
- Divorce or Separation
- Troubling medical diagnosis
- Death of a loved one
- Job crisis
- Birth of a child
- Relocation
- Spiritual crisis
…and many other concerns
There is no fee associated with Stephen Ministry.
Contact: Trudy Turner at
(404)234-2891
Our Stewardship of Treasure
The second collection this Sunday (April 21) is for St. Vincent de Paul. Thank you for your generosity! (We apologize for our confusion last weekend)
Online Giving through ParishSOFT Giving. We encourage you to use the link below to our secure ParishSOFT Giving program. By creating a login, you can set up recurring or one-time gifts, contribute to specific funds, and see your giving history at any time. We no longer support Vanco and ask that you transition your giving to ParishSoft Giving. https://www.saintlaw.org/giving.
Text to Give: Simply text the word "Giving" to: (319) 409-6381 dedicated for our ParishSOFT Giving Text users. The first time you do this you will be given an option to fill in your card information. Subsequently, all you need to do is text your donation to that number. You will always be given a receipt and funds will be credited to your parish donation statement.
Thank you for your support!
Events around the Archdiocese
FR. KEVIN HARGADEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION
Fr. Kevin Hargaden, who formerly served here at St. Lawrence, is celebrating his 25th year as a priest and you are invited to attend his jubilee celebration! His current parish, St. Francis of Assisi in Cartersville, is hosting "A Taste of St. Francis" on Pentecost Sunday, May 19th.
Festivities will start with a 10:30am Mass, followed by food, fellowship, a talent show, and more! All are invited to attend. The celebration is free, we only ask that you bring your favorite dish to share. You can find more information and register to attend here: https://stfac.org/pentecost2024
CURSILLO RETREAT OPPORTUNITIES THIS FALL
Who is Cursillo For?
- Are you longing to experience your faith more deeply and live it in your daily life?
- To enrich your relationship with God, no matter how strong it may be right now?
- Are you looking for a community with which to share your faith journey?
- Do you want to become more confident in and enthusiastic about your faith and in sharing it in the secular world?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then Cursillo is for you.
The world “cursillo” is Spanish for “short course,” and Cursillo retreats are set up to be just that – a short course in Christianity through a highly structured weekend retreat that runs from Thursday evening through Sunday evening.
Men's Cursillo Weekend:
October 10-13
Women's Cursillo Weekend:
October 17-20
Want to experience Cursillo?
Not willing to let go of your marriage? Many couples continue to struggle in a marriage, but are not willing to give up on each other. There is hope.
Retrouvaille is a program designed to help struggling marriages regain their health. It helps a husband and a wife rediscover or re-awaken the love, trust and commitment that originally brought them together. The program is highly successful in saving hurting marriages, even bringing reconciliation to couples who have already separated or divorced. Retrouvaille is a peer ministry of volunteer couples that can help you learn the tools of healthy communication, build intimacy and heal, just as they have done in their own marriages.
For more information about our upcoming Retrouvaille Weekend program, May 3 - May 5, 2024, contact: Mus and Rubina @ 404.234.6006 or visit our website: HelpOurMarriage.org
We are here to listen and take action.