Some inquiries have been received regarding whether a diocesan
collection will be taken for the victims of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. It has been decided that those who wish to provide financial assistance to the victims of this tragedy should go directly to the Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) website.
You may access the page by clicking below.
Together, through the Catholic Ministry Appeal, we respond to needs of our local communities and support Catholics throughout their lives. With your gift, you are nurturing spiritual life, embracing God’s call to serve and accompanying missionary disciples in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. In the spirit of faith and mission, please consider making a commitment to the Catholic Ministry Appeal for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
Coming Up: April 12, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. – Emotional Intelligence
Dear Servers and Parents,
Sunday, December 4th, please join us at the 10:00 AM Mass to celebrate the Altar Server’s Ministry and say goodbye to Fr. Higinio before he leaves St. Lawrence to join the faculty at St. Joseph Seminary College in Saint Benedict, Louisiana. We’d like to have as many servers as possible attend, as Fr. Higinio has been hugely supportive of St. Lawrence Altar Server’s Ministry. Please arrive at 9:30 AM to prepare for this Mass. We will be distributing complimentary St. Lawrence Altar Server T-shirts to all servers; the T-shirts have been generously provided by our parish’s Mothers’ Prayer Group. A BIG thank you to the Mothers’ Prayer Group! We hope you and your families had an excellent Thanksgiving Holiday!
See you on Sunday, December 4th!
The blessing of an Advent Wreath takes place on the First Sunday of Advent or on the evening before the First Sunday of Advent. Please bring your Advent Wreath to Mass the weekend of November 26/27th for a blessing. Join us in this rich and joyful blessing.
La “Corona de Adviento” o “Corona de las luces de Adviento” es un signo que expresa la alegría del tiempo de preparación a la Navidad. Por medio de la bendición de la corona se subraya su significado religioso. Los invitamos a traer su corona el fin de semana del 26 y 27 de Noviembre para recibir esta bendición. Únete a nosotros en esta bendición llena de alegría.
The use of the Advent Wreath is a traditional practice which has found its place in the Church as well as in the home. The blessing of an Advent Wreath takes place on the First Sunday of Advent or on the evening before the First Sunday of Advent.
When the blessing of the Advent Wreath is celebrated in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a parent or another member of the family.
All make the sign of the cross as the leader says:
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Response (R/.) Who made heaven and earth.
Then the Scripture, Isaiah 9: (lines 1-2 and 5-6) or Isaiah 63 (lines 16-17 & 19) or Isaiah 64 (lines 2-7) is read:
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
R/. Thanks be to God.
With hands joined, the leader says:
Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
The blessing may conclude with a verse from
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:
O come, desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of humankind.
bid every sad division cease
and be thyself our Prince of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
1235. La “Corona de Adviento” o “Corona de las luces de Adviento” es un signo que expresa la alegría del tiempo de preparación a la Navidad. Por medio de la bendición de la corona se subraya su significado religioso. 1236. La luz indica el camino, aleja el miedo y favorece la comunión. La luz es un símbolo de Jesucristo, luz del mundo. El encender, semana tras semana, los cuatro cirios de la corona muestran la ascensión gradual hacia la plenitud de la luz de Navidad. El color verde de la corona significa la vida y la esperanza. 1237. La corona de Adviento es, pues, un símbolo de la esperanza de que la luz y la vida triunfarán sobre las tinieblas y la muerte. Porque el Hijo de Dios se ha hecho hombre por nosotros, y con su muerte nos ha dado la verdadera vida. I. Rito de la bendición en la familia. 1238. El ministro, al comenzar la celebración, dice: Nuestro auxilio es el nombre del Señor. Todos responden: Que hizo el cielo y la tierra. Monición introductoria
Al comenzar el nuevo año litúrgico vamos a bendecir esta corona con que inauguramos también el tiempo de Adviento. Sus luces nos recuerdan que Jesucristo es la luz del mundo. Su color verde significa la vida y la esperanza.
El encender, semana tras semana, los cuatro cirios de la corona deben significar nuestra gradual preparación para recibir la luz de la Navidad.
1239. Uno de los presentes, o el mismo ministro, lee un breve texto de la Sagrada Escritura, por ejemplo:
Is 60, 1: Levántate y resplandece, Jerusalén, porque ha llegado tu luz y la gloria del Señor alborea sobre ti.
1240. Luego el ministro, si es sacerdote o diácono, con las manos extendidas o si es laico, con las manos juntas, dice la oración de bendición:
Oremos.
La tierra, Señor, se alegra en estos días,
y tu Iglesia desborda de gozo
ante tu Hijo, el Señor,
que se avecina como luz esplendorosa,
para iluminar a los que yacemos en las tinieblas
de la ignorancia, del dolor y del pecado.
Lleno de esperanza en su venida,
tu pueblo ha preparado esta corona
con ramos del bosque
y la ha adornado con luces.
Ahora, pues, que vamos a empezar el tiempo de preparación
para la venida de tu Hijo,
te pedimos, Señor,
que, mientras se acrecienta cada día
el esplendor de esta corona, con nuevas luces,
a nosotros nos ilumines
con el esplendor de aquel que, por ser la luz del mundo,
iluminará todas las oscuridades.
Él, que vive y reina por los siglos de los siglos. R. Amén.
St. Lawrence Christmas Angel Tree
St. Lawrence Parish celebrates the birth of Jesus by giving and sharing our love with those in our parish and community who are most in need this year.
You can make a child’s Christmas merrier by selecting an Angel ornament and returning your UNWRAPPED GIFT with the Ornament attached under the tree in the church BEFORE December 11, 2022.
All gifts must be received by December 11th, so they can be sorted, boxed and distributed to families on December 19th.
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” – Matt. 25:40
Please join us in Congratulating Mrs. Julie Lezcano, who receive the St. Jude Medal Award during a prayer service on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 3:00pm, at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg for her outstanding service to the St. Lawrence community. Julie is very active in various ministries at St. Lawrence, and considers St. Lawrence her spiritual home.
The St. Jude the Apostle Medal is given each year in the Diocese of St. Petersburg to recognize those persons showing distinguished and outstanding service to their parish. This medal acknowledges the great gift of the Church, its people, exemplified in these individuals who in their generosity and love of their faith have greatly contributed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their parish. The Medal was commissioned by the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 1999 at the request of Bishop Robert N. Lynch. The famous Enrico Manfrini of Milan, Italy, designed the medal and Senesi of Milan, Italy, cast it.
Congratulations Julie!
