BISHOP GAINER TO VISIT ST . LAWRENCE DEC. 18

As you know, Bishop Gainer has done very much for our Latin Mass Community here at St. Lawrence, and to commemorate that work, and to show his affection and care for the people here, he plans to visit our Parish on Saturday, Dec. 18, 10am, offer a Solemn Pontifical Mass, and to install Fr. Smith as Pastor. We are also delighted that Fr. Gregory Eichman, FSSP, our former chaplain, will come to assist the bishop on this visit. This will be another great day in our parish’s life as the bishop commemorates the work that the Lord has done here since this community was established in 1988.

As bishop, Bp. Gainer is one of the successors of the apostles and pastor of all the souls in the diocese. All of the priests throughout the diocese assist him by taking care of the various parishes, but only insofar as they have been authorized and sent by him, as St. Paul says: “And how shall they hear, without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they be sent?” (Rom. 10:14-15). We are very grateful not only for what our bishop has done for us, but also that he continues to take care of those in his flock who love the traditional Latin Mass. We expect a large number of people to come to this Saturday morning Mass, and we plan to provide parking at the parking garage that day, as well as to have a reception afterwards.

Reception following Solemn Pontifical Mass will be at the Civic Club of Harrisburg, 612 N Front Street. Free parking is available at the South Street Garage.

FSSP 2022 Calendars:

You will find the calendars on the back table inside the Church. The cost is $11.00. Please place payment in metal box labeled Calendars. Thank you!

Blessings of Homes for Epiphany

The priests will visit homes of the Faithful to give the traditional home blessing with the Epiphany water created on a special ceremony on the vigil of the Epiphany (Jan. 5). The priests will organize their visits so that they will spend about 15 to 30 minutes at each home, which will include: blessing each room with incense (in remembrance of the gift of Frankincense from the Magi) and Epiphany water (in remembrance of the Baptism of Our Lord, also commemorated at the Feast of the Epiphany), then using the chalk blessed on the Epiphany, they will mark the main door of the house with the symbol 20 C + M + B 22. This home blessing, one of the most beautiful sacramentals the Church provides, will be done during the octave of the Epiphany (Jan. 6 to 13) on a first-come, first-come basis for those who request it. For those who can not be accommodated this year, we will put them first on the list for next year. If you would like to avail yourselves of this beautiful tradition, make your request by sending a message to epiphanyblessing@stlawrence.cc. All requests must be made before Jan. 1. The priests would be able to visit more homes if they could be driven from home to home by a father-son team, with the father driving and the son dressed in cassock and surplice assisting the priest for the blessings. If a father and son are able to volunteer for this duty, please email the same address and indicate what day (or days) you would be able to help.

Young Adults—Today, Sunday, Dec. 12:

For any young adults (ages 18-35) the St. Lawrence Young Adult Group will be meeting today, Sunday, Dec. 12, 1pm at Squeaky Rail Diner (505 N Enola Rd, Enola, PA 17025) for brunch. We will meet there around 1pm. For further information email Fr. Killackey at assistant.pastor@stlawrence.cc.

HNS Membership Drive

Catholic men 18 years of age and older are invited to join the St. Lawrence Holy Name Society. Information about this traditional confraternity can be found at www.nahns.com.  There will be a new member induction ceremony in early January and all eligible males are encouraged to consider this spiritual and social opportunity. To seek enrollment or for additional information about the specific activities of the Holy Name Society at St. Lawrence, please contact Anthony Patterson at holyname@stlawrence.cc.

Book-sales Table—

Items for sale: After 9am & 11am Mass

• 2022 FSSP Calendars:$11.00
• Children’s Illustrated Calendar- 4-piece: 18x24 inch posters. 4-piece Calendar set: $29.00
• Mother Love: $18.00
• Angelus Press Hand Missal: $55.00

Calling More Altar Boys:

All boys of St. Lawrence who have received their 1st Holy Communion are invited to become altar boys starting January 2.  We will have new altar boys start as torch bearers for the Sunday High Masses, then as they learn their responses and server rubrics, they will be given a chance to start serving Low Masses.  For more information, please email altarboys@stlawrence.cc.

Volunteers needed— December 18:

Volunteers for the reception following the Bishop’s Pontifical Mass.

• Set up Civic Club—5-6 volunteers
• Set up upstairs—3 volunteers
• Set up Bishop’s food table—1 volunteer
• Monitor food table during event—4 volunteers
• Monitor drink table during event—2 volunteers
• Cleanup Civic Club—10 volunteers
• Remove trash during event—2 volunteers

Openings in the Choir at St. Lawrence:

The choir has openings for additional dedicated volunteers and three qualified section leaders. Members are expected to be available for Thursday evening rehearsals, Sunday 11 am Masses throughout the year, and for other important Feast Days as notified. Volunteers with previous choral experience are preferred, but those with strong desire may be considered at the discretion of the Music Director. Section Leader positions are available for Soprano, Alto, and Tenor; all applicants must audition and demonstrate strong vocal musicianship. Inquiries can be directed to Paul Thomas May at music@stlawrence.cc

Sunday Socials returning in January:

We will begin our Sunday Socials in January after the 9am and11am Mass.    The goal is to have many volunteers so that volunteers only have to do their duty once every month or two, and volunteers are needed in the following areas:

• Doughnut Procurement: (1 volunteer weekly; 6—8 volunteers in rotation) Instructions will be provided for ordering and picking up doughnuts at your local Giant. The volunteer then deliver the doughnuts to the social hall kitchen prior to the 9am Mass.
• Coffee Social Setup: (2—4 volunteers needed weekly) Prepare the social hall for the coffee social. This involves preparing the coffee and drink table and setting up the refreshment table.
• Coffee Social Cleanup: (2—4 volunteers needed weekly) Clean social hall after 4pm.
• Coffee Social Greeter: (1 volunteer needed weekly) Greet parishioners at the door and let them into the Social Hall.

Please contact email socials@stlawrence.cc to volunteer.

Expectant  Mothers:

If you are expecting a child and registered in the Community, please let us know so we can put  your expected date in our date book and rejoice with your family! Please notify us at contact@stlawrence.cc