My dear people:

Here’s a little something from the “I wish I could preach like” files.  In fact, I might save this and use it sometime: 

By Mark Shea 7/10/10
“The forgiveness of sins, said the Fathers of the Church, is a greater miracle than the creation of the universe. That seems exaggerated, when considered from our perspective. A Catholic does something he feels ashamed of, hies himself to Confession, goes in the little room with the priest, and comes out a few minutes later. Sometimes he stops for a quick penance prayer in the pew. Sometimes he's off like a shot to his next Saturday afternoon appointment. To the naked eye, it's hard to see something akin to God hurling the Andromeda Galaxy into being.

And yet, seen from God's perspective, this is what it's all about. The birth at Bethlehem, the life at near subsistence level (particularly compared to our comfiness in Millennial Suburbia)…and finally the betrayal, arrest, beatings, crowning with thorns, nakedness, excruciating pain, gasping for breath, isolation, abandonment, and last wrenching moments of agony: It was all to purchase that miracle of forgiveness poured out in that little room.

In short, as C. S. Lewis has remarked, it cost God nothing to create the universe. It cost Him crucifixion to take away the sins of the world. Those who talk or think of the forgiveness of sins as a sort of magical wave of the hand that is accomplished with a little ooga booga and sprinkling somebody with magic water simply have no conception of what Christians are talking about when they speak of the forgiveness of sins…

You can find the whole article by clicking here.

In Christ’s Love, 

Fr. Tom

Fr. Beitans can be reached at the following address and phone number: 

Rev. John Beitans, St. Rose of Lima,
114 Lancelot Drive, Franklin, Indiana  46131
317-738-3929

Your prayers are requested for the repose of the Soul of Jim Perkins who passed away this week.  His funeral will be July 31.

If you are not participating in this program already please consider doing so.
If you are participating this gives you an opportunity to change you contribution amount and distribution.  Of course changes can be made at anytime online or by toll free number to Faith Direct.

Thank you for your continued support of St Lawrence, without your support we would be unable to continue our works of faith.

Ten Reasons to Make Your Offertory Gift Through
Faith Direct

1.  No more checks to write or envelopes to find
2.  52 weeks of predictable income for your parish
3.  Greater security than cash or checks
4.  No cost for you to participate
5.  Online control of your offertory giving – including special collections
6.   Reduction of envelope and postage expense for St. Lawrence
7.   Less work by our parish office staff to post contribution records
8.   Offertory cards enable you to witness your gift of treasure
9.   Earn credit card points for your offertory gifts
10. Fr. Beitans does it

If would like to help St. Lawrence save money and also spare a few trees in the process, please visit www.faithdirect.net and use our parish code of 124 to enroll in our electronic giving program.  You can also pick up an enrollment form in the back of church or from the parish office.  Once you have enrolled in Faith Direct, we will no longer send you offertory envelopes.

Please join us for our Saint Lawrence Catholic School Open House for prospective families on Thursday, July 22, from 5:30-7:30 pm. We cordially invite you and your family to the Saint Lawrence Open House.  Come tour our facilities, visit with our teachers, talk with current school parents and students and learn more about our exceptional school. Registration for students in Preschool through 8th grade, as well as our daycare, will be available during this time.

Volunteers needed for Sunday, August 1 from noon – 2:00 p.m.  Call Joe Jones, 547-3656, to volunteer.

One of our parishioners needs transportation to the noon mass once a month.  She lives at Greentree Assisted Living at Ft. Ben, and she uses a wheelchair.  If you are able to help, please call Kim at the parish office 546-4065 ext. 222.

Join the ‘GOLDENARIES’ on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 for a one day bus trip.  We will go to Cincinnati, Ohio, for lunch on the "QUEEN CITY” River Boat while we cruise the Ohio River.  After the cruise we will travel to Action, IN for a wine tasting.  Cost is $65 per person which includes all gratuities.  Our pickup locations are K of C on German Church Rd and the M & I Bank at Southern Plaza.  Hope you will join us. For more info or to make reservations call Janice Lingenfelter at
317-899-4820.

A stewardship parish is a welcoming community.  People who are grateful receivers and givers are cheerful and welcoming people.  We saw this in the welcoming of Fr. Tom Schliessmann this past weekend.  It was nice to see so many people greeting and introducing themselves to Fr. Tom.

Welcome Fr. Tom.  We will do our best not to overwhelm you and to bring you into our church family.  We are happy to have you here!

BJ Pfeiffer

We are currently seeking sponsorships to help offset the cost of the festival.  Several sponsorship levels are available.  If you know a business who would like to sponsor our festival, please give them a sponsorship letter to fill out and return.  Sponsorship letters are available from the parish office.

Click here to view the Fall Festival Web Page!

The Knights of Peter Claver, Court #191, is sponsoring a trip to Ohio on August 7.  We will visit the Freedom Center Museum, have lunch, and shop at two different malls!  Cost is $40/person and includes a breakfast and snacks to eat on the bus.  We will leave from and return to the Catholic Center downtown.  Call Debra Cooper at 506-3031 or Estelle Starks at 636-8194 by July 28 to register. Proceeds support our Court and School.

$1 Club
The holder of envelope #26 did not contribute to the drawing for July 11, 2010.  The pot was $1,294 which will be added to next week’s drawing.

The holder of envelope #125 did not contribute to the drawing for July 11, 2010.  The pot was $7,550 which will be added to next week’s drawing. 

Please use the 50/50 Special Envelopes when participating in this fund raising program. The 50/50 envelopes make it easy for our counters to identify your participation and be sure you get entered on a timely basis. Thank you for your participation in this important fund raising program.