reconciliationSacrament of Reconciliation Schedule

First Friday Confessions – Following the 8:15am Mass

Confessions are also available every Saturday night before the 5:00pm mass from 4:00-4:45pm in the Church. Sunday morning before the 9:00am Mass from 8:00-8:45am, Sunday evening before the 6:00pm Misa from 5:00-5:45pm, and Thursday evening before the 7:00pm Misa Mass from 6:00-6:45pm.

Why Do We Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

The Sacrament of Reconiciliation is a practice of holiness, an action in which we seek Christ's peace and strength, and a sacramental sign in which we come more and more to know God's love.

Without the Sacrament of REconciliation, we are apt to do one of two things: 1) Drift into a life of indifference about our actions as if God doesn't really care what we do, or 2) A life of self disgust about our action in which forgiveness does not take place.

Instead of either indifference or self disgust, when we celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation we say to God, "well in spite of all I may say or fancy, this is whatI am really like, so please help my weakness."

Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a fresh start on life. Writer G.K. Chesterson, said that wehn we receive absolution we are only five minutes old. We start afresh with glad hearts and prayerful gratitude.

In confession, the break-through to new life occurs. When sin is hated, admitted and forgiven, there the break with the past is amde. Old things hav passed away. But where there isa break iwth sin, there is conversion. Confession is conversion. Behold, all things become new. Christ has made a new beginning with us. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

What happened to us in baptism is bestowed upon us anew in confession. We are delivered out of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. This is joyful news! Confession is the renewal of teh job of baptism. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Examination of Conscience
This suggested form for an examination of conscience should be completed and adapted to meet the needs of different individuals and to follow local usage. In an examination of conscience, before the sacrament of penance, each individual should ask himself these questions in particular:

  1. What is my attitude to the sacrament of penance? Do I sincerely want to be set free from sin, to turn again to God, to begin a new life, and to enter into a deeper friendship with God? Or do I look on it as a burden, to be undertaken as seldom as possible?
  2. Did I forget to mention, or deliberately conceal, any grave sins in past confessions?
  3. Did I perform the penance I was given? Did I make reparation for any injury to others? Have I tried to put into practice my resolution to lead a better life in keeping with the gospel?

Each individual should examine his life in the light of God’s word.

I. The Lord says: “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart.”

  1. Is my heart set on God, so that I really love him above all things and am faithful to his commandments, as a son loves his father? Or am I more concerned about the things of this world? Have I a right intention in what I do?
  2. God spoke to us in his Son. Is my faith in God firm and secure? Am I wholehearted in accepting the Church’s teaching? Have I been careful to grow in my understanding of the faith, to hear God’s word, to listen to instructions on the faith, to avoid dangers to faith? Have I been always strong and fearless in professing my faith in God and the Church? Have I been willing to be known as a Christian in private and public life?
  3. Have I prayed morning and evening? When I pray, do I really raise my mind and heart to God or is it a matter of words only? Do I offer God my difficulties, my joys, and my sorrows? Do I turn to God in time of temptation?
  4. Have I love and reverence for God’s name? Have I offended him in blasphemy, swearing falsely, or taking his name in vain? Have I shown disrespect for the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints?
  5. Do I keep Sundays and feast days holy by taking a full part, with attention and devotion, in the liturgy and especially in the Mass? Have I fulfilled the precept of annual confession and of communion during the Easter season?
  6. Are there false gods that I worship by giving them greater attention and deeper trust than I give to God: money, superstition, or other occult practices?


II. The Lord says: “Love one another as I have loved you.”

  1. Have a genuine love for my neighbors? Or do I use them for my own ends, or do to them what I would not want done to myself? Have I given grave scandal by my words or actions?
  2. In my family life, have I contributed to the well-being and happiness of the rest of the family by patience and genuine love? Have I been obedient by parents, showing them proper respect and giving them help in their spiritual and material needs? Have I been careful to give a Christian upbringing to my children, and to help them by good example and by exercising authority as a parent? Have I been faithful to my husband (wife) in my heart and in my relations with others?
  3. Do I share my possessions with the less fortunate? Do I do my best to help the victims of oppression, misfortune, and poverty? Or do I look down on my neighbor, especially the poor, the sick, the elderly, strangers, and people of other races?
  4. Does my life reflect the mission I received in confirmation? Do I share in the apostolic and charitable works of the Church and in the life of my parish? Have I helped to meet the needs of the Church and of the world and prayed for them: for unity in the Church, for the spread of the Gospel among the nations, for peace and justice, etc.?
  5. Am I concerned for the food and prosperity of the human community in which I live, or do I spend my life caring only for myself? Do I share to the best of my ability in the work of promoting justice, morality, harmony, and love in human relations? Have I done my duty as a citizen? Have I paid my taxes?
  6. In my work or profession am I just, hard-working, honest, serving society out of love for others? Have I paid a fair wage to my employees? Have I been faithful to my promises and contracts?
  7. Have I obeyed legitimate authority and given it due respect?
  8. If I am in a position of responsibility or authority, do I use this for my own advantage or for the good of others, in a spirit of service?
  9. Have I been truthful and fair, or have I injured others by deceit, calumny, detraction, rash judgment, or violation of a secret?
  10. Have I done violence to others by damage to life or limb, reputation, honor, or material possessions? Have I involved them in loss? Have I been responsible for advising an abortion or procuring one? Have I kept up hatred for others? Am I estranged from others through quarrels, enmity, insults, anger? Have I been guilty of refusing to testify to the innocence of another because of selfishness?
  11. Have I stolen the property of others? Have I desired it unjustly and inordinately? Have I damaged it? Have I made restitution of other people’s property and made good their loss?
  12. If I have been injured, have I been ready to make peace for the love of Christ and to forgive, or do I harbor hatred and the desire for revenge?

III. Christ our Lord says: “Be perfect as your Father is perfect.”

  1. Where is my life really leading me? Is the hope of eternal life my inspiration? Have I tried to grow in the life of the Spirit through prayer, reading the word of God and meditating on it, receiving the sacraments, self-denial? Have I been anxious to control my vices, my bad inclinations and passions, e.g., envy, love of food and drink? Have I been proud and boastful, thinking myself better in the sight of God and despising others as less important than myself? Have I imposed by own will on others, without respecting their freedom and rights?
  2. What use have I made of time, of health and strength, of the gifts God have given to me to be used like the talents in the Gospel? Do I use them to become more perfect every day? Or have I been lazy and too much given to leisure?
  3. Have I been patient in accepting the sorrows and disappointments of life? How have I performed mortification so as to “fill up what is wanting to the sufferings of Christ”? Have I kept the precept of fasting and abstinence?
  4. Have I kept my senses and my whole body pure and chaste as a temple of the Holy Spirit consecrated for resurrection and glory, and as a sign of God’s faithful love for men and women, a sign that is seen most perfectly in the sacrament of matrimony? Have I dishonored my body by fornication, impurity, unworthy conversation or thoughts, evil desires, or actions? Have I given in to sensuality? Have I indulged in reading, conversation, shows, and entertainments that offend against Christian and human decency? Have I encouraged others to sin by my own failure to maintain these standards? Have I been faithful to the moral law in my married life?
  5. Have I gone against my conscience out of fear or hypocrisy?
  6. Have I always tried to act in the true freedom of the sons of God according to the law of the Spirit, or am I the slave to the forces within me?

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The following resources are generously being provided by the publishers for free during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Holy Heroes Mass prep activities for kids https://www.holyheroes.com/MassPrep-s/57.htm 

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Give us This Day https://giveusthisday.org/Digital 

Living with Christ http://www.livingwithchrist.us/#covid 

Liturgy Training Publications https://www.ltp.org/resources-during-crisis 

Find more digital resources on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website at http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/prayer-resources-for-the-coronavirus-crisis.cfm

LISTEN TO FR. VINNY'S HOMILIES MAY 28, 2023 - Pentecost Sunday

English 10am Mass

Spanish 12pm Mass

MEMORIAL DAY MASS & BREAKFAST May 29, 2023 9:00am

The Annual Memorial Day Mass for Saint Andrew and Saint Lawrence will be held here at Saint Lawrence this year due to construction at St. Andrew. The Mass will be on Monday, May 29 at 9:00 a.m.
A light breakfast will be served following Mass in Fr. Conen Hall cafeteria.

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!     FELICIDADES GRADUADOS!

Mary Jane Castillo       Alan Melgar                    Jada Tarver
Serenity Fallas            Renata Mercado              Leslie Tello
Brandon Grande-Tiro  Kemari Morris                  Matthew Ugo
Kaela Hastick              Kenya Rodriguez-Diaz     Javier Valencia-Perez
Alex Holland                Karol Silva                       Araceli Juarez
Calvin Sims                 Rachel Williams               Leah Mays
William Stephens

Confessions will begin at 6:30pm this Thursday. Fr. Oscar Rivas will be here to hear confessions and celebrate our 7:00pm Mass.

Coffee & Donuts after 10am Mass

Next Sunday - June 4

CAFETERIA/GYM CLOSED Week of May 29

The Fr. Conen Hall (cafeteria)/ Fr. Beechem Gym building will be closed for cleaning from Monday, May 29 (after the Memorial Day breakfast) through Friday, June 2.

CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSIONS June 10/11, 2023 Before all Weekend Masses

12:00pm Noon Mass moved to 12:30pm for Sunday June 11 only. Fr. Vinny will lead the procession around the campus for all who are able to join in.

NO KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BREAKFAST in May or June

The St. Joseph Council Knights of Columbus will not be serving their 4th Sunday breakfast in May or June as we adjust to the new Mass schedule.

THANK YOU FROM JOE TURNER

Thank you to all of my Saint Lawrence family for your prayers during the last few months of health challenges. They are greatly appreciated.
In Christ,
Joe Turner

THANK YOU FROM THE FLYNN FAMILY

Thank you so much for praying daily for David and for our family during this long and difficult time, providing meals, giving monetary contributions, providing Christmas and Easter for David’s wife and children, the beautiful funeral Mass, the mercy meal, and all the other ways that you have loved and supported us. Words cannot express our gratefulness to our Saint Lawrence Family.
Love,
Ron & Jenny Flynn and Family

Collection at Masses June 3/4, 2023 - SUPPORT OUR SEMINARIANS

support seminarians

beechem blastoffSAVE THE DATE! Saturday, April 13, 2024

Fr. Beechem’s Blastoff Bingo!!! Join us!!!
License #002510

CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN Thank You!

Thank you for supporting the Catholic Communication Campaign at Mass, and helping our local communications projects! Half of the funds raised remain here in the diocese. The other half supports projects in the United States and in developing countries.
#1church1mission #EngageToBuildCommunity To learn more or to donate: www.usccb.org/ccc

LOST AND FOUND

There is a tote in the church narthex full of “Lost and Found” items. If you are missing an item of clothing or a backpack, etc., please see if it is in the tote. All items are eventually given to Saint Vincent de Paul Society. 

parish libraryPARISH LIBRARY

Looking for some way to enrich your Lenten experience? There are several Lenten-themed books set aside on the table in the Parish Library available for checkout.  Some are informational, some inspirational, some prayerful;  all are thought provoking.
The library is open between Masses on Sundays.  Please stop in and make a selection.  You will be glad you did!

POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER INTENTION FOR JUNE

For the abolition of torture.  We pray that the international community may commit in a concrete way to ensuring the abolition of torture and guarantee support to victims and their families.

JUNE IS THE MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART

June is the month of the Sacred Heart. A devotion long practiced privately, it was officially approved in the 1800s. Devotion the Sacred Heart encourages participation in Holy Hour Eucharistic Adoration and to receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of every month. Read more about devotion to the Sacred Heart by clicking here.

SCHEDULE YOUR MASS INTENTIONS

Weekend Masses are booked through the end of the year. Daily Masses are available as early as next week. Call Kim at the parish office 317-546-4065 ext 332 to schedule a Mass intention in memory of a loved one or for the special intention of a loved one. The stipend is $10.

 

HOSPITAL VISITATION FROM OUR PRIESTS

Please remember that because of HIPPA rules, hospitals will not call Saint Lawrence and tell us when you are in the hospital. Even if you give the hospital the name of our church, they will not pass on your hospital admission to us. When you are admitted to the hospital, please have a family member call Saint Lawrence (317-546-4065) and let us know of your illness. If you need a priest in an emergency, please use our emergency phone (317-987-7818).

LOW-GLUTEN HOSTS ARE AVAILABLE

(0.01% gluten content) Please alert the presiding priest before Mass and stand in this priest’s Communion line to receive the host.

AROUND TOWN

Click here to view other happenings, events, and programs occurring outside of St. Lawrence but within our community.

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