St.Lawrence News & Events

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News and info from Parish Outreach
>>>New Outreach Hours: Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday -
9:30am - 12:30pm. Closed Tuesday and Thursday. These hours are effective immediately and through September 8th. We will continue to operate the Food pantry;
all other services are suspended at this time.
>>>Got Produce? If you have an abundance of fresh fruits or vegetables, we'll be glad to take them off your hands and distribute them to the hungry and needy in our area. Please drop them off at the Outreach office or Rectory during the week.
>>>Food Pantry Items Needed - Our supply of stock items that we receive from LI Cares and Island Harvest are down due to a decrease in donations that they receive from other communities. Additionally, summertime is usually a very slow time for donations. If you can help us out, we need peanut butter, jelly, canned meats, fish, soup and pasta sauce. We are always in need of juices and powered drinks, as well as paper goods, such as toilet tissue, paper towels and tissues. Grocery store gift certificates are also welcome as we can buy basic items as needed. Thanks as always for your generosity.
>>>Nutrition Programs - Did you know...there are 6 nutrition sites located in the Town of Islip: Brentwood, Central Islip, East Islip, Oakdale, Ronkonkoma and West Islip. Door-to-door transportation is available for those who have no transportation. The centers provide a hot nutritious lunch Monday through Friday. Reservations must be made in advance. A voluntary contribution of $2.00 per meal is suggested. For more info, call 631-244-5340

Automated Contributions with Faith Direct! - We have recently introduced a new program for electronic offertory donations called Faith Direct. I am hopeful that you will join other parishioners and sign up for this service. The program is a cost effective way for the parish to receive donations. For every family that has signed up with Faith Direct, we will be able to eliminate the cost of purchasing and mailing envelopes. This method will also reduce the handling of cash and checks in the rectory and has proven to be a safe and secure method of making a church offering.
     I share with you our concern about the economic situation in which we now find ourselves. We very much feel the impact of the present economy. I am tremendously grateful that parishioners have remained consistent in their financial generosity to the parish. Our increased enrollment with Faith Direct will continue to stabilize our parish finances. If you have any questions or concerns, please Faith Direct at 866-507-8757 (toll-free). To enroll in the program, pick up an enrollment form from the tables in church or visit www.faithdirect.net and use our parish code: NY234.
     I pray you realize how important your gifts of treasure to St. Lawrence are, and will continue to be, and how much I appreciate your generosity.
                                          God bless you!   Fr. Nick

Lorraine Gallagher – Moving Along on her Journey - For nearly 45 years, Lorraine Gallagher has graced the Religious Education Program at St. Lawrence with her presence. She has served as a volunteer, a Catechist, the DRE, a Confirmation mentor, just to mention a few. Her service to our Parish has been faithful and fruitful. Generations of our children have received their sacraments under her loving direction.
Lorraine will be moving on to a new phase in her life and service here at St. Lawrence. At her request, there will be no retirement “festivities”, but we would like to thank her in a special way for her dedication to the Religious Education Program and to our Parish. We will be assembling a “Memory Book” for Lorraine and we ask that you provide us with any pictures, stories, anecdotes or words of thanks that we can include. The material can be brought to the Parish Office or to the Religious Education Office. It can also be emailed to stlawsay@aol.com . We will assemble it over the summer and present it to Lorraine on Catechetical Sunday in September.
If you have any questions, you may contact Maria Davidson (589-3160) or Pat Spiegel (589-0042,ext 20).

The Xavier Society for the Blind has a large lending library of books in Braille, large print and audio CD’s. They record ten periodicals (some weekly, some monthly and some quarterly), and provide the Mass readings for Sundays and Feast days in all three formats. Mailing is free to and from people certified as blind. (which can also include having partial vision or having difficulty dealing with traditional print because of other physical ailments, dyslexia or other impediments). To register and to get a free catalogue of books and periodicals and other items available, or for more information, call (212) 473-7800 or (800) 637-9193. Visit us on the web

St. Mary’s Parish in East Islip is offering a free 8 week support group for adults who are struggling to cope with the death of a loved one. Registration is required for this group, which begins on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 from 7:00 pm—9:00pm. For more information and or to register, please call the rectory @ (631) 581-4266 x 100. In order to participate in this group, the death must have occurred prior to June 8, 2010.

Recruiting New Altar Servers! - Now that summer’s almost gone (boo!), it will soon be time to start training a brand new group of altar servers. Any boy or girl from our parish who is in the fourth grade (or older) is welcome to register. Third graders who are mature enough, and responsible enough, can also sign up. The training program will last 7 or 8 sessions, and we’ll probably meet on the same afternoon each week (after school, of course). We’ll figure out the day and time once everyone’s schedules become more settled. Hopefully we can begin training early in October.
Registration forms will be available next weekend near the doors of the church, as well as in the rectory, and can be returned to Fr. Brian.
Think about this carefully! Becoming an altar server is an exciting privilege, but it also involves making a serious commitment. If you and your parents feel you are responsible enough to participate in this important and beautiful ministry at the Lord's altar, then we'd love to have you sign-up! Wait for more info in September.

Film Discussion Group sponsored by the Friends of St. Lawrence - All are welcome to the Seventeenth series of the Film Discussion Group sponsored by the Friends of St. Lawrence. Saints...Heroes and Heroines for all times. Presenting outstanding films of ordinary and extraordinary men and women who led exemplary lives, or who performed exceptional deeds, films that are wholesome and inspiring.
The group will meet in the Bethany Center at 2pm on the dates listed. Refreshments and discussion. All Are Welcome! Click Here to print a schedule.
>>>Love is a Choice - Tuesday, September 14th
A beautiful, touching story which shows that saints still walk among us in our modern world. A true story, Gianna Molla was an Italian wife, mother and pediatrician who in 1962 gave her life so that her unborn child might live.
>>>Reading Room – Wednesday, October 13th
Based on a true story, this film proves how one life can immeasurably change the lives of so many others in so many extraordinary ways. Fulfilling his wife’s dying wish, William Campbell opens a reading room in a depressed community.
>>>The Blue Butterfly – Monday, November 8th
Endorsed by the Make A Wish Foundation, this is the story of a 10 year old boy diagnosed as terminally ill whose dream is to catch the most beautiful butterfly on earth, the mystic and elusive Blue Morpho.
>>>The Nativity Story – Thursday, December 9th
Join Mary and Joseph on an incredible journey of hope and discovery. This 2006 production is powerful, timeless and visually magnificent. Epic in scope, yet intimate in its portrayal. This is a film to be cherished.

St.Lawrence The Martyr RC Church