St.Lawrence News & Events

St Lawrence Email List - Sign-up for the St Lawrence Email List. You will receive periodic emails from St Lawrence containing information about important parish events such as special Masses, Holydays of Obligation reminders and church social events, just to name a few. We hope that everyone at St Lawrence who uses email will sign-up. Click Here to sign-up now

News and info from Parish Outreach
>>>Pantry Needs - Our shelves are bare again and we particularly need the following:
Peanut butter, jelly, soups, canned vegetables, tuna, mayo, juices and paper goods such as paper towels, toilet paper and tissues.
>>>Volunteers Needed - There are volunteer opportunities available at Good Sam Nursing Home on Elm Street. They range from assisting the residents with activities like Bingo, parties and manicures, just to name a few. They also need help with reading to residents and just visiting with them for a while. If interested, call Christine
Schomberg, Director of Recreation, at 244-2400 ext. 2247
>>>Mark Your Calendars....for Tuesday March 9th (9:30am-12noon) when the Suffolk County Office of the Aging will be present at the Patchogue-Medford Library to assist with any senior problems, questions or concerns. They act as a senior advocate and can recommend or help with any services within our county.
>>>The FAN Truck will be in the school parking lot again on Thursday, March 11th from 1pm-2pm. The Food and Nutrition program offers free food to seniors and women with children who are 'income eligible'. To see if you qualify, contact them at:
631 491-4166.

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

Need a Mass Card? - We offer scheduled Masses as remembrances of the deceased as well as for the living. Should you want a Mass said, please stop by the Rectory Office and will be happy to assist you. The offerings range from $15—20. Our hours are 9—12 and 1—4:30 Weekdays. 589-0042

2010 Catholic Ministries Appeal - The Catholic Ministries Appeal (formerly called the Bishops Annual Appeal) for 2010 is currently under way. We have a parish goal of $84,375 which goes largely to Catholic Charities and Catholic Schools and includes a rebate of $16,875 for the parish. The Parish would like to form a Committee this year to direct the campaign and develop effective strategies for our participation in the Appeal. This will not entail any home solicitations, phone calls, etc. We will have only a few meetings between now and June and spend one or two Sundays manning the tables in Church after the Masses. So if you have a few hours to spare and want to help us out, please call Pat Spiegel in the Business Office at 589-0042 ext 20.

Tax Letters For 2009 - The 2009 contribution figures are ready. If you wish to have a statement of your donations for tax purposes, you may call the Parish Office and
request one.

From the desk of Our Pastor……Father Nick
Lenten Generosity
     The very large purple draped cross at the right of the sanctuary draws our attention to the many acts of penance and self denial that we as individuals and as a community are offering this Lent.
     You are invited to jot on the note paper provided these acts of prayer, alms giving, fasting, and other deeds done during the Lenten period. As the days and weeks pass we, as a worshiping community, will be encouraged by the dozens of offerings the parish as a whole is doing to help prepare ourselves and our community for the celebration of the Resurrection Event.
     Please take time this Lent to write these actions and pin them to the purple drape. Encourage your children and your entire to family to engage in this parish endeavor. You may offer any number of acts of prayer and charity throughout the entire season of Lent.

Stations of the Cross - Join us for Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings during Lent in our Church. 7:30 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Stations of the Cross and Benediction. February 19, 26 March 5, 12, 19, and 26.

Annual Lenten Soup Supper is Coming! - Monday March 29th In the Parish Hall. Set up time 5:00 pm, Serve 5:45—7pm, Clean up 7—8pm. 7th and 8th grade students needed to Volunteer! Please call Mary Lynn McCauley 244-8282 for more information or to Volunteer!

Defensive Driving Course - March 13, 2010 9am to 3pm. St. Lawrence Knights of Columbus is providing a community service offering a defensive driving course at the new Bethany Parish Center of the St. Lawrence the Martyr Church, Sayville on March 13, 2010 9am to 3pm. Cost including donation $35.00. This includes coffee/ roll/bagel breakfast and a hero sandwich lunch. Save on your insurance or receive a point reduction on your license. Call Grand Knight Tom O’Brien to register 631 848-6211. (Class size is limited to 40). Make check payable to: St. Lawrence Knights of Columbus, and mail to ST. Lawrence Knights of Columbus, POB 1035, Sayville, New York 11782.

Our Lenten Journey - Join us for this year's Lenten Journey from Mardi Gras to Easter Sunday. Click Here to download and print a 'map' of our journey.

Ashes - We all know that “Christmas comes but once a year . . .” So, too, does Ash Wednesday. Nevertheless, you’ll notice that our ashes will remain in the sanctuary for the length of the Lenten season. May they serve as a visual reminder of the spiritual resolve that we brought to Ash Wednesday, and of the Lord’s promise to raise us from death to life.

Chinese Auction “Italian Style” - A Chinese Auction “Italian Style” charity fundraiser will take place in the Parish Hall on Saturday, April 10, 2010. The event is sponsored by Sgt. John Basilone Lodge #2442, Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America. Tickets are $12 and must be purchased in advance. Admission ticket includes reserved seating, 26 bidding tickets, door over 200 prizes, all new, including many gift certificates, gift baskets, etc.. The event will benefit America’s Vet Dogs Program, Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, Alzheimer’s Foundation, Disaster Relief Fund, an Annual Lodge Scholarship and more. To reserve a seat you must call (631) 563-8413.

The Women of Holy Week and Easter - Join Father Brian for a presentation on the remarkable women who populate the narratives of Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection. Often these biblical women have a seemingly small role to play, or very few lines of “dialogue” in the drama . . . but they are consistently among the most faithful and courageous participants in the story. Monday, March 22nd at 7:30pm in the church

St.Lawrence The Martyr RC Church