This summer’s Vacation Bible School is about to begin!  This year's theme is "RAINFOREST FALLS."   Our children will step through the mist into a magical place overflowing with wild waterfalls, towering trees and colorful creatures. Beneath a canopy of chattering birds and howling monkeys, the kids will plunge into a real life adventure, discovering the nature of God and exploring who their Creator is!  Our young VBS adventurers will experience Faith Formation through Bible stories, crafts, games, and music!

VBS runs from Monday, June 29th through Friday, July 3rd, from 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM each day.   

Let's keep the children, their families and the whole VBS team in our prayers!

As a most beautiful way to begin our observance of Independence Day, and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, July 4th, at 9:00 AM.

Please join fellow parishioners in giving thanks to God for the blessing of our great nation, for the healing of all injustices and suffering, and for continued progress in our striving after the noblest aspirations of our country's founders.

Have a safe and happy Fourth!

Our Family Mass for the month of July will take place on Sunday, July 5th at 9:00 AM.   As we continue our celebration of our nation's Independence, bring your family--especially the kids!--to join our parish family in giving God thanks and praise around the Lord's altar.

All are welcome! 

Beginning Friday, July 3rd, all parish offices will close at 1:00 PM for the Fridays of July and August.

Sunday Mass is now being celebrated each week of the summer at Fire Island Pines, beginning June 14th.  

St. Lawrence has had a decades-long responsibility for providing this liturgy, which takes place from mid-June through Labor Day weekend.  Msgr. John Rowan had been the organizer and spiritual shepherd of the small community that gathers for Sunday Mass, and the parish continues to work with a lay coordinator at the Pines to make the liturgy available.

Mass takes place at 12:30 PM at Whyte Hall, a community center just a 10 minute walk west from the Pines harbor.  The ferry schedule works well with the 12:30 Mass time -- one can leave Sayville at 11:30 AM, and return on the 1:50 PM boat.  Both Fr. Brian and Fr. Ben are celebrating Masses this summer, with the help of a number of other guest clergy.

All are most welcome!

As the United States of America commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, the bishops of the United States have chosen to consecrate the country to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The Consecration took place in the context of a Votive Mass on June 11th, in Orlando, FL, with all the bishops gathered in Plenary Assembly for this extraordinary event.

The Mass was livestreamed.  To watch a videotape, go to:  Click here for the livestream   The Mass begins at 19:25 minutes into the YouTube video.

For a wealth of printed and video resources surrounding devotion to the Most Sacred Heart and the place of Catholicism in the life and history of the United States, click here.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is most often linked to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a 17^th century Sister of the Visitation, and it gained prominence at a time when Catholic devotion to Christ’s humanity and his ardent love for the world had grown somewhat tepid.  In revealing himself to St. Margaret Mary, Jesus gave much-needed emphasis to his burning love for us, his mercy toward the sinful, and his passionate desire that all should share in the salvation he won for us.

Prayer on the Occasion of the U.S. Bishops Consecrating the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Good news!  St. Lawrence has reached 75% of our $90,000 goal in pledges for the 2026 Catholic Ministries Appeal ("CMA")!   The CMA allows the 133 parishes in Nassau and Suffolk to "join forces" in supporting the dozens of diocesan ministries and organizations that are the lifeblood of the Church's mission here on Long Island.  

Each year, more than 600,000 men, women, and children receive direct assistance from the monies donated to the Appeal.  Your contribution might assist a seminarian preparing for the priesthood . . . or a young person looking to break free from addiction to drugs or alcohol . . . or a senior in search of affordable housing through Catholic Charities . . . or one of the campus ministries supporting our Catholic college students.   

Please remember that the CMA is also a tremendous help to our parish.  In 2025, we reached just over 102% of our goal, and because of that generous giving, St. Lawrence  received a rebate of $19,950!  That rebate is a big help in paying our bills, meeting payroll, maintaining our buildings and grounds, and exploring new avenues for ministry and service right here.  I'm so very grateful to everyone who contributed last year, whether it was a gift of $20 or $2,000.   No gift is too small, and every gift is greatly appreciated!

I ask all our parishioners to consider participating.  You can pick up a donation pamphlet in church, or go to www.catholicministriesappeal.org  or call (516) 678-5800 x 296.  Thank you in advance for touching so many lives, and supporting St. Lawrence at the same time!

Father Brian

And please note:  100% of every dollar given to the Catholic Ministries Appeal is restricted to fund the goals, objectives and ministries supported by the CMA.

As the saying goes, a picture (or in this case, a video!) is worth a thousand words.  For a better sense of just how the Catholic Ministries Appeal impacts the lives of so many here on Long Island, just click the following link and watch this year's 8 minute presentation:

2026 CMA Video

To make a pledge toward this year's Appeal, please go to  www/catholicministriesappeal.org   or call (516) 678-5800 x 296.  Thank you!

Coinciding with the Sunday of the Word of God, Bishop Barres issued a pastoral letter commenting on the work of a Cistercian monk named Father Simeon Leiva-Merikakis, O.C.S.O.  The article is entitled, "God's Word is Living and Effective," and focuses on Fr. Simeon's meditations on the Gospel of Matthew.

Father Simeon is a monk at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, MA.  When Fr. Brian spent several days on retreat there in November, Fr. Simeon gave a brief conference to the retreatants every day, and Fr. Brian had the privilege of listening to his reflections.  He found Fr. Simeon to be an extraordinarily wise, scholarly, warm and holy man.   The complete text can be found by clicking below.   

God's Word Pastoral Letter.pdf

Each year we present a simple but straightforward summary of our parish's finances for the previous fiscal year.  With sincere apologies that the past year's report is coming to you later than we would have liked, we invite you to take a thoughtful look.  The report can also be found on the tables in church.  You'll notice in short order that even in the face of inflation and an array of other economic and societal challenges, our parishioners continue to support St. Lawrence with admirable steadiness, generosity and sacrifice.  We are very blessed!

Parish Financial Report 2024-2025

On November 13, 2025, the Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the Patron Saint of Immigrants, the Bishops of New York State released a statement concerning immigration entitled, For You Too Were Once Aliens. Bishop Barres was heavily involved in drafting this statement and is pleased to share it with the People of God in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

NYS Bishops Statement on Immigration

Beginning on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) in June, 2022, the Church throughout the United States began a 3-year Eucharistic Revival, aimed at rekindling our love for the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, deepening our understanding of this mystical Gift through prayer and study, and offering new opportunities for us to worship Him privately and communally.   

Here at St. Lawrence, we've taken time over the past three years, and in various ways, to spotlight the profound gift of the Lord's Body and Blood in our celebrations of the Eucharist, and at the same to offer new opportunities for study, reflection, and worship.  

There's a wealth of information and inspirational material to be found on the Revival at www.eucharisticrevival.org

Moving forward, please also take a few minutes to check out Manna.  Manna is a new digital companion for Catholics that want to grow in their love for the Eucharist.  It features Eucharistic content, talks from the 10^th National Eucharistic Congress, and a Holy Hour companion.  Learn more at manna.eucharisticcongress.org

Each month, our Diocese sponsors a Holy Hour for Vocations at one of the parishes here on Long Island.  All are welcome to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, permanent diaconate, and consecrated religious life.

For dates and locations, please see below:  

Join the diocesan Office of Human Life, Family, & Bioethics, every Friday at 3:00 PM in prayer for the protection of unborn human life.  For information on how to participate, go to https://www.drvc.org/wp-content/uploads/Rosary-for-Life-Weekly-2023.pdf

More of our parish households are choosing to support St. Lawrence in ways over and above the familiar contribution left in the weekend collection basket.  We've been very fortunate, especially over the past few years, to receive charitable gifts from annuities, distributions from IRA's, bequests from wills, etc. -- all of which help build up the parish financially, and leave a lasting legacy from parishioners who wish to support St. Lawrence into the future.

The Diocese is now providing a helpful website that offers numerous options for planned and future giving.  For more information, please go to:  https://www.stewardshipli.org/planned-giving

Thank you!!

December 9th, 2024

Dear Parishioners and Friends, 

On the weekend of September 29^th, I spoke at all the Masses to inform you that the outline of a bankruptcy settlement had been tentatively agreed to by all the parties involved in the diocesan Chapter 11 process.  Since that time, I’ve been eager to update you on the status of the negotiations, but there were new developments being reported almost daily.  Given the events of the past two weeks, however, and substantial coverage in the media, I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you my understanding of what has transpired:

• At a hearing on December 4^th, the settlement plan that had been put forward by the Diocese of Rockville Centre to emerge from bankruptcy, and which had been agreed to by all parties, was confirmed in federal court. This confirmation effectively brings to a close the contentious and painful process that began 4 years ago in October, 2020.
• By way of reminder: the reason the Diocese chose to file for Chapter 11 protection is that the 2019 NYS Child Victims Act precipitated an avalanche of lawsuits in which hundreds of victim survivors claimed to have been abused by clergy or Church personnel.  Almost all of the cases go back decades in time.  St. Lawrence (or priests who once served here) were named in 5 of those lawsuits.  To have faced the litigation of hundreds of cases would have been ruinous to the Diocese and its mission, and so filing for bankruptcy was seen as the only way forward.
• In total, the settlement that will be paid to the victims is more than $323 million. That figure is staggering, but if it allows those who have suffered the shattering experience of abuse to move toward greater healing and peace in the future, the settlement is more than justified.
• No parishes in the Diocese are slated to close because of the bankruptcy process or the amount of the settlement.  No funds donated to the Catholic Ministries Appeal were used in amassing the settlement trust. 
• In order for St. Lawrence—and the other 132 parishes in our Diocese—to share in the protection from future lawsuits afforded to the Diocese, each individual parish moved through an “abbreviated” Chapter 11, which was filed on December 3^rd and completed in less than 24 hours.  
• The Diocese, as well as every parish and ministry, made a contribution to the settlement in order to resolve all past claims of abuse, and to secure the future of the Church's essential work. St. Lawrence’s contribution to the settlement trust was $384,830.  If you’re like me, your reaction to seeing this figure is probably one of disbelief, if not real anger.  But because the people of St. Lawrence have been so generous and so steady in their support, and because past and present finance committees, parish trustees, and staff members have been such responsible stewards, we are in no financial danger.  There will be no special collection.  Our contribution came entirely from what we hold in reserve, and will not adversely impact parish life, future plans, or our day to day responsibility toward paying bills, meeting payroll, etc.

The profound evil and resulting scandal of child abuse was not of our making, but we inherited its devastating effects.  By participating in the bankruptcy process, along with our 132 sister parishes, all claims are resolved; no lawsuits alleging past abuse can be brought against our parish; and survivors will finally receive some degree of compensation for the traumatic experience they continue to live with.  These suffering people and their loved ones are deserving of our prayers and our support.

We pray that the settlement just achieved will give everyone an opportunity for healing and a new beginning.  Out of this bleak chapter in the Church's history, we look to a time of rebirth, to a Church purified and eager to do the Lord’s work in a spirit of humility, compassion, and integrity.  May this Advent season, and the coming celebration of the Savior’s birth, restore our confidence and hope that God is truly with us.

Father Brian   

Please note:  For anyone who believes they have a Sexual Abuse Claim against an Additional Debtor (parish) arising prior to December 3, 2024, the claim form to submit and related information can be found at https://dm.epiq11.com/case/drvc/info under the “Proof of Claim Form” heading.  The deadline for filing claims is January 13, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. prevailing Eastern time.  

*   *   *   *   *   *   *

The following statement was issued by the Communications Office of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, after a long-awaited hearing at which the Court confirmed the bankruptcy settlement plan that had been put forward by the Diocese: 

We are grateful to God that on December 4th, the court confirmed the Plan that resolves and ends the Bankruptcy Case for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, all our parishes, and related ministries.

For the sake of abuse survivors and the Church's mission on Long Island, we pray that the Plan brings some measure of healing to survivors and allows the Church to carry on the saving mission of Jesus Christ. Victim survivors of child abuse deserve our respect, our prayers, and our pastoral support. The Church is grateful for their courage and perseverance.

The total settlement amount was just over $323 million, which included insurance contributions, Diocesan assets and sale proceeds from Diocesan property, and contributions from parishes and other related entities. The Diocese, parishes and other related entities contributed a total of $234.8 million. Insurance companies contributed a total of just over $85 million. Counsel for the Creditor's Committee contributed $3 million. All participated in order to offer equitable compensation to survivors and move this difficult ordeal towards its conclusion.

Parishes also completed an abbreviated Chapter 11 to secure a release from any past liabilities for the parishes. No parishes are closing as a result of this process. No Catholic Ministries Appeal donations were used for this settlement. Parishes will now continue their ministry, free from historical lawsuits and free from bankruptcy. We are grateful for the expert counsel of Jones Day, Alvarez & Marsal, and Reed Smith, as well as for the Westerman Ball Firm of Long Island that shepherded our parishes through Chapter 11.

The Diocese's goal has always been the equitable compensation of survivors of abuse while allowing the Church to continue her essential mission.  We believe this plan has achieved those goals.  

On May 24, 2022, NYS Governor Hochul signed the Adult Survivors Act (ASA) into law.  It allows survivors of sexual abuse that occurred when they were over the age of 18 to file suit, regardless of when the alleged abuse occurred.  

For information on the notice of deadlines requiring filing of Adult Survivors Act sexual abuse proofs of claim, please go to the following link:   https://www.drvc.org/wp-content/uploads/Final-Publication-Notice-for-Supplemental-Bar-Date-_8.10.22_1532505245.2.pdf

You may also find more comprehensive information, updates, claim forms, etc. pertaining to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by the Diocese of Rockville Centre by clicking here:  https://dm.epiq11.com/drvc