Our next Family Mass will take place on Sunday, November 1st, at 9:00 AM.  Bring your family to join our larger parish family, as we begin the month of November with the beautiful Feast of All Saints.  Join us, too, for hospitality in the Bethany Center, immediately following both the 9:00 and 11:00 AM Masses.   

Come pray with us (and bring all the kids)!  

On the Feast of All Souls, we pray for every man, woman, and child who has ever lived, and has passed from this life.  We lift up our hearts in a special way for family members, friends, and all those we have loved and lost.  May the merciful Christ free them from any trace of sin, and welcome them at last into his Kingdom of light and peace.

Masses will be celebrated on All Souls Day at 9:00 AM in church, at 12:00 noon in the parish cemetery on Lakeland Ave. (weather permitting), and at 7:00 PM in the church.   As part of the evening Mass, the names of parishioners who have died in the past year will be read aloud, and accompanied by the lighting of candles.  

All are welcome to come together around the Lord's altar for this solemn remembrance.

Though we're still moving through October, we already have our sights set on another wonderful Christmas Pageant featuring the youngest of our parishioners.  This year's Pageant will take place on Sunday, December 13th, at 3:00 PM.  An introductory meeting with Mrs. Allison Jeanes (our director) will take place at 6:00 PM in the Bethany Center, on Tuesday, November 3rd (please note the change of date!)  If your child is interested in participating this year, please try to make this first meeting!

We need you!! 

In a parish of our size, there’s always need for more people—both young and old—to share themselves as liturgical ministers.  We are in need of new Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMs).  This is a beautiful role to take in the celebration of the Mass, and one that unfailingly deepens the spiritual lives of those who become involved in it.  

Fall diocesan training sessions take place beginning November 10th.  We invite interested parishioners to contact Fr. Brian at the rectory (631) 589-0042, ext 118.  After that initial contact, you will be asked to participate in a one-evening Diocesan training session.  There is no fee for the training session.

To further clarify the training:  All those who would be new to this ministry attend a "basic" training session ("Part A").  Those parishioners who are interested in bringing Holy Communion to the homebound, or to those in local nursing facilities, need to attend a second session ("Part B") to do so.  Both new EMs and those who have already been serving in church are welcome to consider ministry to the homebound, etc.

Young parishioners are also more than welcome—Extraordinary Ministers must be in their junior year of high school, or older. 

Note:  Though we have no need for additional adult lectors at this time, children can volunteer to become junior lectors for our Family Mass - please contact Maria Davidson in the Office of Faith Formation!

With Thanksgiving less than a month away, your kindness in helping Parish Outreach assist our neighbors in need is very much appreciated!  Please consider donating a supermarket gift card, or a monetary gift, to help provide a hearty meal for those less fortunate.    Donations can be left in our bright orange "Thanksgiving Basket" at the rear of the church, or in the collection basket.  

See the bulletin for further details.  And thank you for your generosity at this special time of year!

We're happy to announce that St. Lawrence is participating in Operation Christmas Child for 2026!  Please pick up your preprinted "shoebox" in the church, or in the Office of Faith Formation.  Fill it with some new items--instructions are provided--and return it to the Office of Faith Formation by November 19th. 

Get gift ideas from the brochure, or by going to www.samaritanspurse.org/occ   You can also call the Office of Faith Formation at 631-589-3160 for more information.  And thanks for packing a shoebox, and bringing God’s love to a needy child across the world.

Our St. Lawrence Columbiettes are getting set to host their next "Bunco Nite" on Friday, November 6th, at 7:00 PM in the school gym.  Bunco is a dice-rolling game that's easy to learn and lots of fun to play!  

No experience necessary . . . refreshments, raffle prizes, 50/50, and lots of laughs included!

Tickets are $20 per person (no refunds), and must be purchased in advance.  Seating in the school gym is limited so don't wait to purchase your tickets.  Proceeds from this popular evening social will be donated to charity.

For tickets, text or call Annisa Earvolino at (631) 219-8731.

Good news!  St. Lawrence has reached over 91% 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!

There's a brand new website for Young Adult Catholics seeking fellowship in the Diocese of Rockville Centre!  It's called FindMyLIC.

Over the last couple of years, there has been a grassroots movement of young adult groups forming across Long Island as more Catholics look to get involved in their faith.  In response to this growth, several young adult groups from parishes across Nassau and Suffolk put together FindMyLIC, a free map of every Catholic young adult group on Long Island (findmylic.org). On the site, events are searchable by town, with a calendar of what is coming up. 

To access this helpful new tool, just click  findmylic.org

"Nightwatch" is a series of gatherings for young men interested in hearing more about priesthood in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.  The evenings -- all at Cure of Ars Parish in Merrick -- will include Eucharistic Adoration, discussion, and opportunity to socialize.  Nightwatch is intended for young people of high school and college age, through the 20s and even 30s.

Please click this link for more information:  Nightwatch 2026-27

We invite our parishioners and friends to participate in "40 Days for Life," a worldwide campaign to end abortion.  You can engage in a whole spectrum of pro-life activities, from private prayer and fasting, to community outreach, to peaceful vigil-keeping outside a local abortion clinic.  40 Days for Life has already inspired over one million participants!    

40 Days for Life Patchogue is organizing a Fall Pro-Life Witness in the public area outside the Planned Parenthood Center at 450 Waverly Ave. in Patchogue (just north of the Sunrise Highway Waverly Ave. exit).  This prayerful witness begins on September 23rd and continues until November 1st.  

The New York State Conference of Catholic Bishops has published the following reaction to the enactment, as of August 5, 2026, of the recently passed law on physician-assisted suicide.  As faithful Catholics and disciples of the Lord of life, we are asked to remember what the bishops stated previously, in December of 2025:  "While physician-assisted suicide will soon be legal here in New York, we must clearly reiterate that it is in direct conflict with Catholic teaching on the sacredness and dignity of all human life from conception until natural death and is a grave moral evil on par with other direct attacks on human life.”

Click here to read the full statement:  NYS Bishop's Statement

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!!

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