Infant Baptisms
Infant Baptisms are usually scheduled for the last Sunday of the Month and are celebrated during the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass.
A new baby in the family! There are many things to consider at this joyous time in your family’s life. Baptism is the primary spiritual consideration for Christians of the Roman Catholic faith.
The first step is to call the Parish Office (905) 529-3921 , to set up an appointment with the parish priest to discuss your wish to have your child baptized and your commitment to raising your child within the Catholic faith. At this meeting you will also discuss the date for the baptism.
You will need to provide us with birth records (Birth certificate) for your child and give us information about the Godparents. This allows us to prepare the baptismal records and certificate for your child.
Finally we will celebrate the baptism of your child after our Saturday Mass or at our Sunday Mass where the whole St. Lawrence Parish community can welcome the newest member to the faith.
Other Baptisms
For children 7 years or older or for Adults who wish to be Baptized please call the office to make an appointment with the parish priest.
Weddings
God has chosen marriage of man and woman to be an image and sign of God’s tender love for us. St. Paul reminds us that the love of husband and wife is like the love of Christ for his Church (Ephesians 5:21-23), this love is life-long and faithful. The marriage covenant is a sign of God’s covenant with God’s people. Entering the Sacrament of Marriage is a sacred and serious undertaking. By choosing to celebrate your marriage before a representative of the Church in the midst of the Christian Community, rather than a civil ceremony, you are acknowledging your agreement with, and commitment to, Christian ideals.
Notification
NB: Do not set a date or book a reception hall until you have confirmed your date with the priest. You should notify the parish of your intention to be married at least nine to twelve months in advance, enabling all concerned to make adequate preparations. A longer period may be required for varied reasons… e.g. one of the parties may have been in a previous marriage; the date that you wish may not be available, etc. Please call the parish office at (905) 529-3921 to set up an appointment with the Parish priest. It will give you an opportunity to introduce yourself to the pastor and receive the basic information regarding your upcoming wedding.
Join us
Sunday Mass attendance is an integral part of the preparation and celebration of the sacraments. We ask engaged couples to be with us at our Sunday liturgies not simply out of obligation but because as a community we wish to join you and support you on your journey toward married life. We look forward to getting to know you better as a couple and in our community there are some great examples of married life and family to draw from. After all, Christian marriage is celebrated within this community which we call the Church.
Preparation
A priest presides at the celebration in an official capacity for the Church, but the bride and groom are the ministers of the sacrament. While the priest will help you through the process of preparing, it is ultimately you who have a responsibility to prepare yourselves to the best of your ability for a happy and lasting sacramental life.
Marriage Preparation Course
The Marriage Preparation Course is offered by the Family Ministry Office of the Diocese of Hamilton. Please contact the diocesan office at (905) 528-7988 to register, or register on line (www.hamiltondiocese.com)
Documents Required
a) BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE: The Catholic party(s) must contact the parish in which they were baptized and request a reissued baptismal certificate. It should not have been issued more than six months before the wedding date. For baptized non-Catholics, a photocopy of their baptismal certificate is sufficient.
b) Civil Marriage License: A marriage license (obtained from City Hall) must be secured by the couple and delivered to the Parish Office at least two weeks before the ceremony. These expire after 3 months so they should not be obtained until within 3 months of the confirmed date of the marriage.
INTERCHURCH MARRIAGES
If yours is an interchurch marriage (i.e. a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic) you must know the following:
a) The non-Catholic party is not required to become a Catholic and should not be pressured by anyone to do so.
b) The Catholic party must promise to do whatever is possible to have all children born of this marriage baptized and raised in the Catholic faith.
c) The non-Catholic party must be informed of the promise made by the Catholic party.
d) In an interchurch marriage, the custom is to have the wedding liturgy only, without the celebration of the Eucharist. However, this may be discussed further with the priest.
MARRIAGES IN OTHER CHURCHES
If you are registered or reside at St. Lawrence the Martyr parish in Hamilton, ON and plan on getting married in another church (Catholic or otherwise) anywhere in Canada, the marriage documentation must be completed here, at your parish of residency. This parish will be responsible for getting the documentation to the church of the wedding. There is a $50.00 fee to process the paper work. Well in advance of the wedding date, contact the priest/minister of the Church where you are getting married, to plan your wedding ceremony and set a date for the rehearsal.
WEDDING LITURGY:
It is the couple’s responsibility to help prepare their wedding liturgy with the priest. Booklets are available to guide you through the service and assist you with selecting the required readings and prayers. The wedding rehearsal takes place at a convenient time. A time should be set up with the priest who is witnessing your marriage at least two weeks prior to the day.
THE BRIDAL PARTY:
You are encouraged to keep the bridal party reasonably small. It is traditional to have two witnesses (maid of honor & best man) and in addition, it is preferred that there be not more than two bridesmaids and groomsmen. Please do not change the witnesses at the last minute as that demands a change in documents that have already been prepared.
HONORARIUM AND FEES:
The fee for marriage at St. Lawrence’s parish is $200.00 for registered parishioners of St. Lawrence the Martyr parish or $600.00 for non-parishioners. This fee is for the use of the Church. The cheque should be made payable to St. Lawrence’s Parish, not to the clergy. This fee should be paid when you bring your marriage license to the Parish Office. A separate free-will offering may be made to the priest who witnesses your marriage.
FLOWERS AND DECORATIONS:
The responsibility for flowers and other decorations is yours. You are asked to be prudent and exercise restraint. Nothing is to be placed on the altar. Arrangements should be in place well before the ceremony.
PHOTOGRAPHS/VIDEOS:
May be taken as the wedding party enters and leaves the church. During the actual ceremony, pictures and videos may be taken ONLY by authorized photographers from previously assigned areas.
MUSIC:
From the start of your preparation for marriage, you will want to think about the choice of music for the occasion. Remember that your wedding is a Catholic Liturgy. Popular songs from movies, Top 40 Hits, etc. are not appropriate choices for Liturgy. To avoid disappointment, consult early with the Parish Office regarding your choices. Parish musicians may be available to provide music for your wedding however it is the responsibility of the couple to arrange for the services of musicians.
First Communion
Our Parish, in cooperation with St. Lawrence Catholic Elementary School, makes plans for the special faith journey with children who are to celebrate the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion (Eucharist) this pastoral year. These celebrations are scheduled for Lent time (First Confession) and Sunday in Easter season (First Communion) at St. Lawrence the Martyr Church. It’s very important for your child to regularly experience the Sunday Mass as a family tradition. Please join us for the Sunday Eucharist at a convenient time for you
When the registration is completed, there will be a meeting for the parents/guardians of children preparing for their confession and first communion. It will be held at St. Lawrence church in the beginning of a new year. Please keep an eye on more information in the Parish bulletin.
Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation helps our young people to discover who they are, their purpose of their lives and how showered with God’s love and gifts they are.