St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish – Hamilton

Where faith builds community | 125 Picton St. E., Hamilton, ON L8L 0C5

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Masses and other updates from St. Lawrence during Covid

Published August 25, 2020 / by St. Lawrence Hamilton

Over the last few months we’ve endured a long closure and the slow reopening of our church for Mass. There has been a lot of work involved but our goal has been to open the church, following the best health guidelines available to us so that those attending can feel safe.

Following health guidelines has definitely had an impact on the capacity of our church. While the guidelines state that 1/3 capacity of the church is allowed, the need to provide 6 feet of space between families limits us further. For Sunday Masses we’ve been able to accommodate about 75 people . Unfortunately we have had to turn away a few people on some Sundays when we hit our capacity.

Our Mass schedule has been amended to allow 72 hours between our Sunday Mass and our first weekday Mass to reduce the amount of sanitizing and cleaning we have to do, but the church is being fully sanitized in between our weekday masses and we’ve reduced seating at those masses to also make it easier to ensure surfaces are sanitized. Even confessions have added complexity. They’ve moved to the sacristy with a screen to allow for social distancing and to keep a barrier between parishioners and the priest. After each person that goes to confession, the chair is removed, sanitized and a new chair is put in it’s place.

The St. Lawrence Choir has been reduced down to only our Organist, and a Cantor or occasionally one person on guitar and voice. Our choir misses their ministry to the church for certain.

We recently celebrated the Feast of St. Lawrence, an event that usually is attended by the Deacons of our Diocese (in recognition of St. Lawrence’s role as Deacon), and involves a Solemn Mass, a procession and a reception afterwards. Unfortunately this year we could not extend our invitation to the Deacons, and we could not have a procession, but we were very happy to welcome Bishop Crosby who presided the Solemn Mass.

The Covid restrictions have also had other impacts on the Parish. We have not been able to rent our hall so we’ve missed the various celebrations of weddings, baptisms, and other family milestones. Even funeral receptions are not possible – it is a difficult time to grieve.

Our friends at Vivere Sani have not been able to run their weekly senior’s bingo – This is a weekly event that many of the seniors really look forward to and we always enjoy them being here – we pray that they will be able to return soon !

As things progress, we will perhaps see restrictions loosened, or if things go the other way, we may see additional closures but whatever the outcome, we thank our parishioners and benefactors for the ongoing support of the church during the last several months.

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St. Lawrence Mass Schedule

Published June 19, 2020 / by St. Lawrence Hamilton

We are pleased to say that Mass at St. Lawrence Parish has resumed! Thanks be to God. It should be noted however that things are not back to the way they were before the closure so we encourage you, before you attend Mass, please read the letter from Bishop Crosby regarding the opening

Sunday Mass is at 11:00 a.m. – Under current municipal By-laws, anyone attending Mass MUST wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose for the duration of the time they are in the building.

NB: Please do not attend if you have traveled outside of the country in the last 2 weeks, or if you have had contact with anyone diagnosed with Covid-19, or if you have any symptoms consistent with Covid-19.

Our weekday Mass Schedule will be as follows until further notice:

Wednesdays – 7:00 p.m.

Thursdays – Mass is at 7:00 p.m. ,with Adoration and an opportunity for Confession starting at 6:00 p.m.

Fridays – 9:00 a.m.

Saturdays – 10:00 a.m.

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Letter from the Bishop regarding re-opening of churches

Published June 10, 2020 / by St. Lawrence Hamilton
2020-LETTER-TO-PARISHIONERS-June-10-LOCKEDDownload

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM BISHOP CROSBY
On Monday, June 8, 2020, Premier Ford announced the re-opening of places of worship in the Province of Ontario in accord with the current directives of the health authorities, effective June 12, 2020. The Premier further noted that there will be a capacity restriction (30%) during this initial phase of re-opening our Parish churches.

In order to ensure that all of our churches are prepared to open for personal prayer and for Mass, and that all the requirements for health and safety are in place, churches in the Diocese of Hamilton can be open beginning on Tuesday, June 16th for personal prayer and weekday Mass. They can be open beginning on Saturday, June 20th for the celebration of
Sunday Masses.

Pastors and their teams are presently preparing the churches to welcome parishioners. They are cleaning, and setting up seating and floor markings to ensure physical distancing, and installing sanitizers and signage to provide, as much as possible, a safe environment for all who gather in our churches for worship.

We look forward to this first step in returning to the celebration of Mass and the Sacraments. While we recognize that not all will be able to enter our churches at this time because of the capacity restrictions, or due to personal health concerns, or out of fear, we continue to pray for one another. For the time being, the obligation to participate at Sunday
Mass is suspended.

Thank you for your patience during these difficult times and for your support to the Pastors and Parishes. I appeal to all the faithful of the Diocese of Hamilton, to observe the directives of our health authorities and patiently observe the temporary changes in the way we celebrate the liturgy during this phase of re-opening our churches.

(Most Rev.) Douglas Crosby, OMI
Bishop of Hamilton
June 10, 2020

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Readings of the Day – Monday March 30

Published March 30, 2020 / by St. Lawrence Hamilton

Entrance Antiphon – (Cf. Ps 55)

Have mercy on me, O God, for people assail me;
they fight me all day long and oppress me.

Collect

O God, by whose wondrous grace we are enriched with every blessing, grant us so to pass from former ways to newness of life, that we may be
made ready for the glory of the heavenly Kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading – Daniel 13.1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-64

There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim. Joakim married the daughter of Hilkiah, named Susanna, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord. Her parents were righteous, and had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses. Joakim was very rich, and had a fine garden adjoining his house; the Jews used to come to him because he was the most honoured of them all. That year two elders from the people were appointed as judges. Concerning them the Lord had said:
“Wickedness came forth from Babylon, from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people.” These men were frequently at Joakim’s house and all who had a case to be tried came to them there. When the people left at noon, Susanna would go into her husband’s garden to walk. Every day the two elders used to see Susanna, going in and walking about, and they began to lust for her. They suppressed their consciences and turned away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering their duty to administer justice. Once, while they were watching for an opportune day, Susanna went in as before with only two maids, and wished to bathe in the garden, for it was a hot day. No one was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her. When the maids had gone out, the two elders got up and ran to her. They said, “Look, the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us. We are burning with desire for you; so give your consent, and lie with us. If you refuse, we will testify against you that a young man was with you, and this was why you sent your maids away.” Susanna groaned and said, “I am completely trapped. For if I do this, it will mean death for me; if I do not, I cannot escape your hands. I choose not to do it; I will fall into your hands, rather than sin in the sight of the Lord.”
Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders shouted against her. And one of them ran and opened the garden doors. When the people in the house heard the shouting in the garden, they rushed in at the side door to see what had happened to her. And when the elders told their story, the servants felt very much ashamed, for nothing like this had ever
been said about Susanna. The next day, when the people gathered at the house of her husband Joakim, the two elders came, full of their wicked plot
to have Susanna put to death. In the presence of the people they said, “Send for Susanna daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” So they sent for her. And she came with her parents, her children, and all her relatives. Those who were with her and all who saw her were weeping. Then the two elders stood up before the people and laid their hands on her head. Through her tears she looked up toward Heaven, for her heart trusted in the Lord. The elders said, “While we were walking in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, shut the garden doors, and dismissed the maids. Then a young man, who was hiding there, came to her and lay with her. We were in a corner of the garden, and when we saw this wickedness we ran to them. Although we saw them embracing, we could not hold the man, because he was stronger than we, and he opened the doors and got away. We did, however, seize this woman and asked who the young man was, but
she would not tell us. These things we testify.” Because Susanna’s accusers were elders of the people and judges, the assembly believed them and condemned Susanna to death. Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, “O eternal God, you know what is secret and are aware of all
things before they come to be; you know that these men have given false evidence against me. And now I am to die, though I have done none of the wicked things that they have charged against me!” The Lord heard her cry. Just as she was being led off to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young lad named Daniel, and he shouted with a loud voice, “I want no part in shedding this woman’s blood!”All the people turned to him and asked,“What is this you are saying?” Taking his stand among them he said,“Are you such fools, O Israelites, as to condemn a daughter of Israel without examination and without learning the facts? Return to court, for these men have given false evidence against her.” So all the people hurried
back. And the rest of the elders said to him, “Come, sit among us and inform us, for God has given you the standing of an elder.” Daniel said to them, “Separate the men far from each other, and I will examine them.” When they were separated from each other, he summoned one of them and said to him, “You old relic of wicked days, your sins have now come home, which you have committed in the past, pronouncing unjust judgments, condemning the innocent and acquitting the guilty, though the Lord said,
‘You shall not put an innocent and righteous person to death.’ Now then, if you really saw this woman, tell me this: Under what tree did you see
them being intimate with each other?” He answered, “Under a mastic tree.” And Daniel said, “Very well! This lie has cost you your head, for the angel of God has received the sentence from God and will immediately cut you in two.” Then, putting him to one side, he ordered them to bring the other. And he said to him, “You offspring of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has
beguiled you and lust has perverted your heart. This is how you have been treating the daughters of Israel, and they were intimate with you through fear; but a daughter of Judah would not tolerate your wickedness. Now hen, tell me: Under what tree did you catch them being intimate with each
other?” He answered, “Under an evergreen oak.” Daniel said to him, “Very well! This lie has cost you also your head, for the angel of God is waiting with his sword to split you in two, so as to destroy you both.” Then the whole assembly raised a great shout and blessed God, who saves those who hope in him. And they took action against the two elders, because out of their own mouths Daniel had convicted them of bearing false witness; they did to them as they had wickedly planned to do to their neighbour. Acting in accordance with the law of Moses, they put them to death. Thus innocent blood was spared that day. Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, and so did her husband Joakim and all her relatives. And from that day onward Daniel had a great reputation among the people.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

(Psalm 23)
Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your
staff — they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Acclamation (Ezekiel 33)

Praise to you, Lord, king of eternal glory! I do not wish the sinner to die, says the Lord, but to turn to me and live. Praise to you, Lord, king of eternal glory!

Gospel (John 8.1-11)

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to
teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to
him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some
charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first
to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning
with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has
no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

Concluding Prayer

Set free from their sins, O Lord, we pray, the people who call upon you, that, living a holy way of life, they may be kept safe from every trial. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Parish Bulletin – Sunday March 29, 2020, the Fifth Sunday of Lent

Published March 30, 2020 / by St. Lawrence Hamilton

During the time that our church is closed due to COVID restrictions, the bulletin will be posted weekly as a post on our website.

From the Pastor’s Desk

I am the resurrection and the life.

Jesus’ words gave hope and courage to Martha after she had lost her brother Lazarus. Today also the Lord wants us to remember that He is our resurrection and life, that only in Him we can find salvation and all that is good. He is our refuge and our safe harbour especially at the time of adversity.

The Fifth Sunday of Lent opens the second part of Lent (Passiontide) that is dedicated to the Passion of the Lord. Traditionally, at this time we cover crosses, statues and images in our churches. This practice of veiling refers to the 8th Chapter of St. John’s Gospel where we can read that Jesus hid himself: So, they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple (John 8:59). Let us reflect on the Passion of the Lord especially by praying the Stations of the Cross.

Although we cannot come together to celebrate either Masses or the Stations of the Cross at this time, we may be united in prayer through the Internet and social media. We may attend Mass on TV or the Internet daily. This Sunday’s Mass was streamed live from our church at 11 am on our parish Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/stlawrencehamilton/videos/159146578615859/

All the booked Mass intentions are being offered during my private Masses.

God bless,

Fr. Peter

This week’s Mass Intentions

Tuesday March 31 – Leonel Canao by Isabel Canao

Wednesday April 1 – Giuseppe Cavigliano by Rosa Cavigliano

Thursday April 2 – Stanley Siek – by Patrick Sullivan and Anna Kocmarek

Friday April 3 – Giorgio Barresi by Antonio and Franca Frisina

Saturday April 4 – Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Sunday’s Readings

FOCUS: Those who believe in Jesus and walk in his ways will never die.
Our worldly desires bind us up in burial cloths fashioned from our sins that block the will of God from our sight. By putting aside selfish ways and trusting in God’s love and mercy, we allow Christ to call us forth from death so that we might lead a resurrected life in the Spirit.

In the first reading, God promises life and liberty to the Israelites. In the second reading, Saint Paul reminds the Romans that they must strive to overcome their sinful natures so as to live in union with Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and makes the bold proclamation that those who believe in him will never die.

1st Reading – Ezekiel 37.12-14

2nd Reading – Romans 8.8-11

Gospel John – 11.1-45

Prayers of the Faithful

PRIEST: Trusting in the life-giving power of the Spirit, we lift up our prayers and petitions to our Father in heaven.
1) That all leaders and members of the Church may be graced with the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
2) That world leaders may be helped by God in putting aside selfish agendas, and seek justice and equality for the people under their care, let us pray to the Lord.
3) That those who are in mourning may be consoled by God in their grief and made confident in the hope of resurrection for their loved ones, let us pray to the Lord.
4) That all the members of this faith community may receive the mercy of God for themselves, and with his help, offer it to others, let us pray to the Lord.
5) That our beloved dead and all those who have died may know the joy and fullness of life in heaven, let us pray to the Lord.
PRIEST: Merciful Father, with humble confidence we ask you to hear these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son.

In the Parish

The church continues to be closed due to COVID 19 . The office is closed, but the parish secretary is working remotely and can respond to inquiries by email stlawrencehamilton@hamiltondiocese.com or you can leave a message on the parish answering machine and we’ll return your call within 24 hrs.

If you need to speak with the pastor in case of an emergency you can call the emergency number 365-888-1275.

There are a number of restrictions regarding visits to hospitals, communion and celebration of sacraments. For further clarification please read this article: http://stlawrencehamilton.ca/2020/03/covid-19-update/

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