Email Fr. Jake Anderson with your desire to celebrate baptism with your child. Include some options of preferred dates. Once a date has been established, Fr. Jake will have you correspond with Mary Groetsch, our Admin Assistant, with the name of the child, date of birth of the child, parent's names (with mother's maiden name), and Godparent's names.

You may contact Fr. Jake Anderson or Br. Gary Davis, our Rite of Christian Initiation Coordinator (RCIA). To learn more, visit our Becoming Catholic? page.

No, you must become Catholic to receive the Eucharist. See our Becoming Catholic? page to learn more. 

Yes, the reception of the Eucharist offers forgiveness of any venial sins. To learn more about venial sins, click here.

No, you must hasten to the sacrament of reconciliation prior to receiving the Eucharist if you are in a state of mortal sin. To learn more about mortal sins, click here.

Yes, you must attend Mass every Saturday evening or Sunday and every Holy Day of Obligation. If you do not, this would be a mortal sin and you would need to attend the sacrament of reconciliation. 

No, you must go to the sacrament of reconciliation prior to receiving the Eucharist if it has been over a year. If you have received the Eucharist within the year and attend Mass every Saturday evening or Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, you may receive the Eucharist. 

Yes! We offer low-gluten hosts at every Mass during the week and on Sundays. Simply come in the Holy Communion line of the pastor/presider at Mass and he will distribute Holy Communion from a small, separate ciborium. Please note that it is not a gluten-free host but a very low gluten host (required for the validity of the Sacrament). 

Yes, you may email Br. Gary Davis to begin the process.

Absolutely, the sacrament and forgiveness of our Lord Jesus Christ are awaiting you.

That's the way Jesus set it up on Easter Sunday evening. He told his apostles that just as God the Father had sent him - and God the Father sent him to save our sins - so he was sending them. He breathed on them the power of the Holy Spirit, giving them God's power to forgive sins since no one can forgive sins but God alone. He told them that whatever sins they forgive are forgiven and whatever sins they retain are retained (JN 20:21-23; MK 2:7). Jesus thus established the essential structure of the sacrament of confession. Just as he uses priests to give us his Body and Blood at Mass so he uses them to give us His mercy in Penance. 

The sacrament consists of three actions on the part of the penitent: contrition, which is sorrow for one's sins; confession, which is examining one's conscience and telling one's sins to the priest; and penance, namely a desire to make up for one's sins and amend one's life. Together the three are called the "acts of penitent."

One does so by asking for God's help and prayerfully examining one's actions in the light of Christ's teaching and example. Please refer to this confession guide for further assistance. 

Yes, if one through bad memory or nervousness forgets to confess a mortal sin, the person's confession is valid and all his or her sins will be forgiven. The person, should, however, mention that forgotten sin in the next confession to receive a proper penance. If this is a routine occurrence, it is probably an indication that one is either confessing too infrequently or not fully aware of the gravity that is mortal sin. If, on the other hand, a penitent deliberately refuses to mention a mortal sin in confession, none of the person's sins will be forgiven, the person will remain in the dangerous state of mortal sin, and will be guilty of the additional sin of sacrilege. 

The church recommends that Catholics receive the sacrament of reconciliation frequently. Strictly speaking, after they've reached the age of reason, Catholics are obliged to confess their serious sins at least once a year (Code of Canon Law 989), but the minimum should not be made a maximum. Catholics should come to confession as soon as possible after they've committed a mortal sin. If they're seeking to grow in holiness, the regular practice of confession at least once a month is recommended. 

It confers the gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord) upon the recipient.

For those baptized at the age of seven or older: during the Eucharist at which they have been baptized; preferably the Easter vigil or Pentecost Sunday at the local parish. Please visit our Becoming Catholic? page to learn more.

One must be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the person who takes their place, or in their absence by the pastor or minister and have the aptitude and intention of fulfilling this function. Must have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another age or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause. Must be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on. Must not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized (Canon 874). 

No, at least the bride or the groom must be a parishioner at St. Lawrence Catholic Church and Newman Center in order to be married here.

Yes, but a dispensation will most likely be needed. 

Not if both you and your fiance are not Catholic. Yes, if at least one person is Catholic and is a member of the Newman Center. 

No, we do not allow receptions in the social hall or gym. 

Those who wish to livestream their wedding, please review and sign the following form.

This sacrament is reserved for those in serious illness of mind and body, or in danger of death.