ABOUT THE SACRAMENTS

The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus.  Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist. The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters.  . . .  Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin.  However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father. By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin – Original and actual – and begin to live a new life with God.

In Baptism, the Holy Spirit moves us to answer Christ's call to holiness. In Baptism, we are asked to walk by the light of Christ and to trust in his wisdom. We are invited to submit our hearts to Christ with ever deeper love. (Taken from the USCCB)

According to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, these are the Guidelines for Godparents 

For children less than 7 years old, please call the office at 610-449-0600. For children older than 7, please contact the Religious Education Office at 610-449-0600 ext. 215.

If you are an adult and are interested in being baptized Catholic, please check the OCIA section or call the office at 610-449-0600.

The prophets of the Old Testament foretold that God's Spirit would rest upon the Messiah to sustain his mission.  Their prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus the Messiah was conceived by the Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus on the occasion of his baptism by John.  Jesus' entire mission occurred in communion with the Spirit. Before he died, Jesus promised that the Spirit would be given to the Apostles and to the entire Church.  After his death, he was raised by the Father in the power of the Spirit.

Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world.  . . .  We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving. (Taken from the USCCB)

In accordance with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, youth at Saint Laurence may receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the seventh grade. If you are interested in having your child receive Confirmation, please call the Religious Education Office at 610-449-0600 Ext. 215

To inquire about the confirmation sacrament as an adult, please check the OICA section or call the Office at 610-449-0600.

Jesus said: "I am the living bread, which came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever [...] He who eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life [...] abides in me and I in him" (Jn 6, 51.54.56). (CCC #1406)

The Eucharist is the memory of Christ's Easter, that is, of the work of salvation carried out by the life, death and resurrection of Christ, a work that is made present by the liturgical action. (CCC #1409)

Preparation for First Communion allows children to have the opportunity to understand more of the doctrines of the Church, and the importance of this Sacrament, along with the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

In accordance with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, a child at Saint Laurence can receive their first Holy Communion when he/she is in 3rd grade. If you are interested in having your child receive first Holy Communion, please call the Religious Education Office at 610-449-0600 Ext. 215

To inquire about receiving first Holy Communion as an adult, please check the OCIA section or call the Office at 610-449-0600.

The forgiveness of sins committed after Baptism is granted by its own sacrament called the sacrament of conversion, confession, penance or reconciliation. (CCC #1486)

In the eyes of faith, no evil is more serious than sin and nothing has worse consequences for sinners themselves, for the Church and for the whole world. (CCC #1488)

If your child needs to receive this sacrament for first time, please contact the Religious Education Office at 610-449-0600 Ext. 215.

If you are an adult who want to receive the reconciliation for first time, please visit the OCIA section for more information.

For regular confession, you can come to the church on Saturdays at 5:30PM (following 4:30 PM Mass) - 6:30PM or call the office and make an appointment with a priest at 610-449-0600 Ext. 0.

In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.

The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.

When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age. (Taken from the USCCB)

To receive to anointing of the sick, please call the rectory at 610-449-0600 Ext 0. 

The marriage alliance, by which a man and a woman constitute an intimate community of life and love, was founded and endowed with its own laws by the Creator. By its nature it is ordered to the good of the spouses as well as to the generation and education of children. Among the baptized, marriage has been elevated by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament (CIC #1660).

Marriage is based on the consent of the contracting parties, that is, on the will to give each other definitively in order to live an alliance of faithful and fruitful love. (CCC #1662)

The Christian home is the place where children receive the first announcement of the faith. For this reason the family home is rightly called "Domestic Church", a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and Christian charity. (CIC#1666)

If you wish to married in the Church of Saint Laurence, you must obtain a recent baptismal certificate, contact the office at 610-449-0600 Ext 212, and make an appointment at least 6 months in advance, to conduct the necessary investigations. In the state of Pennsylvania, marriage in the church is also valid civilly.

Ordination to the priesthood is always a call and a gift from God. Christ reminded his Apostles that they needed to ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest.  Those who seek priesthood respond generously to God's call using the words of the prophet, "Here I am, send me" (Is 6:8).  This call from God can be recognized and understood from the daily signs that disclose his will to those in charge of discerning the vocation of the candidate. (Taken from the USCCB)

To help you to discern or inquire about to become a permanent deacon, please speak with the Pastor and/or contact the School of Diaconal Formation. If you want to become a priest, please speak with the Pastor and/or contact the Vocation Office 

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the process the Catholic Church uses to help adults become Catholic and receive the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.

OCIA is a spiritual journey of conversion. It helps individuals grow in their relationship with Jesus and learn about the Church He founded. This journey takes place in stages over a period of time and includes learning about the faith, participating in parish life, and growing in prayer and Christian living.

The whole parish community is also enriched through this process as it prepares to welcome new members into the Church.

OCIA comes from the early Church, when it was used to prepare people to become Christian during the first centuries after the apostles. The Second Vatican Council restored this ancient and meaningful process for use throughout the Church today.

Who is OCIA for?

1. Adults in need of Baptism.

2. Adults baptized in another Christian tradition who desire to become Catholic.

3.  Adults baptized Catholic in need of First Communion and/or Confirmation.

How long is the OCIA process?
The length of the OCIA process is different for each person. It depends on their knowledge of the faith, their spiritual growth, and their readiness to commit. There is no set beginning or ending date. OCIA is a process, not a program. The Church provides guidelines to help discern when each person is ready to move forward.

What is the OCIA process?
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is a gradual journey through which a person becomes a member of the Catholic Church. It takes place in several stages that lead to full commitment to the faith.

Because it is a process and not a program, the time needed depends on each individual’s spiritual growth and discernment. Throughout this journey, the person is guided by the catechist.