I was away for three days this week at a Lifeteen/Edge training convention near Boston, and our new Fr. Peter Ekanem ably handled the parish in my absence.

I went up with several parishioners who have committed to be part of our Core team for our high school youth ministry and our middle school youth ministry so we could learn how to keep improving our programs. We came back with plenty of new ideas, so be prepared for more initiatives to help our young people connect with Jesus Christ and commit to him.

We’ll hopefully start planning some mission trips and camps for next summer. These are really lifechanging experiences for middle and high school kids that have a lasting impact on them for many years. We’d also like to expand on the many good things we have in the parish in the summer such as our St. Lawrence Theatre Camp and musical production. Some things we might offer are basketball and martial arts camps, and perhaps a soccer camp as well. Stay tuned.

Our very successful early Childhood Learning Center is considering expanding its offerings to included tutoring and a Vacation Bible School program. Planning is in the works.

Our wonderful CYO program has started up practices. More than 100 kids participate in the basketball under new leadership. Artie Blank and Frank Tobitsch ran it superbly for several years and have now passed the torch to Tim Nevins, Chris Feehan and Eileen DiPaoli. One innovation we are making is to start the season off in November with a Communion Breakfast for teams, families and coaches. So if you’re at the 9:30 on November 11, you’ll be in for a treat.

Just a special word of gratitude to all the people who volunteer their time so generously to the young people of our parish. You are all, in different ways, leading young people to Christ. And that is what a great parish does. Thank you for your time and sacrifices.

St. Lawrence is the place for families and kids.

God bless,
Fr. Rich Gill