“Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to you, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
- John 3:5

By these words our Savior declares the necessity of Baptism; and by the word “water” it is evident that the application of it is necessary with the words found in St. Matthew’s Gospel:

Go and baptize all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” 
- Matthew 28:19

Through the grace of Baptism, we become God the Father’s adopted sons and daughters in Christ.  We are thrilled to assist you and/or your children in receiving this amazing and necessary Sacrament.

Baptisms at St Lawrence Church are scheduled for the first and third Sunday of the month at 12:30 p.m. or by appointment.

Parents are requested to make arrangements with the parish office at least one month in advance of the Baptism by contacting the parish office. The parents must be registered members of the parish.  The Baptism Letter and Registration Form are located below.  Please read the letter carefully and fill out the registration form and return it to the parish office.  Please note that the date of Baptism will be confirmed once all requirements are met.

• Baptism Letter
• Baptism Form

First-time parents must attend a one session pre-Baptismal class, usually held on the second Saturday of the month at 10 AM in the parish office. Parents are encouraged to attend this class before the birth of their child.  Please contact the parish office to sign-up for this class.

Sponsor Information 

• A sponsor (Godparent) must have completed his or her 16 year.
• A sponsor must be a Catholic who has received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion.  This person must also be practicing the Catholic faith faithfully.
• If married, a sponsor must be married in the Catholic Church.  If single, a sponsor must not be cohabiting
• St. Lawrence parishioners who have been asked to be a Godparent should fill out a Sponsor Affidavit and return the original signed copy to the Rectory Office for the pastor’s approval.
• Sponsors not a parishioner of St. Lawrence must obtain a Sponsor’s Affidavit/Certificate from his or her own parish indicating that he or she meets the above requirements.  The original signed document, with the parish seal affixed, must be received in the parish office at least two weeks before the desired date of the Baptism.
• Only one sponsor is required.  If you would like to have two sponsors, one must be male and the other must be female (i.e. there cannot be two males or two females).
• Parents of the child being Baptized cannot be their child’s Godparents.
• A Baptized, non-Catholic Christian may not be a sponsor.  That person may participate as a Christian witness but does not replace the sponsor.  A Catholic who is not practicing his or her faith cannot be a sponsor or godparent.
• The sponsor does not have to be present at the Baptism.  A proxy may stand in his or her place.  However, the same requirements for a sponsor apply to a proxy.
• If you have questions about the suitability of anyone to serve as a sponsor, please contact the parish office.

“We must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”
-Luke 15:32

“Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them.  Whose sins you retain are retained.”
- John 20:22-23

After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Apostles in the Upper Room and conferred on them the power to forgive sins: “Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them.  Whose sins you retain are retained.”
-John 20:22-23

The Sacrament of Confession (also called Penance or the Sacrament of Reconciliation) is God’s gift to His people to assure us of the forgiveness of our sins committed after Baptism.

A thorough Examination of Conscience should always precede the reception of the Sacrament of Confession.  All adequate Examinations unfold the Ten Commandments with questions that probe into the Commandment to help guide you to determine if you have committed a sin that violates the Commandment.  Click here for an Examination of Conscience that is particularly complete and exhaustive.

Please take advantage of our regularly scheduled Confession times.  If you have been away from the Sacrament for many years or have other questions related to Confession, you are always welcome to contact a priest directly through the parish office.

The Rite of Confession:

• The priest first greets the penitent.
• The penitent makes the Sign of the Cross and says, “Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been __days/months/years since my last confession and my sins are…” and tells the priest your sins. All mortal sins must be confessed in kind and number of times the sin was committed.  If unsure or uneasy, the penitent can let the priest know and ask for his help.
• When all remembered sins have been confessed, the penitent concludes with, “For these and all my sins I am truly sorry.”
• The priest may offer some advice and then will assign a penance.
• The priest will then ask the penitent to pray an Act of Contrition:
  • “O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life.  Amen.” or simply, “Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
• After the penitent completes the Act of Contrition, the priest gives the penitent absolution.  He says a prayer that ends, “I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” As the priest says these words, the penitent makes the Sign of the Cross.
• The priest will then say a dismissal, such as: “The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace.”
• The penitent responds, “Thanks be to God.”  The penitent then leaves the confessional and does his/her assigned penance as soon as possible.

Some Considerations on the Sacrament of Confession:

• The sins confessed to the priest are confessed to Jesus, with the priest merely standing in for Him (thus, the priest acts in personae Christi). Do not be afraid to confess any sins you may have committed; likewise, do not hide or try to disguise any sins.  The priest is here to help you and to forgive you.  Nothing you say will shock him, so do not be afraid, no matter how ashamed you might be.
• The joy of Confession is allowing God the Father to find us.  As with the Prodigal Son parable (Luke 15), God the Father will run to greet us and welcome us home as His sons and daughters.  He eagerly awaits our return and freely offers His pardon and peace.
• This healing Sacrament strengthens us and removes all the sins that have prevented us from seeking God with our whole heart.
• In confession we also receive grace to combat those sins we confess and break our habits of vice more easily. This is why frequent reception of the Sacrament of Confession is such a wonderful aid in our quest to be “perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
• Catholics who have reached the use of reason (usually around the age of 6½ or 7) are required by the second precept of the Church to receive the Sacrament of Confession at least once a year.  Children who have reached the use of reason must receive the Sacrament before making their First Holy Communion.  Please see the CCD page for more information to enroll your child.
• We confess our sins to the priest who is before us in the person of Christ.  The Church teaches that all mortal sins must be told in Confession in kind and number of occurrences.  Those persons conscious of unconfessed mortal sin must receive the Sacrament of Confession before receiving  Holy Communion.  For a sin to be mortal, it must meet three conditions:
  • Grave matter: Does it involve breaking one of the 10 Commandments, or failing to uphold one or more of the precepts of the Church?
  • Full knowledge: Did you know or should you have known that the act was sinful?
  • Deliberate consent: Was your consent to this act sufficiently deliberate so as to be a choice? Were conditions present that influenced your ability to choose.
• Confession of venial sins or smaller, everyday faults, is also strongly recommended.  Confessing venial sins helps us fight weaknesses that can lead us to sin more and aids our spiritual progress.
• If you are uncertain about the seriousness of an action you have committed or neglected to commit, tell the priest about your uncertainty; he can guide you.
• The Prayer of Absolution is the beautiful moment of forgiveness.  The priest, in the person of Christ and through the Church, imparts this forgiveness saying, “I absolve you from your sin.”
• The penance given by the priest is to help make amends for the sins committed and is expressed by charitable works and/or prayers like the Hail Mary or Our Father.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
- John 6:51

The Holy Eucharist is the living bread from Heaven. The Holy Eucharist is the Real, True and Substantial Presence of Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

After His Resurrection, it was in the breaking of the bread that Jesus’ disciples recognized Him. We are privileged with the opportunity to receive our dear Lord in the Holy Eucharist at the daily and weekend Masses offered here at St. Lawrence Catholic Church as well to adore Him in the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday after the morning Mass until the evening Holy Hour.

In the worthy reception of the Holy Eucharist, our union with the Lord Jesus is increased.  We are transformed and are united with our brothers and sisters in Holy Communion.  Receiving the Holy Eucharist is the foretaste or promise of what God has in store for us in Heaven—union with God.

You are welcome to stop by church while it is open to pray before the Blessed Sacrament constantly reserved in the Tabernacle. 

For information about First Holy Communion for children, or if you are an adult who has not yet received Holy Communion for the first time, please contact our Religious Education office at (703) 971-8541 or by email.

Holy Communion Guidelines:

For Catholics

As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Holy Mass when we receive Holy Communion.  We are encouraged to receive our Eucharistic Lord devoutly and frequently.  In order to be properly disposed to receive Him, the communicant should not be conscious of grave sin and should have fasted for one hour prior to reception.  A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior Sacramental Confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for Confession.  In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible. (Code of Canon Law, canon 916)  Frequent reception of the Sacrament of Confession is encouraged for all of the faithful.

For Other Christians

We welcome to the celebration of Holy Mass those Christians who are not fully united with us. It is a consequence of the sad division in Christianity that we cannot admit them to a reception of Holy Communion. Catholics believe that the Holy Eucharist signifies a oneness in faith, life and worship. Reception of the Holy Eucharist by Christians not fully united with us would imply a oneness which does not yet exist, and for which we must all pray. (Members of the Eastern Orthodox Churches should follow the discipline of their own cannon law regarding coming to Communion).

For Those Not Receiving Communion

Those not receiving Sacramental Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus.

For Non-Christians

We also welcome to Holy Mass those who do not share our faith in Jesus. While we cannot invite them to receive Holy Communion, we do invite them to be united with us in prayer.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.”
-Acts 1:8

A person is fully initiated into the Catholic Church by the reception of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. Just as Baptism marks new life or birth in the faith, Confirmation marks growth or perfection in the faith.  In Baptism, the graces conferred are focused inward. In Confirmation, the Catholic receives a special grace whereby faith is deepened and strengthened so that it now can be shared with others.

In Confirmation, we are strengthened to be Jesus’ disciples or witnesses. There are three responsibilities of confirmed Catholics:

• To defend the Faith
• To witness to the Faith
• To live more firmly the Baptismal promises

The Sacrament of Confirmation is received by an anointing on the person’s forehead, reminiscent of the anointing of athletes for strength in ancient times.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the ordinary minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation is the Bishop, the visible head of the local Church, who initiates each person into the whole community. For this reason, Confirmation is often separated from Baptism by a number of years, though the two Sacraments are closely related.

In the Diocese of Arlington, children are normally prepared for Confirmation during 8th grade.   Children receive preparation from a parish or private Catholic school or our CCD classes.  For those who are homeschooled, the use of an approved home school program can also instruct the Confirmandii (i.e. the child to receive Confirmation) to receive this august Sacrament.

Children in high school or any Catholic adult (18 and older) who is Baptized but has not received the Sacrament of Confirmation, should contact our Religious Education Office at (703) 971-8541 or by email.

“But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother [and be joined to his wife], and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”
-Mark 10:6-9

If you wish to be married at St Lawrence Catholic Church, please contact the parish office AT LEAST 6 months before your desired wedding date. The Catholic Church teaches that cohabitation prior to marriage is sinful and therefore a hindrance to proper preparation for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Couples who are living together will be asked to live separately during the marriage preparation time.

The priests of the parish prepare all couples and officiate at weddings. Roman Catholic priests or deacons who are relatives or close personal friends are welcome to officiate at weddings if they are in good standing with their Bishop or religious superior and have the religious and civil authority to officiate at marriages in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Marriage Preparation

• Meetings with Priest:
  All couples will have several meetings with a priest who will assist them in preparing for marriage and the wedding.
• Conference for the Engaged:
  All couples are required to participate in this weekend conference by the Diocese of Arlington.
• Natural Family Planning:
  Couples are normally required to attend these classes, usually 2 hours long and 3 or 4 in number.
• FOCCUS:
  Couples must complete this personality profile, after meeting with the priest.
• Music Selection:
  All matters related to wedding music (selection, musicians, cantors, etc.) must be coordinated and approved by the Director of Music for St. Lawrence, Mr Raymond St. Pierre. Wedding music must be sacred music and comply with norms established by the Diocese of Arlington and the parish.
• Altar Flowers and Other Decorations:
  Couples should talk to the priest doing their marriage prep regarding all floral arrangements for the altar and other decorations in the church, such as pew markers.
• Photography:
  Photographers must be respectful of the sacred nature of the ceremony and the church. During the ceremony the photographer may not use flash, block the congregation, enter the sanctuary, or be a distraction to either the priest, the couple, or the congregation.

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.”
-Luke 1:38

“He said to them, ‘The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.’”
-Luke 10:2

Holy Orders – Bishops, Priests and Deacons

There is a special office of those who are set aside to sanctify, bless, teach, and guide the Church, continuing the role of the Apostles to make the Lord Jesus Christ present throughout the ages and to the corners of the world:

“Holy Orders is the Sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to His Apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time. Thus it is the Sacrament of Apostolic ministry.  It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate and diaconate.”  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536).

There are often questions about the ordination of women to the Holy Priesthood.  This question was definitively addressed by the late Pope Saint John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (On Reserving Priestly Ordination To Men Alone), in which he concluded:

“Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church’s divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful.” (OS, 4)

All of the faithful are strongly encouraged to read this august document, which is quite short by Pope St. John Paul II standards, as it wonderfully explains the reasons behind this teaching of Holy Church.  This document cites another document by Pope Paul VI, Inter Insigniores, which is linked here for your convenience.

Religious Life – Consecrated Men and Women

What is “Consecrated Life”?

To be “Consecrated” means to be set apart for a special purpose. It refers to a state to which men and women take public vows of the Evangelical Counsels (poverty, chastity, and obedience), ordinarily within the context of a religious community such as a monastery, convent, or friary. By taking these vows, religious men and women strive to follow the counsels of the Lord Jesus in a more perfect way.

Religious vocations to the priesthood or to the consecrated religious life are gifts from our Heavenly Father by which He calls a man or a woman to follow His Son in a unique way.  Do not be afraid to open your heart to the possibility that God is calling you to such a vocation.

Always feel welcome to contact a priest through the parish office if you would like to speak to someone about a possible vocation to the priesthood or to the religious life.  We are ready to help you along the journey of the discernment of your vocation.

The Diocese of Arlington has a Vocations Office that can assist men and women who would like to inquire about a possible vocation. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also has resources and information on the discernment to the priesthood or religious life for men here and for women here.

May the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, instruct and guide you to answer Jesus’ call to follow Him as His friend and disciple according to the vocation for which YOU were created.

“Are there any who are sick among you?  Let them send for the priests of the Church, and let the priests pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith will save the sick persons, and the Lord will raise them up.” 
- James 5:14-15

• The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is based upon Jesus’ special concern for the sick and His instructions to the Apostles to carry on His healing presence.
• The primary focus of this Sacrament is a healing of spirit and ability to deal with the particular illness in a positive fashion, giving strength to a person to grow in holiness. It is this strengthening of spirit that is most important.  When Christ cured the sick, He emphasized this aspect most of all.
• The sick person is consecrated to be more like Christ, who bore our infirmities and healed our wounds.
• If you or someone you know is gravely ill, about to undergo a serious operation, or is in danger of death, the Sacrament of Anointing is a powerful and grace-filled way for Jesus to come to your assistance. You are encouraged to contact the parish rectory to inquire if this Sacrament should be received.
• If you or someone you know is home bound, please contact us to arrange for a priest to visit the person to determine what further Sacramental care would be appropriate.

§1. Each parish is to have parochial registers, that is, those of baptisms, marriages, deaths, and others as prescribed by the conference of bishops or the diocesan bishop. The pastor is to see to it that these registers are accurately inscribed and carefully preserved.

Sacramental registers are permanent, confidential, historical documents. Only the person who received the Sacrament or the parent or legal guardian of a minor child may request Sacramental records.  Record certificates are not issued to third parties.

• Baptism Form
• Sponsors Affidavit for Baptism and/or Confirmation Form