ST. LAWRENCE MARTYR CATHOLIC COMMUNITY MA Y 3, 2020 | FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

1940 South Prospect Avenue • Redondo Beach • California 90277 • (310)540-0329 • www.stlm.org

Rev. Msgr. Paul T. Dotson, Pastor Rev. Msgr. Peter O’Reilly, In Residence Rev. Mark Warnstedt, Associate Pastor

Deacon Don Burt Deacon Jim Egnatuk Deacon Dale Sheckler

LIVESTREAM AND VIDEO OF OUR DAILY MASS at ST. LAWRENCE MARTYR

Given the need to fight the coronavirus by sheltering in place and while our church is closed, all Catholics are dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. During this time, we invite you to participate in the Mass online with our livestream of daily Mass from St. Lawrence Martyr Church at 9:00 am on our website (stlm.org) or on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtFQ_etJ88elV7DLa2E4l7Q/featured

The Good shepherd

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Welcome to St. Lawrence Martyr A Place to Belong

As a parish that is “A Place to Belong”, we would like you to know that you are most welcome to Saint ` to worship with us regardless of race, color, sexual orientation,

current family or marital situation. We welcome you as you are because that is the way God made you and we hope that you make St. Lawrence Martyr your home.

OUR CHURCH & PARISH OFFICE REMAINS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC BUT WE ARE STILL HERE FOR YOU!

Please contact us by email at info@stlm.org or by voicemail message at 310-540-0329

STEWARDSHIP

You are invited to drive through the Church Parking Lot to Receive a Blessing

from Msgr. Paul, Msgr. Peter & Fr. Mark Sunday, May 3rd from 11am to 12pm

We ask you to stay in your cars for the blessings and follow the directions of our volunteers. If you want, please feel free to decorate your car or make a sign to let your church family know we are thinking about each other. FOOD PANTRY COLLECTION: We will be collecting food for our Food Pantry during the drive through. Volunteers will be on hand to get food from your car. ♦ Please leave the food in your car trunk for the

helpers to retrieve. ♦ NO Clothing please - we are unable to accept

clothes for health and sanitary reasons. We love and miss our SLM family!

Can’t wait to see you!

While we cannot be together physically, stay connected to our St. Lawrence Community.

Join St. Lawrence’s flocknote today… Flocknote is a communication tool that allows St. Lawrence to more effectively communicate with you and your family through text or email. With flocknote, you will receive news & information on events happening at SLM, reflections and complete access Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library.

Join flocknote today by texting our keyword

STLM to 84576

PLEASE CONSIDER ONLINE GIVING

St. Lawrence Martyr needs your support now more than ever. Join the parishioners who are using Faith Direct for automated giving to St. Lawrence Martyr. Faith Direct offers a safe and secure way to donate to our parish in this

me of uncertainty. There is no cost to you, and the program provides a great benefit to our parish. Sign up today by visi ng faith.direct/CA707 If you wish to con nue your weekly dona on to the parish but do not want to par cipate in online giving, you may mail or drop off your dona on to the parish office. If you drop off your dona on, the parish office is presently closed to the public but there is a secure mail slot available. During this uncertain me, our parish priests and staff are con nuing to work to meet the needs of our parish community and transforming the way we do things to meet the changes and evolving new needs.

We are grateful for your continued support of our parish family during this time.

We are united with you in prayer wherever you may be. You remain in the daily prayers

of the priests, clergy and staff during this time of uncertainty and physical separation from you.

I would like to thank everyone for their cards, gifts, phone calls and good wishes on the anniversary of my ordination. It makes the

52 years of my priestly ministry all the more special and meaningful. I am very touched by the outpouring of wishes.

I gratefully and prayerfully thank you, Msgr. Paul

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With the suspension of all Masses in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, all Mass intentions at St. Lawrence Martyr during this time have been sent to Fr. Paul Keeya in Uganda. He and his brother priests will say the Mass for these and all our intentions. During this week, Masses will be offered for:

PRAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY All prayer requests for the sick and recently deceased received during this time have written in our Book of Intentions and placed in the church.

Pray for the Sick Please pray for all the sick of our community

members in need of healing and comfort.

Pray for the Recently Deceased Thomas Murphy, Jeannie Sambrano

Millie Jacobs and for the souls of all the recently departed,

that through the mercy of Christ, they may rest in peace.

Bill Riegel † Deloras Moothart †

Royce Branch † Richard Wells † Exodus Foisia †

Benjamin Galeon † Nancy Christy † Jeanne M. Kuhl †

Tanya Dale Idah May

Ray Barkes † Grace Toth-Fejel †

Arsenio Abalos Sr. † († Deceased)

LIVESTREAM of MASS DAILY from ST. LAWRENCE MARTYR

While nothing can take the place of our physical presence at Mass and the reception of Christ in the Eucharist, we want to continue serving the spiritual needs of our parishioners during these uncertain times. We are livestreaming and recording Mass daily at 9:00 am in our St. Lawrence Martyr church. Although we cannot be together physically, we invite you to join us virtually in community and prayer for Mass. The livestreams may be accessed on our parish website: stlm.org or directly on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtFQ_etJ88elV7DLa2E4l7Q/featured

SUNDAY MASS WORSHIP AIDS If you plan to join us, worship aids for our Sunday liturgies are available on our parish website: www.stlm.org

If you are having difficulty accessing our Mass virtually, please call the Parish Office at 310.540.0329. Leave a message and a parish staff member will be happy to call and assist you.

MAKE ONLINE MASS TIME SACRED We invite you to truly be present during the livestream or while watching a recording of Mass on your computer, phone or television. Turn it on so that the sacrifice of the Mass may be present in your home and for you, truly making your home the “Domestic Church.” Let it shape your home into a sacred space so that you can commune with Jesus even though you canʹt be present at Mass like you desire. Consider preparing your space with a candle, bible and sacred icons.

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GOSPEL MEDITATION ENCOURAGING DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCRIPTURE

With whom do we converse and listen to the most? Believe it or not, the answer is ourselves. We are constantly having conversa ons with ourselves, and some mes we even get caught! Our inner conversa ons reveal the truth about ourselves. We really cannot hide from ourselves, although we o en pretend we can. By conversing with ourselves, we find solu ons to our challenges, problem solve, work through our rela onships, formulate opinions, run through dress rehearsals of possible conversa ons, and wrestle with and determine our system of priori es and values. What other voices affect the conversa ons we have with ourselves? O en, voices from our past con nue to haunt us. These voices cause us to mistrust our judgment, harbor anger, and cling to our fears of rejec on, failure, being wrong, and the like. It is in these inner conversa ons that we face what holds us cap ve — our limita ons, weaknesses, sinfulness, and stubborn ego preoccupa ons. We o en go about our lives pu ng out one fire or another, keeping ourselves preoccupied and busy, and trying to stay on top of things. Inten onally or uninten onally, we find ourselves wandering off. We turn around and can no longer see our home. We look down at our feet and realize we have lost our anchor. Feeling scared, out of place, desolate, unse led, and lonely, we realize that we are lost. We listened to the wrong voices! In the midst of everything compe ng for our a en on, the voice of the One who could truly call us home got muffled. We didn’t hear it. As our inner dialogues con nue to play out, the one voice we need to consult — even before our own — is God’s. He is the Good Shepherd who can keep us safely where we need to be. As we graze through the stuff of our lives, we must constantly remember to look up, be a en ve, and stay focused. Our habits of prayer are the only thing that can properly root us and keep us grounded. Contempla ng God’s presence and developing an inner awareness of love incarnate, we will then find ourselves praying unceasingly as the days and nights and the ebbs and flows of our of lives unfold. Suddenly, the inner conversa ons we are constantly having are no longer just with ourselves or with voices that can lead us astray but with the Trinity, who desperately wants us to stay home. ©LPi

LIVE THE LITURGY INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK

When you wake up in the morning, whose voice is the first one you listen to? Your own? Someone else’s? Or God? We all listen to someone and follow some sort of guidelines and principles. If it is a secular voice that propels us to get up in the morning and take up the task of the day’s agenda, then we may find ourselves off track. The advice found in the Acts of the Apostles was as true then as it is now, “Save yourselves from this corrupt genera on.” Most of what we listen to in secular voices is off the axis of truth and distorted. It may sound a rac ve, but it is decep ve at best. Many have gone astray like sheep and need to return to the Good Shepherd. Only Jesus can offer us the gate of life, and only Jesus as the Good Shepherd can really mo vate us to take on the challenges of life. If we don’t recognize his voice, we can risk facing destruc on. ©LPi

First Reading — All peoples called by God will receive the gift of the Spirit if they repent and are baptized (Acts 2:14a, 36-41). Psalm — The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want (Psalm 23). Second Reading — Once we were like straying sheep; but now we have been returned to the shepherd, our guardian (1 Peter 2:20b-25). Gospel — The shepherd leads the sheep out into pastures of abundant life (John 10:1-10).

The English translation of the Psalm Responses from the Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

TODAY’S READINGS

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: Acts 11:1-18; Ps 42:2-3; 43:3, 4; Jn 10:11-18 Tuesday: Acts 11:19-26; Ps 87:1b-7; Jn 10:22-30 Wednesday: Acts 12:24 — 13:5a; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Jn 12:44-50 Thursday: Acts 13:13-25; Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27; Jn 13:16-20 Friday: Acts 13:26-33; Ps 2:6-11ab; Jn 14:1-6 Saturday: Acts 13:44-52; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 14:7-14 Sunday: Acts 6:1-7; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; 1 Pt 2:4-9; Jn 14:1-12

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QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: AN INVITATION TO REFLECT AND RESPOND TO SCRIPTURE

F R Luke tells us that Peter o en tes fied: “Save yourself from this corrupt genera on.” How is this message s ll applicable today? S R Peter asserts that the virtue of pa ence in one’s suffering is a grace from God because Jesus modeled pa ent suffering. How does the exercise of this spiritual disposi on help bring peace of mind? G R Using the metaphor of sheep and gatekeeper, Jesus teaches his disciples the importance of remaining focused on his voice. Why do you think people are so easily distracted from other voices? ©LPi

IN NEED OF A SHEPHERD For a while it was very fashionable to own pigs as pets. The publicity surrounding these creatures informed us that they were—contrary to their popular image—very clean animals, and also quite smart. Sad to say, sheep will most likely never enjoy this sort of domestic vogue. They are neither clean nor smart and are largely defenseless when left on their own, even in large numbers. The biblical image of us as the flock of sheep is not a particularly flattering one. Sheep without a shepherd are truly sad, because they most likely will perish either from their inability to fend for themselves or from their lack of defenses against predators. Placing ourselves in the heart of this unflattering image can reinforce our faith. Until we come to a profound realization of how much we need a shepherd, we cannot appreciate how deeply blessed we are to have been given a Shepherd, one who laid down his life for us and was raised to life eternal in the Spirit, so he might guide us and we might follow him in faith forever. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co

EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS

Recognizing the Voice of Jesus

When my wireless provider introduced HD Voice, the voice I heard on my phone was unbelievably clear, and it felt at

mes like both the caller and I were in the same room. The best aspect of this feature is that it didn’t cost the customer any addi onal fees, and it didn’t require any changes to the phone. I could say it was free, but I suspect I was already paying for it in my monthly bill anyway. At least it felt free. The clearer the voice calling you, the easier it is to recognize who it is on the other end of the line. In John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of the gatekeeper who opens the gate and calls for his sheep. They respond because they know his voice. Others try to lure the sheep when the gatekeeper is not there, but the sheep find their voices unclear or unfamiliar. Jesus is our gatekeeper. But unlike receiving something for free from a wireless company, to be able to hear his voice we need to pay a en on and prac ce listening. By developing a stewardship way of life that is mindful and prayerful, we become a uned to his voice and are able to discern when the call is from our Lord and when it is from an imposter. It is great to talk about all the things we can do and all the gi s we can share, but if we are not listening for his call to hear where our offerings are needed, we can end up like a lost sheep searching for the gatekeeper.

—Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS ©LPi

He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.

— 1 PETER 2:24A

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We ask our St. Lawrence Community to hold our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) Elect and Candidates in prayer as they to prepare for full initiation into the Church and await to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation during this waiting...

Elect for Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation Sabrina Dumlao, Mary Herati & Zachary Nisar

Candidates for Sacraments of Eucharist & Confirmation Jessyca Blunt, Brad McDermott, Jade Carillo,

Jacob Carillo, Kody Gordon, Ashley Hoang, Kaylee Hoang, Lexis Hoang, Paige Hoang, Preston Hoang,

Juliette Iniguez, Jose Pepe Iniguez, Grace Tayag

ENTRANCE How else but through a broken heart

May the Lord Christ enter in? —OSCAR WILDE

MOTHER’S DAY NOVENA SPIRITUAL BOUQUET

This Mother’s Day offer a Mother’s Day Novena spiritual bouquet in honor of mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and all of those women, living and deceased, who have shaped you, formed you, and loved you.

Even though we will not be physically gathering together here at St. Lawrence Martyr for Mass on Mother’s Day, we will still be offering our annual Mother’s Day Mass and Novena. If you would like to remember someone at this Mass and during the novena, offering a spiritual bouquet in their name is a wonderful way to do so.

Those honored with a Spiritual Bouquet will be remembered and prayed during our Mother’s Day Novena Masses starting on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10th, for the nine days. Names of those you wish to remember and honor with a spiritual gift may be entered online on our website: www.stlm.org/mothers-day-novena/

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, you are the fairest fruit of God’s redeeming love; you sing of the Father’s mercy and accompany us with a mother’s love. In this time of pandemic we come to you, our sign of sure hope and comfort.

A Coronavirus Prayer

Loving God, Your desire is for our wholeness and well being. We hold in tenderness and prayer the collective suffering of our world at this time. We grieve precious lives lost and vulnerable lives threatened. We ache for ourselves and our neighbors, standing before an uncertain future. We pray: may love, not fear, go viral. Inspire our leaders to discern and choose wisely, aligned with the common good. Help us to practice social distancing and reveal to us new and creative ways to come together in spirit and in solidarity. Call us to profound trust in your faithful presence, You, the God who does not abandon. Amen

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DID YOU KNOW?

Open Arms Ministry

Help us reach sick or lonely persons in our parish to let them know they are loved, wanted, and worthy. Together, we can help them and their loved ones with friendly visits, light chores, or errands, and connect them with community resources. The Open Arms Ministry is here to help an individual or a family experiencing a challenging life event. Someone who might benefit from our support could be:

♦ Just diagnosed with a serious illness ♦ Getting treatment for a serious illness ♦ Frail because of old age ♦ Very ill with limited or no support ♦ Lonely and isolated ♦ Families needing help with a life-changing event

If you or someone you know would like a visit from the Open Arms Ministry, contact Didi Egnatuk at openarms@stlm.org or (310) 540-0329, extension 540.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING We see this warning in airports and schools, but experts say it’s also a great way for parents to think about Internet safety for their children. One of the best ways to protect children using the Internet is to actually engage with them in what they’re doing: play the games they play and check out their profile pages with them. Discuss online respect and rules for what can and cannot be shared. Regular conversa on and monitoring helps keep children safe online. For more informa on, read the ar cle by Catholic News Service, “Vigilance by parents and their children called key to safe internet use” at: h p://catholicphilly.com/2019/02/news/na onal-news/vigilance-by-parents-and-their-children-called-key-to-safe-internet-use/

Ministry to the Homebound Due to the present “Safer at Home” restrictions, we are suspending all pastoral visits to the sick, elderly and homebound unless there is dire necessity. We will reach out by phone so that we can keep in contact with them as much as possible. We are very concerned about the effects of social isolation on many of our parishioners and will be exploring innovative ways to create a sense of community without physically being present to one another. If you are aware of a sick, elderly and homebound parishioner who is in need, please contact our Parish Office by email at info@stlm.org or voice mail message at 310.540-0329.

DISCOVERING THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Hosted by Caterina Krai with Special Guests

New session posted online

EVERY WEDNESDAY | APRIL 22 - MAY 20 Posted on our parish website: stlm.org

AND RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH:

Online Bible Study Opportunity with St. John Fisher’s Bible Study Series

GROWING IN THE WORD – ONLINE: THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Grab your bible and a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (also available online if you do not have a printed copy at: ). Then go to the St. John Fisher parish website for this four part series at: h ps://sjf.org/faith-forma on/bible-studies/

Click on the chapter units to access the presenta on availa-ble online through their YouTube page:

Unit 1 – Revela on – Introduc on & Chapters 1 – 3 Unit 2 – Revela on – Chapters 4 – 11 Unit 3 – Revela on – Chapters 12 – 16 Unit 4 – Revela on – Chapters 17 – 22

WHAT WILL YOUR KIDS DO THIS SUMMER? If the Covid 19 restric ons are li ed, we will be having our SUMMER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP programs at St. Lawrence Martyr School:

JULY 6TH THROUGH JULY 31ST Summer School: 9:00 to 12:00

(with morning daycare beginning at 7:30 ) Summer Camp: Noon un l 6:00

CHECK OUT WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER: WWW.SLMSUMMERSCHOOL.ORG

(If we are unable to have our programs a full refund will be issued to you.)

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It’s s ll on with a new name: Virtual Walk for Life South Bay!

We can’t gather in person on May 16th but we can join together for a virtual event. For details visit supportphctorrance.org

and click the “Details” bu on. • • Walk 500 Crazy Steps (at least) and make a short video

of your best moves. • • Submit the video, and if you've raised at least $50,

your video will be entered in a virtual video contest. • • We'll hold a brief virtual event on May 16 at 8:30 a.m.

to say thanks to all of you, show the videos and announce a winner. (maybe more than one!)

Please contact us with any ques ons: (424) 263-4855 or administra on@phctorrance.org

FOOD PANTRY MINISTRY We are continuing our ministry to our Food Pantry clients and homeless or struggling sisters and brothers. Stringent hygiene and food handling

practices will be put in place. The Food Pantry will be open every Saturday morning 7:00am. Our shelves in the Food Pantry are getting bare. If you can help with a donation during this time of need, here is a list of items needed:

• Canned chili - 15 oz size • Spaghetti/Pasta - 1 lb box/package • Pasta Sauce • Peanut Butter • Tuna • Canned Vegetables - 15 oz size • Canned fruit - 15 oz size • Mac & Cheese • Soup • Bags of rice • Cereal – heathly choices please

We prepare bags of groceries for individual families and do not need the large cans of food – just more of the regular sized (14-19 oz) cans are perfect & needed. At this time, for the health and safety of our volunteers and those we serve, we will NOT be accepting clothing and non-food donations. Please do not leave these items at the Food Pantry garage door.

Thank you for your generosity as we serve those in need

WE HAVE MISSED YOU!

Do you need a religious gift? Are you needing a rosary?Perhaps we can help! We are here for you.

The Gift Shop is currently closed to the public; however, we are available by phone. (Calls are picked up on Tuesday & Thursdays)

Arrangements may be made to purchase items and pick them up curb side in front of the parish hall ~ all while you stay in your car.

CALL US…. (310)540-0329, extension 249

SLM FAITH ENRICHMENT SERIES During times such as this, we need our Spiritual Mother Mary. She is waiting to untie the many knots in our lives, in our church, in our country and in our world.

Please join us online for our Mary, Untier of Knots Series

A MOTHER’S TOUCH . . . MARY UNTIER OF KNOTS PRAY FOR US

Fridays during the Month of May May 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th

May 1st | Episode 1 - Spiritual Starvation with Music by René Ayala, Host Caterina Krai & Special Guest Gretchen Harris

We hope you will join as we ask our Mother to help untie our knots.

We will be recording a new episode each week focusing on a specific knot that we will ask Mary to untie for us. Episodes will be posted every Friday on our parish website: stlm.org