Dear Faithful of St. Lawrence and Friends of Our Parish,
From the moment the Mater Dei Community was entrusted to the care of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, it has been our responsibility to lead the community in the worship of God using the traditional patrimony of the Church, especially through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We are also responsible for guiding your souls towards heaven through the administration of the sacraments, but also through preaching, and the many pastoral activities that help make our parish such a vibrant home.
From the time that Bishop erected us as a proper parish, you had a permanent spiritual home of your own in this diocese giving you a chance to live out your Catholic Faith in a normal parochial setting as your ancestors have done for countless centuries, enriched by the traditional forms of the sacraments.
Mortgage of $1.5 million to buy the Church
When we were later given the opportunity in 2022 to purchase St. Lawrence Church from the cathedral parish with the help of a $1.5 million loan from the diocese, the most important piece of our parish life was firmly established: not only did we have a normal parish structure (where children could receive First Holy Communion and Confirmation and where traditional weddings and requiems could be held) but also a church—and a most glorious church at that—in which the ancient, sacred rites could be celebrated in peace.
Many from the parish will recall that special time in January and February of 2022 when the future of the FSSP was not certain. Our superiors asked us to join them in a novena from Feb. 2 to 10, unable to announce publicly that two of our priests would meet with Pope Francis on Feb. 4.
At the end of January, we were also not sure about the purchase of the church, and we asked you to join us in a novena for that intention. Also, all at the same time, purchasing 112 State Street became a possibility, but we certainly did not have the resources, so we turned to the FSSP to ask them to buy it for us until we could raise the money to purchase it from them. The FSSP had never done something exactly like that before. We asked you to join us in a novena for that intention as well.
Three overlapping novenas
During those weeks we ended up praying all three novenas, sometimes overlapping with each other, and the Lord wondrously granted all three intentions: with Pope Francis issuing a special decree for the FSSP on Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady Immaculate of Lourdes; Bp. Gainer and his College of Consultors agreeing to the sale and 100-percent financing of St. Lawrence Church; and the FSSP’s North American Province agreeing to purchase 112 State Street and giving us five years of free use of the property with the option to buy it at the end.
Prayers answered
It was an amazing time to see the work of the Lord in our parish’s life, and we rejoice now in the blessings received then that we still experience every day here at our parish.
We are so grateful for the security granted to the FSSP and to be a parish with a full sacramental life according to the traditional forms of the sacraments and ability to worship God in such a noble way. We are grateful to have a church with so much beauty, which induces us to pray. We are also grateful for the beautifully renovated parish center at 112 State Street, which allows so much of our parish life to thrive, providing class rooms, a library, a bookstore, offices, reception rooms, storage and more.
We are confident that God, who began a good work in us will see it to completion. With this harvest of blessings comes the practical responsibility of caring for the buildings that God has entrusted to us, which support our parish life and allow our mission to thrive.
Five years are coming to an end
The Generation to Generations Capital Campaign is a response to that responsibility. It is not undertaken simply for expansion, nor for short-term gain, but to address real and longstanding needs. Thanks to the generosity of the FSSP, we’ve had free use of the parish center at 112 State Street for three and a half years, which means that the five-year deadline is fast approaching. Parishioners have told us that securing it for the parish is their top financial priority.
Seeking to be debt free
Similarly, due to the purchase of the church building, we have a substantial mortgage, and parishioners would like to see the parish be debt-free. Along with important repairs to the church and social hall, and expansion of rectory space, these are necessary projects that will allow St. Lawrence to remain stable and suitable for ministry in the years ahead, and lay the ground work for future growth.
Sacrifices for the future
This campaign asks us to think beyond our own time. Those who came before us made sacrifices so that this parish could exist as it does today. We are now asked to do the same for those who will worship here in the future. Through thoughtful stewardship and generous sacrifice, we can help ensure that St. Lawrence continues to serve as a worthy place for the worship of God and the formation of Catholic life.
As you read through this case statement, I ask you to prayerfully consider how you may take part according to your means.
In corde Iesu,
Rev. James M. Smith, FSSP
Pastor