 | BAPTISM...Parents-to-be
must call the parish office and arrange to participate in the baptismal
preparation program. The parental instruction session is a required part in
the arrangement for the baptism of your child.
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| BAPTISMAL PREPARATION PROGRAM...In order for parents to be thoroughly aware of
the content of the sacrament of baptism and the extreme importance of the
commitment which is involved, parents, both new and experienced, are
required to attend a baptismal preparation session. This session is
conducted by lay couples under the guidance of the priests and deacons.
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| FIRST HOLY COMMUNION AND FIRST
RECONCILIATION...
Are celebrated in the 2nd grade, following a two-year
preparation coordinated by the religious education program. Parents play an
active role in this program. Adults who have not yet received these
sacraments should contact one of the priests.
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CONFIRMATION...Is celebrated once a year in conjunction with the
8th grade
religious education program. Any adults who have not been confirmed should
contact one of the priests.
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ADULT CATECHUMENATE... The rite of Christian initiation for adults (R.C.I.A.)
is an instructional and group participation course in the Catholic faith. It
includes instruction in the tenets of Catholicism, prayer, and the Christian
life. It is taught annually at St. Lawrence O’Toole, and is intended for
adults seeking entrance to the Catholic faith through baptism, confirmation
and first holy communion. It is also intended for those adults who have
already been initiated into the church, but who have not had any further
formation or expression of the faith.
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| MARRIAGE...The Archdiocese
of Chicago asks that a minimum of 4 months be set aside for marriage
preparation. Call the parish office to make arrangements.
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MARRIAGE
PREPARATION/PRE-CANA...Pre-Cana is an
important part of one’s marriage preparation, and is attended only after a
couple’s interview with the parish priest. It is facilitated by married
couples from the parish and a priest.
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| KINGDOM
RETREAT...A lay-directed retreat
program for the parish.
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| MINISTRY OF PRAISE...St. Lawrence O’Toole is fortunate to have a
large number of ministers of praise. These individuals focus certain parts
of every day in prayer for
intentions suggested monthly by the pastor as well as prayer requests by
fellow-parishioners. Many members of our parish who are home-bound or
nursing home residents participate in this powerful ministry.
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| PRAYER GROUP...Our prayer group meets weekly to share in
charismatic prayer and song.
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SCRIPTURE
STUDY/LITTLE ROCK...Study guides based
on the Sunday scriptures are available through the parish office for
independent study; small groups are formed for this purpose during the
Lenten season. St. Lawrence O’Toole also offers the Little Rock scripture
study program twice each year. This focuses on individual books of the bible
through lecture and small group discussion.
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| LITURGY TEAM...Is the people in the pews, giving input needed
by the celebrant for good, effective and prayerful celebrations. The main
areas of concern for the team is twofold: to assist the priest as celebrant
in preparing good liturgies; and to develop the themes of the major
liturgical seasons in order to make them come alive for the worshiping
community.
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| MINISTERS OF CARE...Bring
Holy Communion to those unable to join in the parish celebration at Mass.
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| COUPLES
TO COUPLES...An experience- and
faith-sharing group for married couples of the parish.
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| SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER...We are blessed to have a chapter of the Secular
Franciscan Order. These are lay people who seek to live more fully the
gospel message in their daily lives by following a rule of life envisioned
by St. Francis of Assisi, which is to bring “the gospel to life and life
to the gospel.”
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