Home blessings began on Friday Jan. 6, and will continue until Thursday, Jan.12. Parishioners who signed up for their home to be blessed should have received notification regarding the day and time scheduled for the priest’s visit.
If you did not receive email notification about the scheduling of your home’s blessing, please email: 
During the priest’s visit to the homes to be blessed this week, the priest will sprinkle and incense your house, and mark the front door (or doors) with chalk. This tradition commemorates the visitation of the three Magi to the Holy Family in Bethlehem. A priest visits the home, blessing each room (or at least, whichever rooms you would like him to bless) with Epiphany water and incense. The main entrance of the home is then marked with the initials of the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, and 20+C+M+B+23, the code of the current year (2023) connected with crosses. The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi; and second, they abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.” Taken together, this inscription is performed as a request for Christ to bless the home, and that He abide with all those who dwell therein throughout the year.
In Cathedral and other principal Churches, after the Gospel has been sung, the approaching Feast of Easter Sunday is solemnly announced to the people. This custom, which dates from the earliest ages of the Church, shows both the mysterious connection which unites the great Solemnities of the year one with another, and the importance the Faithful ought to attach to the celebration of that which is the greatest of all, and the center of all Religion. After having honored the King of the universe on the Epiphany, we shall have to celebrate him on the day which is now announced to us, as the conqueror of death. The following is the formula used for this solemn announcement:
Know, dearly beloved Brethren, that by the mercy of God, as we have been rejoicing in the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, so also do we announce unto you the joy of the Resurrection of the same our Saviour.
• Septuagesima Sunday will be on the 5th day of February.
• Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the fast of most Holy Lent will be on the 22nd of February.
• On the 9th of April we shall celebrate with joy the holy Pasch of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ will be on the 18th of May.
• The Feast of Pentecost on the 28th of May.
• The Feast of Corpus Christi on the 8th of June.
• On the 3rd of December will occur the First Sunday of the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom are honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
As mentioned on Christmas Day, by God's grace we have been given the opportunity to restore the crucifix original to St. Lawrence, back to our beautiful church. We had this wooden cross lifted up and installed above the sanctuary on Thursday, Dec. 29, the fifth day in the Octave of Christmas.
We are very grateful to all of the people at the chancery of the Diocese of
Harrisburg, the education officials, as well as the priests and our bishop who made this possible. This also would not have been possible without the help of several people in our parish, including Mr. Fred Shibler and many of his family members who did the delicate work of moving, elevating, and securing this crucifix, which at 11-feet tall and 6-feet wide, also weighs several hundred pounds.
Please offer a Hail Mary for all of those who made this possible.
Note the photos below showing the cross how it looks now after its installation, and as it looked in our church a century ago. In honor of this glorious occasion, the choir will sing Vexilla Regis, the hymn from the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14), at the High Mass on Sunday during the Offertory.
Here is a time-lapse video of the work done to raise the cross.
There are many times each week when the Faithful can assist at both the Divine Office and at High Mass at the parish. Vespers is sung on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 5:00 pm (and while we try never to the schedule for Vespers, usually when one priest is gone from the parish, Vespers is prayed in private, but this is noted on schedule for the Divine Office).
The St. Lawrence Choir sings at the 11 am Sunday Mass where one can hear Gregorian chant propers and polyphonic works from composers such as Victoria, Palestrina, Lassus and more.
Sunday Vespers is at 5:00 pm followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.
The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) recently purchased the building at 112 State Street, which adjacent to St. Lawrence Church, which is at 110 State Street. The 8,700 square feet of additional space provide much space for class rooms, parish events, meeting space, entertaining, and offices.
We hope to move the parish library to the new space, which would be a beautiful room, accessible seven days per week, and have natural sunlight.
The building is also accessible for the disabled, including a fully functional service elevator.
The parish will have free use of the building (though responsible for utilities, insurance, etc.) until June 30, 2027, at which time it will need to decide whether to purchase or vacate the space.