St Laurence’s Celebrates Patronal Feast

Parishioners at St Laurence’s came together for a joyful celebration of their patron saint on Sunday August 9.

At all Sunday Masses, the parish celebrated the Feast of St Laurence in anticipation, giving the community an opportunity to honour their patron and give thanks for his example of faith, courage and service.

The celebrations also included a particularly happy occasion as a couple received a special blessing to mark more than 50 years of marriage, with fellow parishioners joining them in giving thanks for their many years together.

Following the Masses, Parish Priest Fr Robin Joseph CRM and parishioners continued the festivities with a Bring and Share BBQ. It was a fitting, if slightly cheeky, choice for a parish dedicated to St Laurence, a deacon of Rome who was martyred in 258 and is traditionally believed to have met his death on a gridiron.

The afternoon had the atmosphere of a true parish celebration. Karaoke gave the more musically confident members of the congregation an opportunity to perform, while bubbles entertained the children and more than a few adults.

The gathering also provided a valuable opportunity for people who usually attend different Masses to meet, talk and enjoy one another’s company, strengthening the sense of belonging to one parish family.

Fr Robin added a personal touch to the celebrations by showing parishioners around his vegetable and herb garden, the fruit of many months of hard work. Guests were able to see the plants he has been nurturing, with plenty of admiration for what had been grown.

It was a fitting celebration of a saint remembered for his generosity, courage and good humour, and a joyful reminder that a parish feast day is also an opportunity to celebrate the faith and fellowship of the whole parish community.

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