The Good News (Gospel) is that Jesus Christ is right in the middle of our broken and dark world, bringing His grace and love right into the heart of our brokenness! That is the very reality of the Nativity, which we celebrate each year, namely that Jesus Christ did not shy away from the brokenness and mess of humanity (and the brokenness and mess of our lives, personally), but rather, out of his perfect love for us, became one of us in the Incarnation to enter into that human wound caused by sin in order to bring healing, grace, and salvation. Jesus Christ is “The light [that] shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5). Even in the midst of the darkness around us, the Light, Jesus Christ, is present and we can see His grace at work in our world too!

Often we see other people who proclaim the Gospel differently from us as a threat to us and the mission of Evangelization and respond as John and the other disciples did when they found a man casting out demons in the name of Jesus: by trying to prevent them from doing what they are doing. For us that often takes the form of gossip, which is meant to destroy the reputation of another person and cause them to quit doing what they are doing (even if it's what God is asking them to do). We do this because in our pride and selfishness we see others and their differences as threats to us rather than seeing them as Christ does: as fellow disciples in the mission of Evangelization. We must be willing to look into our hearts and recognize what causes us to sin in this way and cut it out of our hearts; evil thoughts towards one another must be rooted out and given to God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Once we are able to give our sinfulness to God in the Sacraments, we will be able to be more united to one another and further the Gospel in our world today and head towards our ultimate goal of eternal life in Heaven.

The St. Laurence O'Toole Food Truck Festival at Undine Park was a huge success and brought the community together in a way like no other. People were able to connect to each other, deepening relationships, and eat some truly spectacular food from our local food trucks, plus get hayrides and play on the playground. The event really brought together our parish community and the wider Laramie community for food, fellowship, and fun!

Hey everyone! Let us all get together as a parish and wider Laramie community for food, fun, and fellowship on June 27th from 4 to 8 pm at Undine Park! We will have lots of food trucks with delicious food for everyone to enjoy, and numerous summer activities. The playground and splash pad will be available for the kids, and hayrides will be offered for the whole family at no cost. So, please bring family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to try fantastic food and celebrate being able to get together again! All are welcome! Hosted by St. Laurence O'Toole Catholic Church.

Lent and Ash Wednesday are upon us already this year! To say that this year will look slightly different that last is quite the understatement. In order to help facilitate how this year will look different I wanted to lay out just a couple changes that are taking place, one because of the restrictions due to COVID-19 (but stays within the realm of what is traditionally done!) and the other change that is happening due to a continuation of improvements made to the English translation of the Roman Missal from Latin.

Interested in volunteering at St. Laurence O'Toole? We are in need of ushers who would be willing to help seat people at Mass to help everyone find a seat with the COVID restrictions. We need ushers at every weekend Mass as we are growing in numbers and want every family to find seat safely without having to stand in the back. If you are interested, please call Becky at the parish office (307) 745-3115 for more information. God bless you!

The Solemnity for Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is a feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Wednesday, January 1st! Please join us for Mass at either 5:30 p.m. on Thursday (12-31-20), or Friday at 9:00 a.m. (1-1-21). We look forward to celebrating Mass with you. God Bless!

This year of 2020 has truly feels like a mess, for the world and for each of us personally.  2020 has felt like a desert for all of us because of the dryness and isolation we have been forced into because of the pandemic. And yet, even so, Jesus has entered and wants to enter into that mess and dryness of our lives in this crazy year and, in fact, every day of our lives! That is what he revealed to us through the Nativity, he doesn't shy away from the mess, but wants to enter into it and redeem it both and a large scale, but also on the scale of our hearts. Jesus wants to give you His very self, receive Him, receive the very best Christmas present in the entire universe this year!

On Gaudete Sunday (the 3rd Sunday of Advent), St. Laurence O’Toole hosted a parish hayride as a way to anticipate the joy of Christmas in this time of waiting. Our hayride was a smashing success! We had 156 people attend and everyone had a lovely time together, riding across Laramie singing Christmas Carols all the while. We would like to thank all our volunteers who made this event special, especially: The team who devoted their time, resources, and efforts to provide the hayride itself, Sigma Nu who have been a significant blessing to our church, the crew who served hot chocolate and sang beautifully on the wagons, and our Religious Education team who did a tremendous job (as usual). Thank you one and all!

Everything around us beginning on December 17 (regardless of the week of Advent it falls in) reflects this final push to Christmas, most especially the liturgy in which we celebrate. One way in which the liturgy continues to point to the coming of the Messiah is in the “O” Antiphons. These antiphons are unique to these days (December 17-23) and are called “O” antiphons because each antiphon begins with “O” and precedes a title for the Messiah taken from the Old Testament prophets (mainly Isaiah).  These antiphons express the longing for the coming of the Messiah in ancient Israel, but also in our own lives today.

Blessed Advent and Christmas to you all! Please click here to read my Christmas letter to our parishioners!

Calling all 7th graders who have not yet been Confirmed! Confirmation class starts on Tuesday, January 12th, and will be held in the basement of the church from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday (apart from Spring and Easter breaks) concluding with Confirmation Mass on Friday, April 23, 2021. Please contact the parish office: (307) 745-3115 or Ava (aohollearn@stlaurenceotool.org) for more information or to request a Confirmation packet. We look forward to helping you grow in your faith as you prepare to receive the Holy Spirit! God Bless!

The Solemnity for the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is on Tuesday, December 8! Please join us for Mass at either 8am or 5:30pm that day.

Come one, come all, and join the fun and fellowship during our Christmas hayride. It will be on 12-13-20 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the church. Dress warm and be prepared to sing Christmas carols. Hot chocolate will be provided, and strict safety protocols are required, but let us be thankful for the opportunity to celebrate Christmas! God bless.

In an effort to keep our faith community safe and healthy, we’re inviting parishioners to pick up their own personal copies of the Heritage Missal for use at home or in the church. Join us for each cele-bration and continue to actively participate in the liturgy. The Missals are available now! The parish has purchased 150 copies of the missal to distribute.  If you would like one, please either pick one up after Mass (ask Fr. Andrew) or call the parish office.  We can and will obtain more copies as are needed in the parish and will then pass them out to all who want them. The parish is purchasing the missals and you are welcome to drop a small donation in the collection box for the missals.

The Diocese of Cheyenne has learned that Laramie residents did not receive the September issue of the Wyoming Catholic Register. The U.S. Postal Service is investigating how this problem occurred. You may view an electronic copy of the publication by going to following link.

Father Andrew has started a youth group at St. Laurence. The group will be for those students who are Confirmed through high school. Youth group will meet Thursdays from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm in the basement of the church. Ava O'Hollearn will be leading the youth group as well. For any questions or more infor- mation, please call Ava at 745-3115.

Due to program changes that would affect consistency in air time for televised Masses on KLWY in Cheyenne, the Diocese of Cheyenne will move permanently to KKTQ in Chey- enne, where Mass will air Sundays at 9 am. Televised Masses will continue to air Sundays at 9 am on KTWO out of Casper.