About St. Lawrence · Indianapolis, Indiana
St. Lawrence Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish on the east side of Indianapolis, Indiana, founded in 1949 as part of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The parish operates St. Lawrence Catholic School (PK-8) and serves approximately 1,440 families from its location on East 46th Street. With a mission to 'Go Make Disciples,' St. Lawrence offers daily and weekend Masses in English and Spanish, plus a Haitian Creole Mass, and supports ministries ranging from faith formation and a parish school to St. Vincent de Paul outreach and a Boy Scout troop.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- St. Lawrence
- Rector
- Rev. Vincent (Vinny) Gillmore
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
St. Lawrence is an active, prayerful, multicultural Catholic community on Indianapolis's east side where Mass is celebrated in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole every week, with a separate Korean Chapel also under parish care. Families can send children to the parish's PK-8 school (a former U.S. Dept. of Education Blue Ribbon school), grow in faith through year-round Religious Education / RCIA-style formation in both English and Spanish, and put their faith into action through the St. Vincent de Paul conference, Cathedral Soup Kitchen volunteering, Stitch Angels, Boy Scout Troop 427, and a parish Evangelization Team.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 6:00–6:45 pm
- Wednesday: 6:00–8:00 pm
- Thursday: 6:00–6:45 pm (before the 7 pm Mass)
- Friday: 8:15–9:00 am (before the 9:15 am Mass)
- Saturday: 3:30–4:15 pm (before the 4:30 pm Mass)
- Sunday: 7:00–7:45 am (before the 8 am Mass)
- Anytime by appointment
About St. Lawrence Parish
Saint Lawrence Catholic Church has been a parish on the east side of Indianapolis since 1949, working 'to be a beacon of hope to our neighborhood and a good representative of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.' The parish is officially bilingual, with the front page of its website greeting visitors in English ('Welcome'), Spanish ('Bienvenido'), and Haitian Creole ('Akeyi'). Its published mission statement reads: 'Saint Lawrence Parish is an active and prayerful Catholic Community enabled by the Holy Spirit to embrace all people with love and understanding.' The parish carries the motto 'Go Make Disciples' — rendered in English, Spanish (¡Vayan y Hagan Discípulos!), and Haitian Creole (Ale Fè Disip!). The Archdiocese of Indianapolis lists St. Lawrence as Parish #029, with about 1,440 registered families and a church capacity of 641.
- Founded 1949, Archdiocese of Indianapolis (Parish #029)
- Approx. 1,440 registered families
- Church capacity: 641
- Mailing address: 6944 E. 46th St., Indianapolis, IN 46226
- Physical/GPS address: 4650 N Shadeland Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46226
St. Lawrence Catholic School (PK-8)
An elementary school opened shortly after the parish was established and was originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, Indiana. Through the years the faculty has included both religious and lay teachers. Kindergarten was added in 1982, Early and Extended Care in 1991, preschool for three- and four-year-olds that same year, all-day Kindergarten in 1995–96, and the Kids-Care Day Ministry, which received state licensing in the fall of 2006. In 2017, Kids-Care became the first preschool attached to a Catholic grade school in Indiana to earn Level Four in the state's Paths to Quality rating system. St. Lawrence Catholic School was recognized as a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School / National School of Excellence in 1994 and again in 2006. Total enrollment is about 222 students.
- PK-8 parish school, ~222 students
- Principal: Andy Maxson ([email protected])
- Phone: 317-377-4983; Fax: 317-492-9663
- Address: 6950 E. 46th St., Indianapolis, IN 46226
- Motto: 'We Champion Our Faith, Our Family, Our Future.'
- Colors: crimson and white; mascot: a Ram
- Blue Ribbon / National School of Excellence 1994 and 2006
- Kids-Care Day Ministry — first Catholic-school preschool in Indiana to reach Paths to Quality Level Four (2017)
Clergy and Staff
St. Lawrence is led by Fr. Vinny Gillmore, Pastor, with Fr. Baudelaire Martial, CSC, serving as Associate Pastor. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis listing also identifies Rev. Byungio (Peter) Kim as Parochial Vicar for the Korean Community at the parish's separate Korean Chapel (7536 E. 46th St., 317-542-0863). Lay staff include a Business & Facilities Manager, Director of Religious Education, school Principal, financial and administrative associates, and a maintenance team. Parish Council chairs are Ron Christensen and Sara Elizabeth Garcia.
- Fr. Vinny Gillmore — Pastor (ext. 321)
- Fr. Baudelaire Martial, CSC — Associate Pastor (ext. 337)
- Fr. Byungio (Peter) Kim — Korean Community / Korean Chapel
- Andy Ritter — Business & Facilities Manager (ext. 348)
- Patrick Duggins — School Principal (317-377-4983)
- Claudia Diaz — Director of Religious Education (ext. 336)
- Ainara Gutiérrez — Pastoral Executive Assistant (ext. 340)
- Kim Czachura — Administrative Assistant (ext. 332)
- Christine Lucas — Financial Associate (ext. 341)
- German Gonzalez — Financial Associate (ext. 323)
- Ernest Blake — Maintenance
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation is offered for first grade through adulthood, with registration typically running through the end of September. Programs are available in both English and Spanish. Claudia Diaz serves as Director of Religious Education (Faith Formation) and is the contact for Spanish-language faith formation (317-418-5692). The parish also runs Bienvenido / Welcome retreats twice a year (spring and fall) in Spanish, with ongoing Bienvenido men's and women's groups meeting for prayer, fellowship, and retreat planning.
- Religious Education (English) — contact parish office
- Formación en la fe (Spanish) — Claudia Diaz, 317-418-5692
- Bienvenido/Welcome retreats (Spanish) — twice yearly, spring & fall
- Bienvenido men's and women's follow-up groups
Liturgy Ministries
The parish recruits and trains lay liturgical ministers to assist at every Mass. Ministries cover the full liturgical life of the parish, from welcoming worshippers at the door to preparing the sanctuary and altar.
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Music Ministers
- Ushers
- Greeters
- Environment
- Sacristans
Outreach and Parish Life
St. Lawrence runs an active social-outreach and parish-life program. The parish St. Vincent de Paul Conference assists parishioners, school families, and neighbors within parish boundaries with food and household essentials, sponsors Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets and gift cards, and provides mercy meals after funeral Masses. Parishioners volunteer every six weeks at the Cathedral Soup Kitchen. The Stitch Angels craft group makes handmade blankets for the Holy Family Homeless Shelter on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 1:00 to 2:30 pm in the church social room. Boy Scout Troop 427 meets Wednesday evenings in Fr. Conen Hall. A monthly Coffee & Donuts is hosted in the social room after the 10:00 am Sunday Mass on a free-will offering basis.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — food baskets, mercy meals, gift cards
- Cathedral Soup Kitchen — volunteers every 6 weeks
- Stitch Angels — blankets for Holy Family Homeless Shelter (2nd & 4th Wed, 1:00–2:30 pm)
- Boy Scout Troop 427 — Wednesday evenings, Fr. Conen Hall
- Coffee & Donuts after 10:00 am Sunday Mass (monthly)
- Parish Evangelization Team — 'Go Make Disciples'
Senior Ministry — The Goldenaires
The Goldenaires is a seniors' group (members are 50+) that meets once a month at Westminster Village North (11050 Presbyterian Dr.). The group started meeting in 196_, and current dues are $8 per member per year. The gathering follows a familiar pattern: arrive 10:30 am and sign in, pray the rosary at 11:00 am, attend 11:30 am Mass, then meet and fellowship until dismissal at 2:00 pm. Contact Ann Schwall at (317) 373-0718.
- For seniors 50+
- Monthly at Westminster Village North, 11050 Presbyterian Dr.
- 11:00 am Rosary, 11:30 am Mass, 12:45 pm meeting, 2:00 pm dismissal
- Dues $8/year; contact Ann Schwall (317) 373-0718
Korean Chapel
A separate Korean Chapel associated with the parish and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis is located at 7536 E. 46th St., Indianapolis, IN 46226 (phone: 317-542-0863). It is served by Rev. Byungio (Peter) Kim as Parochial Vicar for the Korean Community.
- 7536 E. 46th St., Indianapolis, IN 46226
- 317-542-0863
- Served by Rev. Byungio (Peter) Kim
Parish Leadership
The parish is governed by a Parish Leadership Team (PLT) supported by several commissions and councils. The Pastoral Council and Finance Council provide governance, while the Stewardship Commission and Spiritual Life and Faith Formation Commission shepherd parish priorities. Parish Council chairs are Ron Christensen and Sara Elizabeth Garcia.
- Parish Leadership Team (PLT)
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Stewardship Commission
- Spiritual Life and Faith Formation Commission
Contact and Visiting
Parish Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 am–5:00 pm (closed 1:00–2:00 pm for lunch) and Friday 9:00 am–1:00 pm. The main parish number is 317-974-9226, with a separate Hispanic Ministry line at 317-418-5692 and an Emergency line at 317-987-7818. Email the parish office at [email protected]. Newcomers can click 'I'm New' on the parish homepage for next steps.
- Phone: 317-974-9226
- Hispanic Ministry: 317-418-5692
- Emergency: 317-987-7818
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9–5 (closed 1–2), Fri 9–1
- Korean Chapel: 7536 E. 46th St., 317-542-0863