About St. Lawrence, the Martyr · San Antonio, Texas
St. Lawrence, the Martyr Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish on San Antonio's South Side, founded in 1959 as a daughter parish of St. Leo's and named after the early Roman martyr and deacon Saint Lawrence. The parish serves a vibrant, multi-generational community in the 78221 ZIP code, celebrating Mass in both English and Spanish daily and on Sundays, with a robust schedule of sacraments, faith formation (RCIA/RCIC), choirs, and lay ministries. It belongs to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio and is currently pastored by Rev. Arnold Ibarra, PhD, assisted by Deacons Nestor Huizar, Jose Hernandez, and Charles Pope (Retired).
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- Saint Lawrence (St. Lawrence, early Roman deacon and martyr, d. 258 AD)
- Rector
- Rev. Arnold Ibarra, PhD
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. Lawrence is a bilingual parish family grounded in faith, united in hope, and enriched by the gifts of each person, where members are called through Baptism to follow Christ, proclaim the Gospel, and grow in a personal relationship with Jesus. The parish offers ten weekly Masses (English and Spanish), daily and weekend confession, Eucharistic Adoration, a full sacramental life (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Quinceañera), RCIA/RCIC for adults and children, four parish choirs, lay ministries (Lectors, Ministers of Communion, altar servers) and a Sacred Heart of Jesus Gift Shop. It is a parish where the laity are explicitly invited to 'serve at the altar, proclaim the Word, welcome the stranger, lead in song, assist in charity.'
Mass times at St. Lawrence, the Martyr
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
- Tuesday – Thursday: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered (see parish website for current schedule)
History of St. Lawrence Catholic Church
St. Lawrence was established in September 1959 as a daughter parish of St. Leo's Catholic Church to serve the South Side of San Antonio. In February 1959, five acres were acquired, and by April two additional acres had been purchased for the church site. The first sacraments were received in October 1959, and the church was dedicated on July 10, 1960 by Msgr. J. L. Manning, Archdiocesan Chancellor. Archbishop Robert E. Lucey personally negotiated the construction contracts — including union-wage provisions that made St. Lawrence a notable example of his organized-labor reform in San Antonio. A parish rectory was contracted in April 1965, and in the early years a former building from Lackland Air Force Base (No. 3605) was relocated to the parish to provide four classrooms, a workshop, storage and restrooms.
- Established: September 1959 (daughter parish of St. Leo's)
- Patron: St. Lawrence, early Roman deacon and martyr
- Land acquired: February 1959 (5 acres) + April 1959 (2 additional acres)
- First sacraments: October 1959
- Church dedicated: July 10, 1960 by Msgr. J. L. Manning
- Rectory contracted: April 1965 under Archbishop Robert E. Lucey
- Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary arrived in 1962 to organize the parish school
Renovations and Most Recent Constructions
On June 21, 1992, Archbishop Patrick Flores officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony for a new education center — together with Fr. Adolfo Valdivia and Deacon Jose Hernandez. The building, which housed new classrooms and the parish administration center, was dedicated on March 6, 1993. As the parish continued to grow, a larger church was needed, and on August 10, 1998 — the feast day of Saint Lawrence the Martyr — the parish broke ground for a new church building. Only one year and eight months later, on April 16, 2000, Archbishop Patrick Flores dedicated the new church.
- 1992-06-21: Ground-breaking for the new education center (Flores, Valdivia, Dcn. Hernandez)
- 1993-03-06: Dedication of the education center
- 1998-08-10: Ground-breaking for the new church — on the feast of St. Lawrence
- 2000-04-16: Dedication of the new church by Archbishop Patrick Flores
Mission Statement
St. Lawrence the Martyr Catholic Church describes itself as 'a parish family grounded in faith, united in hope, and enriched by the gifts of each person.' Through Baptism, the community is called to follow Christ, proclaim the Gospel, and grow in a personal relationship with Jesus as members journey together in faith. The parish entrusts itself to the intercession of St. Lawrence: 'St. Lawrence, Pray for Us.'
Our Staff
The parish is led by its Pastor and assisted by three deacons, an administrative team, and a Director of Religious Education. The parish also runs a gift shop staffed by a parishioner volunteer.
- Rev. Arnold Ibarra, PhD — Pastor
- Deacon Nestor Huizar
- Deacon Jose Hernandez
- Deacon Charles Pope (Retired)
- Alice Ortiz — Assistant to the Pastor (210-924-4404 ext. 104)
- Yolanda Gutierrez — Parish Bookkeeper (210-924-4401 ext. 103)
- Dina Ruiz — Sacramental Clerk Volunteer
- Mary Zavala — DRE, Religious Education Office
- Linda Ramos — Sacred Heart Gift Shop
- Celia Garza — Housekeeping (Church)
Sacraments
St. Lawrence strictly follows the requirements of Canon Law and the Archdiocese of San Antonio in the celebration of the sacraments. Information on each sacrament — Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Quinceañera, and Holy Orders — is published in both English and Spanish.
- Baptism: 2nd Sunday 1:30 PM Spanish; 4th Sunday 1:30 PM English; prep class 3rd Wednesdays 6:30 PM
- First Communion & Confirmation: through the Religious Education program (children 7+ via RCIC)
- RCIA — Becoming Catholic: for adults
- Matrimony: meet the Pastor at least 6 months in advance; 'Juntos Para Toda La Vida' required
- Quinceañera (XV Años): 5-session preparation course required
- Priesthood & Diaconate (Holy Orders): inquiries directed to Pastor or Archdiocesan Vocation Office (210-735-0553)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Religious Education Office, led by Mary Zavala (DRE), coordinates sacramental preparation for children, RCIA for adults, and the RCIC program for children 7 years and older who have not been baptized. The office is reached at 210-924-6470. Children seeking First Communion and Confirmation enroll through this office, presenting a birth certificate at registration.
- RCIA — Becoming Catholic (adults)
- RCIC — Religious Education for children 7+ not yet baptized
- First Communion & Confirmation preparation
- Phone: 210-924-6470
Quinceañera Preparation (XV Años)
Young women wishing to celebrate the Quinceañera blessing at St. Lawrence must be practicing Catholics who have received the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation), must be enrolled in or attending Religious Education classes in preparation for Confirmation, attend Mass regularly, belong to the parish (or live within parish boundaries), and complete a five-session Quinceañera course. Those enrolled in Religious Education programs outside St. Lawrence must present a signed letter from their parish's DRE or pastor.
- 5-session Quinceañera course required
- Must belong to St. Lawrence or live within parish boundaries
- Letter from outside DRE/pastor required if enrolled elsewhere
Baptism
Baptisms follow strict Archdiocesan guidelines. Parents must present the child's birth certificate; godparents must be 18 or older, practicing Catholics in good standing who have received all three Sacraments of Initiation (and, if married, must be married by the Catholic Church). Single godparents must present Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion certificates; married godparents need only their Catholic marriage certificate. Parents and godparents must attend a preparatory class on the third Wednesday of every month at 6:30 PM. A letter of permission is required if the family belongs to another parish.
- 2nd Sunday: 1:30 PM (Spanish)
- 4th Sunday: 1:30 PM (English)
- Prep class: 3rd Wednesdays, 6:30 PM
- Godparent requirements per Canon Law
Matrimony (Marriage)
Couples must make an appointment with the Pastor at least six months before the wedding date to begin marriage preparation. They must provide an updated Baptism certificate with marginal notations (or recent First Communion and Confirmation certificates if notations are missing), a civil marriage license, and must purchase the book 'Juntos Para Toda La Vida.' The couple must go to Confession one week before the wedding, and all music must be approved by the Pastor two weeks prior to the ceremony. Texas law requires a Bexar County marriage license issued 72+ hours before the ceremony; the license is valid for 90 days.
- Minimum 6 months lead time
- Required book: 'Juntos Para Toda La Vida'
- Music approval by Pastor 2 weeks before ceremony
- Confession required 1 week before wedding
Music Ministries & Choirs
St. Lawrence has a vibrant, bilingual music program with four parish choirs serving different Masses and devotion styles. Contact the parish office or any choir director after Mass for more information.
- Saturday Vigil Choir (Adult, English) — Robert and Roger Salinas
- Adult English Choir
- Coro de Ultreya — Gilberto Chavez
- Coro en Español — Ana Moreno
Lectors and Ministers of Communion
Lectors proclaim the Word of God during the Liturgy of the Word; any community member with capacity for good public speaking is welcome, provided they are practicing Catholics with reverence for the Mass and the Word. They must attend formation workshops and follow schedules and dress codes set by the Pastor or coordinators. Ministers of Communion assist with distribution of Holy Communion at Mass. Coordinators: Leonor Delgado (English Masses), Laura Guajardo (Spanish Masses) — both reached via the parish office.
- Lector / Commentator coordinator (English): Leonor Delgado
- Lector / Commentator coordinator (Spanish): Laura Guajardo
- Ministers of Communion — lay faithful serving at the altar
A Call to Serve — Lay Ministries
The parish frames ministry as an essential, irreplaceable role of the lay faithful: 'The Eucharist is not something we attend — it is something we enter into. And entering into it means offering ourselves.' The parish publishes both an English and Spanish interest form and invites parishioners to 'serve at the altar, proclaim the Word, welcome the stranger, lead in song, assist in charity.'
- Submit Ministry Interest Form (English)
- Submit Ministry Interest Form (Spanish)
- Indispensable ministries of the lay faithful
- Distinct forms of service according to vocation
Holy Orders — Priesthood & Diaconate
Young men 18 and older discerning the priesthood may contact the Pastor, Fr. Arnold Ibarra, at 210-924-4401, or the Archdiocesan Vocation Office (2600 W. Woodlawn Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78228; 210-735-0553; [email protected]). The Vocation Office is led by Rev. Fr. Edward Gonzales (Director) and Sr. Ana Cecilia Montalvo Villanueva, FSpS (Assistant Director). Married or single men discerning the diaconate are invited to begin formation through the same parish contact. The parish also asks for prayers for the 16 seminarians currently in formation at Assumption Seminary.
- Priesthood inquiries: Pastor or Archdiocesan Vocation Office
- Director of Vocations: Rev. Fr. Edward Gonzales
- Assistant Vocation Director: Sr. Ana Cecilia Montalvo Villanueva, FSpS
- 16 seminarians at Assumption Seminary prayed for
Contact & Office Information
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM). For weekend or holiday emergencies, email [email protected]. The parish operates a Religious Education Office (210-924-6470) and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Gift Shop (210-924-4026).
- Address: 236 E. Petaluma Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78221
- Parish Office: 210-924-4401; Fax: 210-924-4075
- Office email: [email protected]
- Religious Education: 210-924-6470
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Gift Shop: 210-924-4026
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM)
Sacred Heart of Jesus Gift Shop
The parish operates the Sacred Heart of Jesus Gift Shop, staffed by parishioner Linda Ramos. The shop is a long-standing part of parish life and can be reached at 210-924-4026.
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Gift Shop — 210-924-4026
- Staffed by Linda Ramos
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Oscar Huber, C.M.1959
Pastor of St. Leo's who suggested the parish boundary when St. Lawrence was established as a daughter parish.
- Rev. Robert Loganearly 1960s
Early pastor during initial construction and dedication of the church under Archbishop Lucey; oversaw renovations and classroom additions in 1963–66.
- Fr. Adolfo Valdivia1992
Co-officiated at the June 21, 1992 ground-breaking for the new education center with Archbishop Flores and Deacon Jose Hernandez.