Mission

The mission of our community is rooted in Jesus the Christ. This mission is to hear, respond to and proclaim the word of God as found in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. Through the Sunday Eucharist we are called to on-going conversion and personal spiritual formation.

As a community, we are challenged to provide mutual support for a Catholic Christian lifestyle and are empowered to use our gifts to minister to the needs of others. We commit ourselves to the beatitudes, to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and to minister to the larger communities in which we live and work.

We respect the dignity of every person, at all ages and stages of life. We hand on our Catholic heritage through catechesis, worship, service and witness.

In carrying out this mission we further the kingdom of God in our midst.

History

At the time the North Highlands post office was established, in 1951, there were approximately 150 residents in the community, the majority of them living in the two new subdivisions of North Haven and The Highlands. From the names of these two subdivisions come the name which the area now bears.

The population of the area increased to 12,000 in 4 years. The late Most Reverend Bishop Robert J. Armstrong, concerned about the spiritual needs of the expanding community, erected the parish of St. Lawrence on October 27, 1955 to serve the Catholics of North Highlands.

Property on which to build the parish facility was obtained on I Street in the vicinity of Watt Avenue and a temporary rectory secured by purchasing a ready-made house on the corner of Watt Ave and Bolivar.

Upon application for a building permit, it was discovered that our property was located to close to the landing strip of McClellan to be used for a school. As a result, the permit was denied and other property had to be located.

By that time, the area was building up and the only property suitable for our needs was the acreage at the intersection of Don Julio and Walerga Road, the site of our present facility. Ten acres were purchased for the price of $21,000.