worship
SLRAA offers many opportunities for worship, fellowship and spiritual growth. Devotional prayers, eucharistic masses, and fiestas are held regularly at the San Lorenzo Ruiz & Scalabrini Center throughout the year, and on Holy Days and Holidays. If you are looking for a place to enrich your spirituality in a faithful community of peers, then please join us—our doors are always open.
Devotional Prayer
Although evangelization is essentially the main objective of San Lorenzo Ruiz Association of America, there is still an emphasis on devotion that all devotees could participate in. The San Lorenzo Ruiz and Scalabrini Center is a place where Filipinos could express their unique cultural values within the context of the Catholic faith, tradition and practices. People come and pray together as one family, one community.
eucharistic mass
SLRAA oftentimes celebrates mass at the Chapel at the San Lorenzo Ruiz & Scalabrini Center. Whether it's for a First Tuesday or First Friday mass, for a religious holiday, novena mass, or memorial service; there is usually an occasion in which devotees are called together in Faith.
annual fiestas & Events
The word "fiesta" will bring a smile to the face of almost any Filipino. After all, a fiesta is a special time with family and friends, a time for fellowship, food, and lots of activities. Each year brings a regular schedule of fiestas that are celebrated by SLRAA.
Knights of San Lorenzo Ruiz
The Knights of San Lorenzo Ruiz are a select group of devotees who promote devotion to San Lorenzo Ruiz and to the Blessed Virgin Mary—especially by praying the Rosary daily. The Knights regularly assist in the activities held at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Center.
Spreading Devotion
When SLRAA Inc., was founded in 1983, its primary mission was the propagation of devotion to the first Filipino saint of the Philippines, San Lorenzo Ruiz. That vision continues to the present day by accommodating those who want to start their own devotional. A statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz, prayer books and supporting material are provided.
SLRAA has since expanded devotion to San Pedro Calungsod, the Blessed Virgin, Poon Hesus Nazareno, Santo Niño, St. John Baptist Scalabrini and more.
Please contact us for more information.
More Information
Answers to commonly asked questions regarding worship at SLRAA
Devotions are “external practices of piety” that are not part of the official liturgy of the Catholic Church but are part of the popular spiritual practices of Catholics. Devotions do not become part of liturgical worship, even if they are performed within a Catholic church, in a group, or in the presence of a priest. The Congregation for Divine Worship at the Vatican publishes a Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy.
Devotion to saints, with the Virgin Mary as the most prominent example, is a key characteristic of Roman Catholicism. Catholic devotions have various forms, ranging from formalized, multi-day prayers such as novenas to activities that do not involve any prayers, such as Eucharistic adoration outside Mass, the wearing of scapulars, the veneration of the saints, and even horticultural practices such as maintaining a Mary garden.
Devotions observed at SLRAA include the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, novenas to various saints, pilgrimages and devotions to the Blessed Sacrament, and the veneration of saintly images.
SLRAA has maintained strong bonds and close fellowship with several local (mostly) Filipino priests from different parishes who lead the community of devotees in prayer and worship. Most services are held at the Chapel at the San Lorenzo Ruiz & Scalabrini Center. Filipino traditions are typically incorporated in holy mass and celebrations.
SLRAA celebrates various fiestas throughout the religious year, especially to to Filipino Saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary. A nine-day novena consisting of a daily rosary and novena prayers is typically observed prior to the feast day to prepare oneself spiritually and to obtain special graces, to implore special favors, or make special petitions. The feast day itself consists of a procession and holy mass followed by a traditional Filipino festival. Most fiestas take place at the San Lorenzo Ruiz & Scalabrini Center. However, if a large attendance is anticipated, mass and fiestas are also held at Immaculate Conception Church in Jamaica, NY.
Visit our CALENDAR page for a listing of scheduled masses and celebrations held throughout the year. You can also request to be put on our contact list to receive notifications via email and text.
Many of our events are live-streamed on Zoom. To participate use:
Meeting ID: 883 3339 6976
Passcode: 335580