John Lawrence
Please remember in your prayers John Lawrence, 30, seminarian for the Diocese of Des Moines at The Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, who died Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Lawrence grew up near Monticello, Iowa, and earned an accounting management degree from Iowa State University in 2009. He joined the seminary in January 2013 after being called to the priesthood during time spent counseling youth at Catholic Youth Camp in summers 2011 and 2012. He was expected to be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Des Moines in June 2018.
"John was eagerly awaiting the beginning of another year of preparation on his journey to God’s altar," Monsignor Aloysius R. Callaghan said. "He was a good-natured, affable and friendly young man who related with his peers and superiors. He demonstrated great gifts for relating to and serving others with a pastoral heart.
"On Tuesday the Lord who heard John’s 'yes' to a call to priesthood, called him once more to Himself. May he rest in peace."
Visitation was 3:30-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at St. Stephen's Catholic Church, 4700 Valley Farm Road, Central City, Iowa. Funeral Mass was 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, with a viewing at 9:30 a.m. at St. Stephen's.
For more information, read The Catholic Spirit's piece on Lawrence.
