The Catholic community of Waskom started gathering for Holy Mass on Sundays at Sub-Court House, Waskom on February 17, 1979.  On March 9, 1979,  Mass was moved to First United Methodist Church.

On Sunday, September 28,1981, Mass was celebrated on the present church site which was donated by the late Bill Rondolph.

St. Lawrence of Brindisi Catholic Church was established as a Mission of Immaculate Conception Church, Jefferson, Texas. Later, the Mission was assigned to St. Joseph Church, Marshall. Texas.

Fr. Gerald Priest, pastor of St. Joseph's, and the congregation of St.Lawrence of Brindisi, joyfully celebrated Holy Mass in the newly built St.Lawrence of Brindisi Catholic Church Family Center on Saturday, February 12, 1983. The Most Reverend Thomas Tshoepe, Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas, dedicated the new St.Lawrence of Brindisi Catholic Church Family Center on Sunday July 17,1983.

Bishop Joseph Strickland, Diocese of Tyler, designated the St. Lawrence of Brindisi church in Waskom as an independed parish in 2017.. The current permanent pastor was assigned in June, 2019.

Saint Lawrence of Brindisi’s Story

At first glance, perhaps the most remarkable quality of Lawrence of Brindisi is his outstanding gift of languages. In addition to a thorough knowledge of his native Italian, he had complete reading and speaking ability in Latin, Hebrew, Greek, German, Bohemian, Spanish, and French.

Lawrence was born on July 22, 1559, and died exactly 60 years later on his birthday in 1619. His parents William and Elizabeth Russo gave him the name of Julius Caesar, Caesare in Italian. After the early death of his parents, he was educated by his uncle at the College of St. Mark in Venice.

When he was just 16, he entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order in Venice and received the name of Lawrence. He completed his studies of philosophy and theology at the University of Padua and was ordained a priest at age 23.

With his facility for languages Lawrence was able to study the Bible in its original texts. At the request of Pope Clement VIII, he spent much time preaching to the Jews in Italy. So excellent was his knowledge of Hebrew, the rabbis felt sure he was a Jew who had become a Christian.

Lawrence’s sensitivity to the needs of people—a character trait perhaps unexpected in such a talented scholar—began to surface. He was elected major superior of the Capuchin Franciscan province of Tuscany at the age of 31. He had the combination of brilliance, human compassion, and administrative skill needed to carry out his duties. In rapid succession he was promoted by his fellow Capuchins and was elected minister general of the Capuchins in 1602. In this position he was responsible for great growth and geographical expansion of the Order.

Lawrence was appointed papal emissary and peacemaker, a job which took him to a number of foreign countries. An effort to achieve peace in his native kingdom of Naples took him on a journey to Lisbon to visit the king of Spain. Serious illness in Lisbon took his life in 1619.

In 1956, the Capuchins completed a 15-volume edition of Lawrence’s writings. Eleven of these 15 contain his sermons, each of which relies chiefly on scriptural quotations to illustrate his teaching.

Reflection
His constant devotion to Scripture, coupled with great sensitivity to the needs of people, present a lifestyle which appeals to Christians today. Lawrence had a balance in his life that blended self-discipline with a keen appreciation for the needs of those whom he was called to serve.

Source: Franciscan Media.org