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My heart is aching. We are on our way to Steubenville South. We served for 25 years. It was my second year working Confessions when I met this beautiful soul. We visited him in Sugarland, I gave him an OLPH Doll, and I was with him when he tripped and fell at SS, I jumped in the ambulance with him and stayed. I had asked several people to please notify me if anything ever happened to him. I just googled his name and my heart broke. Only love and fond memories. His Peace Jeannine Cockerham 225-324-8082

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I loved Fr Drew and his AMAZING personality he changed my life. Still to this day I cry nonstop because I miss him soo much. I hope he is doing well with God. ( I know I'm late but I do still miss him.)

I miss you so much you have no idea. - SV 4th grader at SLCS

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Thank you Father Drew for your faithful service to Jesus, the Church, and St. Laurence. You had such amazing love, joy, and wisdom that you shared with us! Well done good and faithful servant.

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Fr Drew was an amazing priest. He was the reason I felt so much at home at St Laurence when I first moved to Houston. I used to eagerly look forward to his homilies and would listen to the audio recordings of his homilies if he didn’t end up celebrating the Sunday mass I attended.

He had a way of bringing people together using simple words and kind gestures, reflecting the love of Christ to everyone he met, whether children or adults. I know many people who drove past multiple parishes to attend mass at St Laurence just because of him. His passion for parish activities especially Heart of Worship and Steubenville was inspiring and contagious. He had a great sense of humor too and would make everyone laugh multiple times during his homilies. He also sang beautifully, often directing and leading the choir and they were all too eager to oblige. The way he shared his vocation story inspired many parishioners to consider religious life or discover their own calling.

A life truly well lived for the glory of God.

I feel blessed and fortunate to have known him. He will be sorely missed. Let us pray that God holds him in His mercy reflecting the very parish theme that he selected for this year.

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Father, you always said to have one more child than you thought you wanted and here she is; a true blessing.  Thank you for loving her and always supporting me and my family.  You will always be a huge part of our lives and we will miss you. 

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Father Drew was such a crack-up!

Whenever my husband and I got together with Father Drew, or as my husband always called him, “The Drewster”, Father Drew always SAID that he wanted us to take him to some place ‘new/different’ however, once in our car, he wanted to make sure it was ‘new/different’ and MEXICAN!

Inevitably, to take him some place ‘new,’ we would pick him up and get on US-59 NORTH, heading toward Houston, and as soon as we hit the highway past Sugar Land, the freaking out began. “Where are you taking?”  “It’d better not be too far.”  “You know, we have left Sugar Land!”

We would tell him to just relax; that we were taking him to a place that is NEW and MEXICAN. So, he would relax, and we would chit chat for a bit … but then he would start up with the “Are we there yet?”

We would tell him: “Not yet, Father Drew. Just relax, we have not left Houston… yet.”

We would talk some more and then … “Are we there yet?” “Are we there yet?” “Are we there yet?”

It was like we had one of our grandchildren in the car and, OF COURSE, we fed into it, just to drive him even more crazy. By the time we got to the restaurant, Father Drew was exhausted from anxiety and ready to eat and drink voraciously. And that he did.

Miraculously, the ride home, back to Sugar Land, was always uneventful and he was always surprised at how fast we got back; like the return route was a shortcut we should have taken on the way there. LOL

We did this to him EVERY time with the SAME results… except this one time when we were feeling particularly mischievous.

We had made reservations at Hugo’s, a Mexican restaurant in Houston, but Father Drew did not know this. So, like usual, we picked him up, but instead of getting up on US-59 NORTH, we stayed on the feeder road. Since Father Drew truly did know our modus operandi, he was curious about our departure from ‘normal.’ We told him that since he clearly found it upsetting that we always took him on the LONG road trip to Houston to eat, that this time we were going to stay in Sugar Land.

The next thing he knew, we had pulled up and parked at the Chuck E. Cheese Restaurant in Sugar Land.

“What are we doing here?’ he asked, clearly panicked. I proceeded to tell him that a bunch of friends and family were celebrating a birthday and that I thought it would be great to have him join in and have some fun with the kids and maybe spark some priestly vocations in them. With that, my husband and I got out of our car. Father Drew did NOT.

My husband went around to Father Drew’s side of the car, opened the door, and said “Let’s go Drewster” but he refused to get out. Again, he was like one of our grandchildren. He crossed his arms and would not budge. No matter how much prodding we did, he would not budge. And then the BIG acquiescence … “I want to eat in Houston, not Sugar Land.”

I cannot tell you how hard it was for my husband and I not to break down in hysterical laughter. Instead, we put on very dejected faces, got back in the car and told him that we would TRY to find a halfway decent place to eat on a Saturday night with no reservations, but that we could not promise anything.

As we drove up US-59 NORTH, Father Drew did not ask even once “Are we there yet?”  He just chatted away, relieved he was not at Chuck E. Cheese.

This dinner was a surprise celebration for him, so when we got to the restaurant, I jumped out first, his surprise gift stuffed in my HUGE purse and pretended to run in to check and see if they could take us without a reservation. Of course, they had our table ready for us and I set up our gift and then ran outside to tell Father Drew (and my husband) that we lucked out and they had a table available from a cancellation.

So, in come Father Drew and my husband and when they got to the table, this is what Father Drew saw … his own bobble-head! (pictured above)

Now he realized that we had contrived the whole evening in advance.

I am not sure he gave us any absolution for all our lies, but it was SO worth it!!!

Besides the joy of being in the glory of Our Heavenly Father, I am sure he is relieved that he is free of Baltasar and Barbara Garaygordobil’s pranks. We will surely miss the joy he gave us.

We might have to find another victim or two …

Father Jaison?

Father Truong Son AKA Father mini-T?

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I will forever cherish our relationship. You were so special and important to my life. I will miss our hot chocolate and donut visits 🩷 Words fail me….you will be in my heart forever. You lead your flock well Father Drew. I know you are watching over us. I imagined Jesus said to you, “Come on Drew, let’s go attend/watch your funeral and see all those lives you touched and how much you were/are loved!” Your service was the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. You deserved nothing less than amazing and perfection! See you later, pray for us and save me a seat!

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Thank you father Drew. ❤️ The Castillo family.

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I remember meeting Father Drew for the first time. Me and my husband where married by law, but never got married in the church. When I went to see Father Drew, we sat with him in his office, so we can do the paperwork. When he saw my date of birth, he was surprised of seeing that I was born on the same day, month and year he was ordained, April 28, of 1973. Eventhoug I came from another country, that is very far from The US, we got connected. He said" oh my God, I never met someone, that was born on the same day I was ordained. I was born at 7.05 in the morning, when he said he was in prayers for this special day. We had a special connection, because moving here, I have visited more Catholic Churches, but I never felt a connection. One day, I drove bye the church, and I felt this calling. I have never seen the church before, because I was new in Sugar Land. I visited one Sunday with my husband and daughter. He got us married in the Chappell and our daughter did her First Communion with Father Drew. He was a special person in our life. I am so sadden, that he is not here with us anymore, but happy that I got to know him.

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I am grateful every day that Fr. Drew led me to become Catholic and that my husband Kevin and I were able to renew our vows in the church. We love you Fr. Drew. Our lives were truly blessed by you.   Lynn Kelleher

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I am grateful every day that Fr. Drew led me to become Catholic and that my husband Kevin and I were able to renew our vows in the church. We love you Fr. Drew. Our lives were truly blessed by you.   Lynn Kelleher

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I will never tire listening to Father Drew singing his theme song, “the impossible dream”, and it’s ever so like him to have starred as Don Quixote in a school play of the Man of La Mancha musical. His boundless and chivalric love of the priesthood can be heard from his very soul stirring rendition of it. He had the charm of a grandfather , the wisdom of a father and the love of a spouse for his Church which he defended with such noble passion.

He once stated at the pulpit looking at us all with his characteristic quizzical pause, “ your husbands may love you…. well…. As a priest I truly love you. I love you more”. ( Indicating the unconditional and self sacrificial love he had for his flock as a priest). Thank you Fr Drew. We love you too! We love Fr Jaison and Fr TruongSon too!

For a man who would always deride himself for his small stature, well… you were larger than life. A blessing to all who ever met you. And your saintly mission as an intercessor has just begun. Once you pause eating at the wedding feast and dining with your dear mom whom you yearned to see once you got to heaven, do network with the saints and kindly que our intentions to Jesus so that we can expedite your path to a canonized sainthood upon the miracles we expect to witness with your intercession.

Fr Drew loved the Eucharist. Fitting that he died in the year of the Eucharist. “ I did not give up having a beautiful wife and children in a sacramental marriage for a symbol. The Eucharist is the true body and blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ! Through the priest we have the Eucharist. “

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Your Sacristan is missing you so much 🥲❤️

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Your Sacristan is missing you so much 🥲❤️

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Thank you for the all the memories. Every person gets your undivided attention, you make everyone feel important. I felt the love of The Father from you. I love you so much Fr. Drew.

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St. Drew of St. Laurence of Sugar Land, Pray for us!

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I remember you talking about the Four F's:

Frantic

Frazzled

Frenzied

Was Frenetic the 4th?

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You were a guiding light in our church and in our lives, always leading with love, wisdom, and grace.

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Thank you for sheepherding our newest altar servers on their first. You are so missed. You were so welcoming to our family when we were new, one of the reasons we fell in love with St. Laurence.

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Thank you, Father Drew. You will always hold a special place in our hearts as a gift from God. Our church will not be the same without you. Please keep an eye on us as you always do.

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Clare's First Communion with Father Drew

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We love you, Father Drew. Watch over us from heaven.

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Thank you for always making our school Masses so special! We love you, Father Drew!

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Thank you for always making our school Masses so special! We love you, Father Drew!

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Thank you for providing my family with the greatest gift of faith and love. My most favorite memory is my boys running up to you and giving you a hug during and after mass. They loved you very much. Watch over us and guide us on our journey. ❤️

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Father Drew, We will miss you tremendously!  You were  humble, devoted to your parish and welcoming to everyone. We will remember how you always embraced our family so warmly! Thank you for giving Isabel and Alexandra a solid foundation of faith. They especially loved spending time with you at “Pancakes with the Priests”.   This picture was taken at Isabel’s 1st Communion - May 2018.  Love & Prayers,  The Barreto Family

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When my son had his First Communion with SLCS, he wanted a picture with Father Drew.

I took this beautiful picture that expresses so much love and happiness in just a hug.

You will be missed, Father Drew! 🥺

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Father Drew always brought joy and laughter wherever he went. This was take at the 2016 Bazaar.

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Macaela's First Communion. We will miss you Fr. Drew tremendously!! You will be forever in our hearts!! Thank you for your blessings, laughters and smiles! RIP Fr. Drew🙏 - Fermin Family

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We love you Fr Drew & your smile & hugs will not be forgotten. 💗🤗🙏🏻. Rest in peace.

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He “Loved” the children & wanted them near. This Christmas Eve he surprised us all by asking for the beautiful baby in the front row. We are ALL God’s children!

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Thank you, Fr. Drew, for blessing our 50 years of marriage! What a wonderful evening it was with you being part of it. 11-27-2021

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We will forever remember his warm embrace. He shared his laughter and love of God with our family for 26 years.

Love and prayers….. The Burgess Family

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Will never forget his homily about when we should come to church. Short answer: Every Time unless too sick. Have peace father, will be forever in our family hearts!

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We will miss you so much. You have had a huge impact on our faith, and we can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for this community.

-Parambil Family

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I’ll never forget when my son Mark had his football accident and broke and dislocated his neck C3/4 in practice, the week before entering 8th grade. His prognosis was very grim; most likely facing life in a wheelchair. Fr. Drew came to the Medical Center THAT NIGHT. Thanks to Mary and Martin Thompson for bringing him. Along with our whole community, he prayed for Mark’s healing and gave us hope. Today Mark is a successful young 27 year old EE graduate with a bright future - walking, running, snowboarding, and whatever he feels like doing.

May God bless you Fr. Drew.

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First Communion 2016

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Thank you Father Drew for being the best shepherd of your flock. You have shown us how to love and cherish our Catholic faith. You will be remembered and missed and we ask for you to intercede for us when life gets tough.

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Thank you Father Drew for being the best shepherd of your flock. You have shown us how to love and cherish our Catholic faith. You will be remembered and missed and we ask for you to intercede for us when life gets tough.

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Fr Drew met with me and my then fiancé prior to our wedding. I was able to get my prior marriages (yes that’s embarrassing) annulled and during that meeting he said, in that mocking stern manner he had “You need to stop getting married!” He presided at our wedding and, God willing, we’ll celebrate 20 years next year but we will so miss sharing that with him. Rest in Peace dear Fr Drew

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Growing up with Father Drew as my pastor is one of the greatest blessings i have ever had. My favorite memory is probably the same as many other teenagers in this parish, running up to give Father Drew hugs during the offering. I remember the love and joy you could see on his face, and the genuine care he had for every child. He always gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Love you and miss you forever Father Drew❤️

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“You think Mass is boring? Maybe YOU are the one who’s boring!”

“I’m going on vacation so there won’t be many priests to hear confessions, so you all need to sin a lot less.”

“Bow reverently, and be clear how you are receiving. Put out your tongue, or make a throne when you receive by the hand, because you’re receiving The Eucharist. Don’t be a grabber or a snatcher.” And then he would move his hands like a crab claw.

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Fr. Drew, when we were told that you had just passed away, I imagined you at the Pearly Gates. You, in your victorious posture like you were after Heart of Worship, shouting “I did it!!”

You will be sorely missed. Maria Buzek.

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We love you Fr. Drew. Thank you for so much love! Please intercede for us. 🙏🏻

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Thank you Fr Drew for being a big part of why my husband, Pat, went through the RCIA program in 2008. He still tells people how you baptized him in the gym!!!

We love you and will forever miss you!

Rest In Peace🙏

Pat and Vicki Hopson and daughters Lindsay Roblyer and Natalie Lockmiller

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We will miss you terribly. My kids only wanted you for confession... RIP dear Father. Please pray for us!

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Fr Drew already I miss you. I will never forget what you did for me last year when my son was killed in California . As I followed you after mass one afternoon and told  you what happened to me, you took me into the sacristy, prayed for me. Gave me information for St Laurence Grief Counseling group. Then said a mass one Saturday for the repose of the soul of my son.  I missed your funeral because I have been away in Africa, but I have been praying for  your eternal peaceful rest in God's arms. 

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Fr Drew already I miss you. I will never forget what you did for me last year when my son was killed in California . As I followed you after mass one afternoon and told  you what happened to me, you took me into the sacristy, prayed for me. Gave me information for St Laurence Grief Counseling group. Then said a mass one Saturday for the repose of the soul of my son.  I missed your funeral because I have been away in Africa, but I have been praying for  your eternal peaceful rest in God's arms. 

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St Laurence African Catholic Community (SLACC) Celebrates with their Pastor Fr. Drew on his 77th Birthday @ his favorite Restaurant Los Tios SugarLand 

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St Laurence African Catholic Community (SLACC) Celebrates with their Pastor Fr. Drew on his 77th Birthday @ his favorite Restaurant Los Tios SugarLand 

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Fr. Drew encouraged all his parishioners to be active participants in the parish. He applauded all the Ministries at St Laurence and endeavored to spend time with them as often as he could.

Your presence will be dearly missed!

Rest in Perfect Peace!!!🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽♥️

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Fr Drew, we will miss your warm demeanor, good sense of humor and faithfulness. You have touched so many lives. May the goodness of God continue to surround you in your heavenly abode.

Love, The Abrahams

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Thank you Fr. Drew for being my confirmation sponsor! I’m so grateful! 🙏🏼❤️ love Alexis Villarreal

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Thank you for guiding my daughter, sending her to the retreat and baptizing her! You have touched so many young lives!

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Thank you for guiding my daughter, sending her to the retreat and baptizing her! You have touched so many young lives!

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Thank you for guiding my daughter, sending her to the retreat and baptizing her! You have touched so many young lives!

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Thank you for having us at Heart of Worship; we enjoyed when you would joke! We also go to Los Tios and eat puffy queso because of you; you have always been a joy. You made teen mass amazing Father Drew, we love you!

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Thank you for having us at Heart of Worship; we enjoyed when you would joke! We also go to Los Tios and eat puffy queso because of you; you have always been a joy. You made teen mass amazing Father Drew, we love you!

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Father Drew, Father John and Deacon Don and Kristen’s First Communion many years ago ❤️

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Father Drew, Father John and Deacon Don and Kristen’s First Communion many years ago ❤️

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Father Drew we love you and will miss you.JC and Delaina’s marriage Convalidation celebration !  

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Fr.Drew, you will be in our hearts forever! Rest in peace, Father.

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We were so joyful that Fr. Drew went out of his way to be present for us even though it wasn't his scheduled Mass. 

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Fr. Drew on Our 50th Wedding Anniversay Renewal of Vows

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Fr. Drew on Our 50th Wedding Anniversay Renewal of Vows

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One of my favorite memories is when Fr. Drew visited Clubhouse 10:14 in January 2024. The children enjoyed their time with him as he said the opening prayer. He also got a sneak peak through the "giant Bible" to our lesson of the day and was enchanted with the "secret passage".

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We Love You Fr. Drew: A tribute to our beloved Pastor - St. Laurence Church

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Forever in our hearts!! We will carry your memory always as a significant player in our conversion!!peace to you- Father Drew

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St. Anthony of Padua Annual Feast 2015

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St. Anthony of Padua Annual Feast

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Parish Library Coordinator, Susan Mule', with Fr. Drew, at the 2022 Ministry Fair.

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Susan and Elizabeth Mule' celebrating with Fr. Drew for his 50th Anniversary as a priest.

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Fr. Drew with Susan and Mike Mule' in early 2015.  Fr. Drew, along with Fr. Tom H. helped Mike come to terms with his last weeks in this realm. I hope they had a good embrace in Heaven.

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Elizabeth Mule with Fr. Drew at the 2022 Ministry Fair.

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Thank you for being a wonderful priest and boss too at St Laurence! You always took security seriously and will miss working with you. Please watch over us- God Bless!

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Fond memories of members of Indian Subcontinent Ministry with Fr Drew at the Parish Bazaar 2023. Fr. Drew, we will miss you!

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If you enjoyed one of our Guadalupe masses and after that you had a great Mexican plate with Tamales, thank Ft. Drew. He was always asking to have these in every celebration. The Hispanic Ministry will always remember him...

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On an ACTS return Mass, Father Drew made a comment about how Deacon Don attended and even spoke at the ACTS retreat. I said, accidently way too loud, "Yeah... and he was just long there too." Everyone laughed.

BUT... I couldn't believe what I've done... I, an adult, disrupted mass by heckling a priest. I WAS MORTIFIED!!!

After mass I went straight to Father Drew, and Deacon Don to apologize for what I've done. I didn't even realize what I was doing at the time. Father Drew just laughed at me, saying "Don't worry. it was the Holy Spirit."

He either had lots of experience forgiving hecklers, or he had lots of experience forgiving people... probably both.

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Dear Fr Drew, we are blessed to have met you and felt your presence in our lives . Here is wonderful memory of my son Aden’s First Holy Communion in 2017, where you celebrated Mass. You always made a powerful impact through your homilies and your kind smile. You will always be lovingly remembered and deeply missed. With saddened hearts we pray God rest your soul in peace. Love and Prayers - Leslie, Tina and the Mathias family.

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Thank you Father Drew for everything. We will miss you dearly. We are sorry we cannot be there for your funeral, but are there in spirit. Sending love from Peru. -The Valdivias

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Fr. Drew Wood with St. Laurence Catholic School students at Saints Family Mass.JPG

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Victoria’s First Communion with Father Drew.

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Dinners with Fr. Drew at Board Meetings were always a great time. He truly loved the children and the school!

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Thank you for leading us to Christ, Fr. Drew. You were such a good shepherd. You showed us the goodness of God and that being in Heaven with our Lord and Savior is worth more than all the fine pearls in the world. You were always so loving, gentle, full of joy, and wonder...exactly what Christ-like means to us. We promise to continue your legacy by not fretting, by being full of joy and wonder, and singing His praises as loud as we can - in and out of the pews. We will always love you, Fr. Drew.

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Samantha's Baptism and First Communion with Father Drew

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Fr. Drew always was the life of the party. He brought so much happiness and joy. His spirit will always be with us.

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Fr. Drew taught all our children how to be faithful servants and how to pray. 

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We are thankful for the seeds of faith and love in Jesus that Fr. Drew planted in our children. This photograph was taken at the Rite of Confirmation of our two older daughters in 2022.

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Alex Hamm(6th), Victoria Salceda (6th) & Fr. Drew 