Holy Family to celebrate 12 Days of Christmas

LAWTON – Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning "coming." The 12 Days of Christmas are to be celebrated after Christmas Day leading to the Ephiphany. 
 
During the 12 Days of Christmas, Holy Family Catholic Church in Lawton will have a number of activities.
 
Throughout the Christmas season, the parish will have a basket near the manger for donations to the children of Saint Nicholas Orphanage in Cluj, Romania. Parishioners also are invited to put their first names in the basket so that the nuns and children of the orphanage can draw names and pray for the parishioners each day of the New Year.
 
According to Father Phil Seeton, pastor of Holy Family, “We celebrate the feast of the Holy Family with the Feast of the Epiphany. We combine the two feasts celebrating with the arrival of the Magi (bearing both religious gifts and candy for the kids), music, games, food and a gift of a small Catholic book for each family.”
 
In addition, Father Seeton said, “On Dec. 31, we have prayer from 11 p.m. until 1 a.m. to ‘pray’ in the New Year. The service consists of Scripture, hymns and prayers thanking God for the good things of the past year. There is a prayer declaring forgiveness for the sins committed against us and sorrow for sins we committed against others.”
 
Each family is invited to bring a crucifix or sacred image to be placed in front of the altar.
 
“This is a way each family may recommit and tie themselves to the life-giving sacrifice of the Lord.”
 
Father Seeton added, “On the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we bless water, chalk and send home a set of prayers so that parishioners can make a yearly dedication of their home and family to the Lord. People who have moved into a new house can request the priest or deacons to come bless the house.”
 
Charles Albert is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.