August 15th is The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is always a holy day, but this year it is not a day of obligation since it falls on a Saturday. We will celebrate and honor Our Blessed Mother with a bilingual Vigil Mass on Friday, August 14th, at 6:30pm.

On July 28th each year, we honor Blessed Stanley Rother. He was a priest from Okarche who served the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa.  Father Rother was ordained in 1968. Five years later, he received the call to serve in the Oklahoma mission in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. He was assigned there in 1968.

"Through the years, Father Rother learned the local dialect, served the people with devotion, and was deeply loved by the parishioners. Blessed Stanley Rother helped build a hospital, a school, and a Catholic radio station for the indigenous Mayan people. He helped translate the New Testament into the native Tz’utujil language and celebrated Mass in that native tongue. Known as Padre A’Plas (Francis, his middle name), Fr. Stanley was beloved by the Mayan people he served.

Political unrest swept the country in the 1970's and in 1980 four priests were killed in Guatemala. Fr. Stanley discovered that his name appeared on a death list in 1981.

When the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City learned that Fr. Stanley’s name was on a death list, they ordered him home. He protested; he couldn’t just leave his flock during a time when they could be kidnapped and murdered at will. “This is one of the reasons I have for staying in the face of physical harm,” he wrote. “The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger.”

Despite his desire not to abandon the people of Santiago Atitlán, Fr. Stanley was obedient and returned to Oklahoma City in January of 1981. His heart, however, never left Guatemala, and after receiving permission to celebrate Easter with his flock, Fr. Stanley returned to Guatemala in April. On July 28, 1981, assassins entered the parish rectory and killed Fr. Stanley. His heart is buried in the church in Guatemala and his body is buried at the Shrine of Blessed Stanley Rother in Oklahoma City. " (the portion in quotations is taken from an article by Loyola Press, located here: https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/saints/saints-stories-for-all-ages/stanley-rother/)

Father Rother was formally recognized by Pope Francis as a martyr on December 2, 2016. He was Beatified in Oklahoma City by Cardinal Amato on behalf of Pope Francis on September 23, 2017.

O God, fount of all holiness,
make us each walk worthily in our vocation,
through the intercession of your Saints,
on whom you bestowed a great variety of graces on earth.
Having graced your Church with the life of
your priest and martyr, Blessed Stanley Rother,
grant that by his intercession this humble flock may reach
where the brave shepherd has gone.
Grant that your Church may proclaim him a saint
living in your presence and interceding for us.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The icon at the top of this page is in our Chapel. You can light a candle there and ask for Father Rother's intercession any hour of the day. This beautiful icon was written by our parishioner, Beverly Layton (Deacon Tony's wife).

Event Overview and Destinations

The Knights of Columbus Council 11909 at Holy Family Catholic Church was founded in 1882 on the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity. The organization is dedicated to providing financial aid and assistance to sick, disabled, and needy members and their families.

The 10th Annual Bowling Tournament Fundraiser will be held at Thunderbird Lanes, 4405 NW Cache Road, Lawton, OK 73505, during Labor Day Weekend 2026. Tournament times are Saturday, September 5, at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, September 6, at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Each year, the Knights of Columbus annual bowling tournament brings together more than 30 two-person teams for a weekend of friendly competition and fellowship. This year's fundraising goal is $10,000, with proceeds benefiting M28 Ministries and Holy Family Catholic Church.

Local nonprofit organizations are encouraged to donate promotional items to be used as door prizes. These donations help increase awareness of the valuable services available in our community. Promotional items should be submitted by August 15.

Retail businesses are also invited to support the tournament by donating toward a banner to be displayed at Thunderbird Lanes or by contributing items for door prizes or raffle drawings. Business donations should be received by August 1.

Bowlers of all skill levels are invited to participate, enjoy the fellowship, and compete alongside talented bowlers, including the previous five 300-game bowlers who have participated in past tournaments. For more information or to register, contact Carl Christman at (321) 501-7351.

The Feast of Blessed Stanley Rother

A potluck to celebrate the Feast of Blessed Stanley Rother will be held in the Parish Hall on Saturday, July 25, 2026, following the 4:30pm Mass.

If you wish to attend, please sign up in the Narthex after all the Masses on the weekend of July 18-19.

We look forward to seeing you there!

On June 6th and 7th we celebrated the 35th Anniversary of Fr. Phil's Priesthood Ordination. We prayed the prayer for long life at each Mass for Father. At the noon Mass, he knelt and prayed a prayer to the Holy Spirit about his ministry.  We also held a wonderful reception after the noon Mass.

See all the photos by clicking here: https://holyfamilylawton.zenfolio.com/p203133849.

On June 1st, Fr. Phil celebrated his 35th Anniversary of Ordination. He has served the church faithfully for many years, and has spent over half of those years here at Holy Family.

There will be a reception to Celebrate and Congratulate Fr. Phil on Sunday, June 7th, after the noon Mass. Please stop by and thank Father for his leadership and ministry to our parish.

We will also have a box in the inner narthex after each Mass in which you may put your thoughts, prayers and monetary gifts for Fr. Phil.

Thank you Fr. Phil!

We invite you to join us for the Byzantine Divine Liturgy Sunday, June 14th at 5:30pm. We hope to see you there.

On Friday, May 1st, at 7:00pm we will pray a bilingual Rosary in the Church and then have a procession to the Marian grotto outside for the May Crowning. We hope you will join us for this special day.

Print out the forms below to register. You can also order a T-shirt. All orders are due on April 9th.

Fun_Tshirt_Order_Form

Fun_Run_Registration_Form

Lenten Fish Fry

Family Life Center
1010 NW 82nd Street

Fridays, February 27 to March 27, 2026, 5:00 - 8:00pm

$10 plate: fish, fries, salad, dessert, water
Dine in or Take Out

Join us also for the Lenten Stations of the Cross
Fridays 6:30pm (English) and 7:30pm (Spanish)

Looking for a Church Home? You are welcome here!

Please join us for Mass. Ashes will not be distributed outside of Mass.