Gulf Pine Catholic

26 Gulf Pine Catholic • February 2, 2024 Young boys ages two and up at Immaculate Conception Church in Laurel were invited to come to Mass dressed in a king's outfit to celebrate Epiphany Sunday. This feast day is also known to us by a few names such as Three Kings Day, Little Christmas, Old Christmas, Theophany, Dia de los Reyes, Feast of the Magi, and The Twelfth Day, and commemorates God revealing Himself to man. The little kings at ICC led the procession to the altar prior to the start of Mass. Three of the 14 little kings carried gifts of “gold, frankincense, and myrrh” and placed them in front of the creche of the Baby Jesus. One of the children also served as a gift bearer after the Prayer of the Faithful and participants sat in the front pews reserved especially for them. Fr. Marcin Wiktor celebrated Mass and also blessed a basket full of chalks for parishioners to take and bless their own homes with. At the end of Mass, all the children including those who were not dressed as kings received a reusable muslin bag full of candies and other treats, as well as, take home with them gold paper crowns to wear on their heads.Three Kings Day was a wonderful way for the little children to discover the Bible story of the Three Kings who travelled to visit the Baby Jesus after His birth and think about their own quest to discover Jesus for themselves. Customarily children receive and open special presents on Christmas day, and also enjoy getting presents from “St. Nicholas” but Three Kings Day enabled them to offer their own special gift to Jesus to lay on the altar. It was a won- derful way for all families to celebrate and encourage their young children to con- tinue growing in holy wisdom and love for our Blessed Savior. Immaculate Conception parish is located at 833 W. 6th Street, Laurel. Father Ignacio Jimenez serves as pastor and Father Marcin Wiktor serves as associate pastor. I mmaculate C onception P arish , L aurel Three Kings Day CYO B asketball Free Throw Contest CYO Basketball players conquers the Elk free throw contest! Fifth grader Kaden Nichols of Nativity received first place and will be advancing to State. Sixth grader Philomene Kirk of Our Lady of Fatima received first place and will be advancing to State. Third grader Ava Viglianco of Nativity placed second in district! The state competition will be held on February 3 Long Beach, at the MS Senior Citizen Center off of Commission Road. A huge thanks to Rocky Sentell for giving our athletes this opportunity. Philomene Kirk Our Lady of Fatima Sixth Grade First Place Kaden Nichols Nativity BVM Fifth Grade First Place Ava Viglianco Nativity BVM Third Grade Second Place