Father's Day

06-12-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Michael Straley

Next Sunday is Father’s Day! No, not priest fathers, well, maybe, but most especially fathers of families and grandfathers, godfathers, etc. It is a good time to remember St. Joseph, the adopted father of our Lord. His example reminds us that fathers are the primary teachers of the faith.

In fact, studies show that when children grow up they usually attend Mass if their father attended and do not attend Mass or church if the father fails to worship. Also, children model the language their father uses and learn from his general lifestyle. In society today, fathers tend to get a bad rap. Yes, there are some fathers that do not live up to their responsibilities, but look at how fathers are portrayed on television. Many times they are weak and laughed at. Sometimes they are more work orientated than family orientated. And so many shows have absent fathers.

Bishop Olmsted wrote an Apostolic Exhortation called “Into the Breach”. It is essentially about Catholic family life with an emphasis on the role of the father in the family. It is well worth reading, or re-reading. Our society and all families need all the help that Bishop Olmsted recommends.

Prayer to St. Joseph

O Saint Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, so that having experienced here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. Amen.