Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Coming off the heels of the Carnival and approaching the summer break for many of our school kids, there’s always a lot going on in the middle of June. And one celebration that seems to be right in the midst of it, but not always fully recognized, is that of Father’s Day. It’s a shame really, since the role of fatherhood in the life of the family and that of their children is so crucial in so many ways.
There’s a statistic about living a life of faith that helps to illustrate this in an extraordinary way. So many of us look for ways to encourage and instill the faith in our children and grandchildren. And while there’s no silver bullet for solving the mystery of why one person stayed with the faith and another may have walked away, there is at least one very strong indicator. If a person’s father practiced the faith on regular basis, they are roughly 67% more likely to practice it themselves. And yet, conversely, if a mother practiced the faith, the likelihood is only roughly 33%. That’s not meant to say that mothers don’t play an important role in shaping their children, but rather to highlight how important the example of a father can be in this particular regard.
Dads matter. But sadly, it seems like our culture and society often portray fathers as either cold and distant, with little interest in their children or as a kind of man-child themselves, acting rather immature and buffoonish in movies and on TV. How greatly that misses the mark! And
yet, I’m sure we could all think of an example of both of these stereotypes of fatherhood.
It should be noted that dads can and do interact differently with their children than moms typically do. There’s brain science about the release of certain hormones that back that up, particularly with younger children. Dads can be supportive and nurturing, of course, but it’s when they engage in play with their kids that they truly shine. Something coded in our DNA suggests that fathers are meant to interact with their kids in that way. And it’s a wonderful way for dads to build strong, lasting, and loving bonds with their kids.
And so, in my own small way, I’d like to thank and encourage all the fathers of our parish to live out that important role as best they can. Sure, nobody’s perfect and you may make some mistakes over the years. But the ability you have to guide, shape, and foster growth in the lives of your children is unique and absolutely critical. May you celebrate Father’s Day well and continue to recognize both the joy and the responsibility of what fatherhood offers to you!
Peace and Goodness,
Fr. Dan
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