We celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, June 18, 2023. We think of the strength of a father, his guiding hand, his wisdom, his help. God the Father gave us his only Son, Jesus Christ, so that we might be saved through him. He provides an example of the very vocation of fatherhood.
Fathers are to sacrifice their lives for their families. They do this by:
- Praying for and with their families.
- Being a courageous witness to the Gospel.
- Providing care and support for their families.
- Serving as an example of goodness and truth.
- Leading with courage and accountability.
- Laying down one’s life for another.
- Today, in a special way, let us be grateful for:
- Our fathers, by birth or adoption, who love us and support us through life.
- Our Church leaders, who take on the paternal role of guiding us through life.
- And God our Father, who will always teach justly and grant us boundless mercy.
–Adapted from The Catholic Telegraph, 2022
Prayer for Fathers: For those who have fathered us into birth, for expectant fathers and those whose arms ache to cradle their own, for fathers who have borne the pain of losing a child, for fathers who have laid down their life for their children: May the one who is Father and Lord of all be their guide and their peace. For all fathers, living or dead, those nearby or distanced by miles, disease, or division: May they all be embraced and strengthened by the loving arms of God, the Father of us all. Amen.
–Diana Macalintal
