WHY DO WE CELEBRATE FATHERS DAY?

It is the day to offer our fathers on the altar of God during the Holy Mass, invoking our heavenly Father’s blessings on the living fathers, and step fathers and God’s mercy on the deceased fathers.   In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge made the first presidential proclamation in support of Father’s Day, and later, in 1972, President Richard Nixon declared the third Sunday in June a National Day of Observance in honor of fathers. We set apart a day for our fathers because with our mothers, they gave us life, moral and religious training and a sense of discipline in our lives. Father’s Day is also a day to remember, acknowledge and appreciate the “World’s Greatest Dad,” OUR HEAVENLY FATHER (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:6) who is our spiritual Daddy, actively involved in all areas of our lives.  Many of us pray the “Our Father” day after day, without paying attention to, or experiencing, the love and providence of our Heavenly Father.  Let us pray the Our Father during this Holy Mass, realizing the meaning of each clause and experiencing the love of our Heavenly Father.  Let the earthly fathers draw strength from their Heavenly Father.  On this Father’s Day please don’t forget to pray for pastors who are your spiritual Fathers, men who are called to be Fathers to an immensely large parish family through the sacrament of Holy Orders. God Bless!                             Father Maria Joseph Kodig