Religious Education
Marylene Douglas
All students attending St Louis de Montfort's Aspendale have the right to feel safe. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a fundamental responsibility of all within our school.
On Sunday, families often come together to celebrate Fathers’ Day, a day to remember our fathers, grandfathers, and all those who are like fathers to us.
The first documented reference to the celebration of Fathers’ Day in Australia appeared in the Newcastle Sun newspaper on 4 September 1936; in an ecumenical spirit unusual for those times, the local Baptists held a meeting inviting “men of all denominations, and all fathers are requested to invite their sons.”
This was a fitting setting in that the likely origin of Fathers’ Day was a religious one. Stemming from Medieval times, a focus on the significance of fathers evolved from celebrations associated with St Joseph, the father-figure who cared and nurtured Jesus from birth through to maturity. It was as if St Paul was thinking of Joseph when he wrote the words, “But as for you, O man of God, … Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11)
However, our ultimate example of fatherhood is our loving God, widely and traditionally addressed as Our Father. It is our God who loves us unconditionally, supporting us and being our mentor throughout life.
On the first Sunday of September, let us recognize God’s continued blessing in our wonderful fathers, grandfathers, and any other men who have been as fathers to us. Through the love and care these men show us, we can understand how God is like a loving father to us. God is strength and gentleness, justice and compassion, and mercy and kindness. May we value and respect their generosity and kindness, their love and care, and the time and energy they give us.
We celebrate the life-giving care we receive through our fathers, and we remember those fathers who are no longer with us.
Thank you to all our wonderful fathers who attended our Father's Day breakfast on Friday Morning. I'm confident your children were thrilled to have you join them.
Let us pray...
May God inspire our fathers to always act toward their children with “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11)
Amen.
May Christ bless our fathers with wisdom and resilience as they enrich the life journeys of those for whom they care
Amen.
May the Holy Spirit lead us to always acknowledge and practically support the vital role of fathers within our community.
Amen.
May almighty God bless us all + the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.