Religious Education

Father’s Day is a celebration of fathers, honouring fatherhood, paternal bonds and the role fathers play in society.  On this day children acknowledge and appreciate their fathers and father figures, who play an important role in their lives. They recognize the importance of the role of a father in their life,  the contribution of fathers to their own families and society at large. 

Children buy or make presents for their father or father-like figure. write and draw cards, spend the day engaging in activities that can be enjoyed with their dads, be it kicking the footy, fishing or just sitting around watching some 

television. 

Whilst packing some of the 200+ orders from the on-line Father’s Day Stall, Rose, Lisa and I were quite entertained at the selection of gifts children bought for their dads including Dad Joke toilet paper, Fart in a Can, Pull my Finger Fart Pen, Superdad Mugs and many more special gifts that I’m sure dads or father figures will enjoy unwrapping on Father’s day. Father’s Day is a celebration of fathers, honouring fatherhood, paternal bonds and the role fathers and father figures play in their children's lives as well as in society as a whole.

This year 2021, marks the 150th anniversary since the declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church so Pope Francis has marked this year as The Year of Joseph. In his declaration,  he wrote “With a Father’s Heart", describing Joseph as a beloved, tender and loving, obedient, accepting, and creatively courageous father.

Joseph worked as a carpenter, he is thought of as a quiet man of justice who listened to the word of God spoken to him by an angel on two occasions. He stood by Mary and Jesus and acted to protect them. He is a true role-model for fathers today.

Father's Day is an opportunity  to remember our fathers, grandfathers, and all those who are like fathers to us.                                                                                               

So let us pray...

Loving Father,

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.

Creator God, You chose St Joseph, a faithful Jewish carpenter, to raise your Son Jesus. Inspire us to be as trusting and accepting of your will, especially when we face difficulties and differences. 

On this Father’s day let us also  reflect on Saint Joseph who,  just like many fathers of today, saw himself as ordinary but yet was amazing in the overall story of our life and salvation. 

We pray in the name of Jesus. 

Amen.