“Go home and be Joseph” - Fathers Day
Dear Parishioners,
Our Family Committee arranged a Holy Card for Father’s Day in the Parish for fathers which were given out at the end of the 9:30 Mass to the fathers. On the Holy Car is an Icon of
St Joseph with the Child Jesus and a beautiful prayer.
With St Joseph as the choice of Saint for the Holy Card, I was reminded of the powerful CD on the mission of fatherhood by Devin Schadt called “Pure Fatherhood” a must listen to CD for fathers who want to live the fullness of the call of Fatherhood.(available in Giftshop)
Devin shares that at a crucial stage of his life as a husband and father a significant person advised him when he was a young dad and searching for a missionary project to satisfy his sense of mission he was told emphatically “go home to your wife and children and be Joseph!” Devin draws out that while we have no recorded words of St Joseph in the Scriptures his actions speak volumes of how he is the most powerful role model for fathers after Jesus. He was– Obedient to the Lord, and Provider, Protector, Teacher and Lover of his family – Jesus & Mary.
As fathers all 5 of these elements are our calling. Pray this Prayer for the intention to everyday be an imitator of St Joseph in your home…
“Oh, St Joseph, foster father of Jesus, most pure spouse of the Virgin Mary, pray for us daily to the same Jesus, the Son of God, that we, being defended by the power of His grace and striving faithfully in life, may be crowned by Him at the hour of death. Amen.”
There is another modern Joseph, Joseph Wakim who has recently written a book on Fatherhood ”What my daughters taught me.” ‘Ive just started to read it and it could be a good Father’s Day Gift to your Dad with a father sharing his experience and call to be a father and through very hard circumstances. Joseph will be doing a Faith Formation talk soon based around the faith themes in his book. Keep your eyes on the Faith formation notice.
Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers
