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Dear Pastoral Assistants of Faith Formation and Catechists,
This month we will celebrate Father's day amongst other important solemnities in the calendar year. This is a good opportunity to address the importance of the figure and faith of fathers in the life of children as a vital element towards the journey in knowing and living the Catholic faith. I remember reading a while back that Karol Wojtyla Sr., father of St. John Paul II, was a model of faith for his family, and he recognized that the father's primary duty is to get himself and his family to heaven.
Today we are facing the fact that more and more children leave or stop practicing their Catholic faith after age 13. I'm wondering if this has some relationship with the reduction of fathers attending Church, practicing their faith, and not modeling how to have a personal relationship with God since they are busier with their profession, career, work or pursue of success.
A study conducted by the Swiss government in 1994 and published in 2000 revealed that the religious practice of the father of the family "determines the future attendance at or absence from church of the children." Since in our archdiocese we emphasize the importance of Family Catechesis, I invite all of our PAFF and Faith Formation volunteers to put special emphasis in including parents in being part of our programs and processes.
I have witnessed that in many parishes the presence of fathers in Mass and in faith formation classes is a regular event and we want to congratulate these fathers who:
- Present the Gospel to their children at home
- Comply with their task in life acquired during the baptism of their children and during wedding vows
- Demonstrate to their children that not only women are religious
- Teach their children to pray
- Show that "dad" loves God
- Take the role as head of the domestic church seriously
Congratulations to all fathers! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.
Carlos Carrillo
Director of Faith Formation
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