From the Pastor’s Desk,

This weekend we celebrate Father’s Day. It is important to remember the origin of things, especially holidays. Father’s day is a day set aside to honor and show respect to our dads or to any man who has guided and cared for us as a father, whether they are here or no longer with us. Father’s Day was first proposed in 1909 by a Mrs. Dodd who wanted a special day to honor her father, a Civil War veteran. He was a widower who raised his newborn and five other children on a rural farm in the state of Washington.
The first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. The special day grew across our country so much that, by 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national day dedicated to dads. It was, however, President Lyndon Johnson who signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day. However, like so many other special days, it has become a day for retailers to entice you to purchase something to show your love and gratitude.
Being a father means facing many struggles and difficulties. It means going to work, even when you prefer to stay in bed, because you know that your family depends on you. It means disciplining your children so that they might grow up to be mature men and women. It means constantly looking out for your family, making every effort to ensure that they are protected. Take some time this weekend to remember your father, whether living or deceased. Thank God we have a Heavenly Father who does all this and helps the fathers here on earth to do the same. Not a single sparrow falls to the earth without the Heavenly Father’s consent, says the Gospel; thus, our earthly fathers are under our Heavenly Father’s care and support. God our Father protects and nurtures His children, and makes His family a house of love.
Also as Fr. Joseph announced last weekend that he was going to be moved to a new assignment, I ask you to remember in prayer all the different priests and parishes which will be effected because of the priest changes at the end of July. I have been asked, “Why does the Bishop transfer priests around?” There are several reasons, but one of strongest is that it is healthy for parishes and priests as we each have our gifts and talents and they may not be the best in one parish, whereas they would be good in another parish.
~Rev. Lewis Hejna