Using Father’s Day to Mobilize Men for Mission

father and son

In just a few short weeks, we will be celebrating Father’s Day in the United States. In many ways, we seem to be at a loss as to how to honor dads on Father’s Day in our parishes. On Mother’s Day, we might present a rose to moms as they enter, do a special blessing, and perhaps have some moms offer reflections on motherhood at Mass. For Father’s Day, we tend to take a parallel approach except for the flowers, which may be replaced by a more manly token of appreciation.

I suggest that we take things a step further and use Father’s Day as a day to mobilize men in the parish. Masculine spirituality, in general, tends to be more mission-driven; it is directed outward and is an active spirituality (while not denying the inward and meditative). Rather than simply asking men to stand up and receive a blessing at Mass, it should be more of a commissioning of men to go forth, committed to addressing a number of challenges in the community, beginning with challenges in their own homes. For men, holiness is experienced less through a meditative stance and more through action. Men respond to duty and responsibility.

What are some of the ways that we can mobilize men in our parishes this Father’s Day and send them out on mission?

About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

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