This Sunday we celebrate Father’s Day.

Father’s Day obviously means different things to different people! For some it is a time to celebrate and thank fathers, for others it is a time to reflect on father figures (grandfathers, other relatives) or significant males in the lives of young people.

This year is particularly challenging with so many people experiencing isolation with COVID-19 or even loss. Therefore, we recognise and thank all of those fathers and/or male figures who have made a difference and/or positively impacted on the lives of our young people.

In a General Assembly back in 2015, Pope Francis had the following reflection about the family, and in particular, commented on quality fathering and fathers who were present:

“To say “present” is not to say “controlling.” Fathers who are too controlling stifle the spirit of their children; they don’t let them develop.

The Gospel speaks to us about the exemplarity of the Father who is in Heaven who alone, Jesus says, can be truly called, “the good Father” (cf. Mk10:18).

Everyone knows that extraordinary parable of the Prodigal Son, or better yet, the Merciful Father (Luke 15:11-32). What dignity and what tenderness there is in the expectation of that father who stands at the door of the house waiting for his son to return!

Fathers must be patient. Often there is nothing else to do but wait; pray, and wait with patience, gentleness, magnanimity, and mercy.

A good father knows how to wait, and he knows how to forgive from the depths of his heart. Certainly, he also knows how to correct with firmness: he is not a weak father, submissive and sentimental. The father who knows how to correct without humiliating is the one who knows how to protect without sparing himself…

All of this is, of course, not easy, so Fathers need God. Without the grace that comes from the Father who is in Heaven, fathers lose courage and give up.”

—Excerpted from a catechesis on the family at a general assembly on 4/2/2015

So, we thank all fathers and/or father figures and we hope they have a restful and blessed day this coming Sunday.

PRINCIPAL’s APPRAISAL

I would like to thank all staff, students and parents/carers who were either involved in my appraisal on Wednesday or contributed to the various surveys that were sent around in the weeks prior. The Appraisal was led by external consultants and key members of Catholic Education Wollongong.

I am pleased to note that I received excellent feedback and also a number of ideas to integrate into my practice to enhance my Principalship over the following three years. I continue to be very grateful to be Principal at Magdalene Catholic College and I am ever keen to respond to feedback to continue to move Magdalene from good to great. 

PRAYER

The following prayer, in honour of Father’s Day, is borrowed from The Catholic Telegraph.

God our father, we give You thanks and praise for fathers young and old.

We pray for young fathers, newly embracing their vocation; may they find courage and perseverance to balance work, family and faith in joy and sacrifice.

We pray for our own fathers around the world whose children are lost or suffering; may they know that the god of compassion walks with them in their sorrow.

We pray for men who are not fathers but still mentor and guide us with fatherly love and advice.

We remember fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love. 

-Amen