Florida Catholic | Fathers And Faith: A Tribute For Father’s Day

Fathers and faith: a tribute for Father’s Day

Published: 06.06.08

The Florida Catholic asked readers to respond to the question, “How did your father inspire your faith?”

We present here a sampling of the responses, just in time for a Father’s Day tribute to those special men who have guided us along the way. For the complete text of the remembrances submitted, log onto the diocesan Web site, www.ptdiocese.org, and follow the link on the homepage.

My father has been an example of Christ for me because of his hard work to provide for his family of nine children, as a deacon of the church and as a doctor in the world. It is his constant commitment to love of God, his family and to people in this world that has been a constant inspiration for me to delve into my faith and love Jesus. I thank God for him so much because he has been so supportive of my education and career choice, and loves me unconditionally. I wish him the happiest Father’s Day, as he deserves it. I love you, Papi, very much! — Jasmine Cuesta

I recall many of the ways my father strengthened my faith. One inspiring example took place while he was serving aboard an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War. He would arrange with my mother to pray each day at the same time, with her at home and him on the fantail of the aircraft carrier on the other side of the world. While on the ship when attending Mass, he would assist the priest with readings and communion. … My father has always been a dedicated man of faith, unafraid of demonstrating through his words and his deeds a lifetime commitment to his family and his church. — Jeff Comeau on his father, Deacon Randy Comeau

On this Father’s Day my memory stretches way back to my youth. My father was a very quiet man, a man of few words. Mom was the disciplinarian. “Wait till your dad comes home” had no effect on this teenager. Dad was a sweetie! So, how did I learn so much from him? I just sat back and watched him. Therein lies the secret. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who lead by example! — Msgr. Michael Mooney

When I was a child, my father was busy working as a civil service engineer and Air Force Reserve pilot. Although his jobs took up a great deal of his time and energy, he still devoted himself to leading the “folk group” at 11:30 Mass each Sunday. Each Thursday night brought another practice and off he and Mom would go to prepare with the group. He always welcomed anyone who wanted to sing their praises, but what impressed me the most was his willingness to invite the “youths” of the parish to share their talents by joining. He even started practices later than desired so they could all watch “Mork and Mindy” together beforehand. He still sings with the contemporary choir and gives his all to God through song. By his example, he has taught me the importance of commitment, dedication and devotion to God, family and community. God bless! — Beth Poulsen Parker

Being a student isn’t easy. I know sometimes it seems as if we live in some alternate universe that no adult can ever understand. I know for myself making the adjustment from high school to college wasn’t easy. I was converting to Catholicism during my freshman year and my parents were not too happy with this decision. But I was going through with it and at the Easter Vigil that year I was confirmed and sealed with the Holy Spirit. My father was in attendance but that day it was not my father that I sought out immediately after Mass, it was my pastor. I remember the joy on his face after I had been confirmed; it was such joy that has also taught me so much. His joy allowed me to see that it was OK to have joy for other people and celebrate with them the love and joy that they have for Christ. — Amber Cornell

My late father, Dr. Hector A. Perez y Navarro, was a great man. He taught us the strength of honesty in the face of governments which were anything but. He taught us to be proud to be Catholics even if we had to lose everything (in his case, twice) to keep practicing our faith openly. He taught us humility. Though of the Spanish nobility and having two doctorates, he performed the most menial tasks when we first came to this country in order to put food on the table. He taught us the power of love of God, church, family, neighbor and honor. I am blessed to have had such a father. For him, I thank God Almighty, the provident Father! — Father Hector R.G. Perez y Robles, S.T.D.

My father, James Butler, inspired my faith from a very young age. One of the earliest comforting memories I have of him is when he taught me to pray before I went to sleep. We first learned the Our Father and Hail Mary. These lessons have stayed with me my entire life and I am comforted by God when I pray before going to sleep. He is now 78 years old and when I come to visit, I look forward to going to daily Mass with him. I feel a bond with God and my father. — Kim Giryluk

My dad, Everett Konewko, passed away in the fall of 2006. I miss him every day. He was the one in our family who flew to the rescue of any of us who found ourselves in trouble or in pain or in mourning. He was our rock. But the qualities that meant the most to me were his quiet dignity and his intense love for the church. He taught us about faith without saying a word; he taught by his example as a compassionate, loving, servant of Christ and the church. My consolation is that he is sharing in God’s love in heaven as his reward for being a good and faithful servant on earth. — Linda Foster

There is one lesson that I learned from my father, which I will always remember. At a fairly young age (around 8 or 9), I skipped going to evening Mass so I could play with my friend. After realizing what I would be in for when I got home, I decided … to run away from home. I made it several miles from home before realizing that the world was a dark, scary place once the sun went down. Eventually, I determined that being punished at home was better than being scared and alone. It was around 10:30 p.m. when I came home. Dad worked the night shift as a security guard. He left work to come look for me. I don’t remember much about the reception I got when I walked in the house, but the memory I carry to this day is of the conversation I had with my father the following day. He told me that there was nothing I could ever do that was so bad that I could not come home. Isn’t that what God tells us? Isn’t that what the sacrament of reconciliation is all about? There is nothing that we can do, no sin that we can commit, that is so bad that God will not welcome us home. I have told this to my daughter. Maybe one day, she will pass it on to her children, too. Dad would like that. — Bill Bibby

My dad was an alcoholic. When I was entering my early teens my dad and mom divorced. Before that they were often separated, leaving my brothers and me without a dad. … We always knew he loved us, but “demon drink” had taken him over and he was unable to participate as dad or husband. Somewhere when I was around age 10, we ended up relatively destitute. In desperation, my mom turned to the local Catholic church for help and I ended up in the local parish Catholic school. I still remember my first year or so at St. Teresa Catholic School being relatively traumatic as I tried to fit in and catch up to my grade level. While at Catholic school, my teacher, Sister Mary Eugene, took an interest in me and as a result of her love and witness, I accepted Jesus and entered the Catholic Church. Following baptism, confirmation and first Communion, my love relationship with God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — grew with great fervor. When I came to the Catholic Church I was “fatherless,” but through God’s love and grace I was able to say, “Abba, Father.”

So for anyone who may be without an earthly dad this Father’s Day through divorce, or loss or whatever, I would say the Father’s grace is sufficient. Don’t look back to the hurt or disappointment, but look to God the Father who holds out his Loving arms to us through his son, Jesus. Happy Father’s Day. — Rich Worsham

My father passed away April 10, 2008, and right up until the end of his life he was a faithful Catholic Christian. My father strengthened my faith in several ways. Last year and again during the last month of his life, something really touched me about his love being a reflection of God’s love. When I was younger, I took my parents for granted and did not appreciate the sacrifices they made for my siblings and me. It hit me one day in church that if my earthly father loved me as much as he did even with my imperfections, how much God must love me! … During the two months I spent with (my father) before he died I realized how much of an example he was. He taught me to pray constantly. He prayed quietly and I did not always know when he was praying. Sometimes I would start talking to him and he would make the sign of the cross and I then realized I had interrupted his prayers. … Through constant prayer, he found the strength to pick up his cross and live the best Christian life he could even when he struggled with his health. — Theresa Wedding Nadeau

My parents were in their 20s when they married in 1928. I was born first, the only daughter, and then my brothers were born one after the other for three years. My father was Catholic. My mother was Episcopalian, but she honored my father’s church by not using birth control. There were no refrigerators in those days. My father didn’t make much money delivering blocks of ice for people’s iceboxes from his truck. So my father told the priest in confession that he couldn’t afford to have more children. The priest said that my parents had to follow the rules of the church. Reluctantly and feeling he had no other choice, my father left the church. But instead of being bitter and becoming an agnostic, my father concentrated on trying to be the best Christian he could. My father was a soft–spoken man, but his Christian actions were an inspiration to me. I have tried to be the kind of Catholic he would have been. After he died, we found a typewritten prayer in his Bible. It urged God to help him to be humble and loving and to live a life of service. His daily prayers were answered. — Jane Menetrey

Return to Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Front Page

Fathers and faith: a tribute for Father’s Day

Other Stories