When you think about the life of Jesus, there are so many years that are unrecorded, where He is living with Mary and Joseph. And over the course of those years, He surely learned so much from them both.

And so it is with us. We learn so much from the people in our lives. And in a special way, our parents can do so much to guide us in a million simple ways through words and actions.

This Sunday, we celebrate Father’s Day. I’m blessed to see my dad about once a week, often going home for a family dinner on Sundays, but more importantly than that just some great time to spend with people who mean the world to me.

Like most of us, my earliest memories are of growing up in a loving home with two very dedicated parents.

Mom and Dad were married in 1976; I came along in 1977. We moved into a 3-bedroom home in North Minneapolis, and mom and dad worked hard to turn the house into a home. And it was a home filled with some great memories, most of all love.

From dad, I learned about my faith – he’d pray with me and I’d see him pray too.

It was here too that I also learned about the value of hard work. Both mom and dad worked hard around the house; and dad would work full time doing maintenance for the schools, and then often do things for his parents and his in-laws too.

But above all else, what I learned there and when we moved in the late 80s to suburbia was about who I am as a person, and how to find myself and the path that I needed to go down.

For one, what I learned was love. Dad was (still is) a hard worker. Typically, he’d help mom with some things, but he’d always have time for me too. No matter how busy he was, you’d never know it, because he always had time for me and the people in his life.

Dad was also patient, letting me spread my wings and giving me so much great guidance and life lessons, even when I’d make a decision I look back on and think “what were you thinking!” now years later.

What I’ve also learned is dedication. He was there day in and day out to work hard and do so much for me and our family. Never has he been “too busy” or needed time away. Rather he’s always been with the people he loves and done so much for them. And this includes the people he’s helped through his hard work in many years of working in maintenance in schools, being an active parishioner, and of course the dedication in his marriage to my mom as they celebrate 50 years later this year.

In a nutshell, through what he’s done for me, my dad has shown me what I need to do to become a saint. It’s something I’m still working at, as is he, as are we all. But while I’ve learned a lot in seminary about theology, I’ve seen what I’ve learned in practice through the life of my dad who has put the faith into action and inspired me in so many ways.

I’m guessing you have a similar story about your dad too. They truly show us so much about life and where we are to go. Like Saint Joseph, patron of fathers, they often do this in a quiet way. But because of our fathers, we know so much about what really matters, and can see God and how to get to heaven a bit more clearly.

Thank you to all of our fathers and never forget what a difference you make in the lives of your families!

God bless and have a great week,

Fr. Paul

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June 21, 2026