From the Desk of Father Nathan

A Message from Father Nathan

My dearest people who are all close to my heart

Lots of love, blessings, and prayers to you all.

Happy Father’s Day

“As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;”

— Psalm 103:13

This week we are celebrating FATHER’S DAY. The campaign to celebrate the nation’s fathers did not meet with much enthusiasm perhaps because, as one florist explained, “fathers haven’t the same appeal that mothers have.”

The History of Father’s Day – officially recognized as a holiday in 1972 by President Nixon.

There are a range of events, which may have inspired the idea of Father’s Day. One of these was the start of the Mother’s Day tradition in the first decade of the 20th century. Another was a memorial service held in 1908 for a large group of men, many of them fathers, who were killed in a mining accident in Monongah, West Virginia in December 1907. On July 5, 1908, a West Virginia church sponsored the nation’s first event explicitly in honor of fathers – a Sunday sermon in memory of the 362 men who had died in the previous December’s explosions at the Fairmont Coal Company mines in Monongah, but it was a one-time commemoration and not an annual holiday.

A woman called Sonora Smart Dodd was an influential figure in the establishment of Father’s Day. Her father raised six children by himself after the death of their mother. This was uncommon at that time, as many widowers placed their children in the care of others or quickly got married again. Sonora was inspired by the work of Anna Jarvis, who had pushed for the Mother’s Day celebrations.

Sonora felt that her father deserved recognition for what he had done. The first time Father’s Day was held in June was in 1910. Father’s Day was officially recognized as a holiday in 1972 by President Nixon.

Personally, I have such a longing and fascination toward my dad. He was my hero and such an inspiration. But he has gone to the Lord at my young age. I do miss him a lot. I miss him every day of my life. But I strongly believe in his guidance in my life. He was and is my intercessor. I believe very many of us may also feel the same.

Let us appreciate and value the sacrifices that our dads have done for us. Let us be thankful for the people they are.

Let us pray for them as they have gone to the Lord.

A new Annual Tradition – the Eucharistic procession on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.

I would like to thank and appreciate all those who were involved and participated in the Eucharistic procession on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.  Many of you gave me lots of compliments. Thank you. We have started it and we will make it a tradition every year.

God bless you all.

With lots of love and blessings,

Ever wanting to be faithful to your service,

— Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan