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05 Oct 2025

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Offaly columnist's Father's Day musing

Clara's Ronan Scully reflects on an incredible day celebrating the role of fathers

ronan for web

Ronan Scully of Self Help Africa

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6.

Father's Day is a special occasion that invites us to celebrate the incredible role fathers play in our lives. It's a day filled with gratitude, where we honour not just our biological fathers, but also grandfathers, father figures and even single mothers who have stepped into that role. As we prepare for this heartfelt day, let’s take a moment to reflect on the lessons, love, and wisdom our fathers have shared with us. This day is not just about gifts and celebrations; it’s an opportunity to express our appreciation for the sacrifices they’ve made and the strength they’ve shown. Fathers nurture us, often putting our needs before their own, and their presence can significantly shape our emotional well-being.

Engaged fathers foster confidence and resilience in their children, teaching them essential values like respect and empathy. However, Father’s Day can also bring mixed emotions for those who have lost their fathers or have complicated relationships. It’s a time to acknowledge these feelings and to reach out for healing and reconciliation. Let’s remember that God, as our Heavenly Father, embodies the love and guidance we seek, and we can reflect that in our own relationships. As we celebrate, let’s shower our fathers with love and appreciation, recognizing the profound impact they have on our lives. Whether through a simple message, a heartfelt conversation, or a thoughtful gesture, let’s make this Father’s Day a memorable one. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there—your love and dedication do not go unnoticed.

The newspaper advert

There’s a Portuguese story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an advert in a national newspaper. The advert read: "Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father." On Saturday 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers!! Father’s Day is a day to honor fathers and father figures alike. It is a day to celebrate fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of the many good fathers in society and is also a beautiful opportunity to celebrate the deep, God-given desire to respect, impress, and follow honorable men in our lives. These are the men who have shaped us, invested in us, been patient with us, and given us the love and stability we have needed to become mature and competent adults.

I would like to dedicate this thought for the week to all fathers this weekend, as a tribute to them for all they have given to us and the joy they have brought to our lives and especially to my own amazing Dad, Ricey. Happy Father’s Day to fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers and single mothers! This celebration gives us reason to pause, to pray for, and to reflect on our Fathers whom we honour. On this Father’s Day, we celebrate, congratulate, and pray for the men who continue to reflect the Divine qualities of fatherhood as they lovingly establish, nourish, and maintain their families. Fathers are a blessing, and we thank them for blessing us with lives of dedication, endurance, and love.

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Grateful

I am so grateful to have an amazing dad who, I know, loves me and who has taught me what it means to be a man after God’s heart. If there has been anyone who has been a consistent support and encouragement in my life, it would be both of my parents. I could write an entire separate thought on how much I love my mom, but today it's about my dad! I think that I take for granted the sacrifice that my dad has made in his life, in order for my siblings and I to be where we are today. My dad has modeled what it looks like to put the Lord first before anything else.

Of course my dad isn’t perfect, because no one is, but I honour and respect his pursuit of God and the wisdom he has given me over the years and still gives to me to this day. My Dad is neither an anchor to hold me and my siblings back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way. The occasion of Father's Day is special for all of us. It's a time to love, kiss and hug one of the most precious creations of God - our Dad! Especially for those of us lucky enough to still have them with us.

Prayer for dads

Reflecting on the legacy of my favorite saint, Saint Joseph, the patron saint of fathers, we see a man who faced life's challenges with compassion, empathy, and unwavering faith. His example reminds us of the importance of love and protection in family life. On this special day, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for my own father. He taught me valuable lessons and instilled in me the virtues of hard work, respect, compassion, mercy and faith. The father figures in my life, including uncles, teachers, and friends, have also shaped my understanding of what it means to be a good role model. Being a father has opened my eyes to the importance of caring for others, especially those in need. I strive to be a strong role model for my daughters, Mia and Sophie, just as the men in my family have been for me.

This Father's Day, let's honour all fathers and father figures, recognizing their vital role in nurturing love, support, and guidance in our lives. A lovely prayer by Kirk Loadman that I like to pray now and then goes as follows, "Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father. Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children. Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children's lives.

Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing. Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely chose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect. Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child with even greater love in their heart and soul. Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own. Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors, teachers and guides. Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children. And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us. Let us remember that God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea, The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night, The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's flight, The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed, The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need, Then God combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece was complete, And so, He called it ... Dad."

Role models

Father's Day is a special occasion that reminds us to cherish one of the most important figures in our lives—our dads. For those of us fortunate enough to still have our fathers around, it's a perfect time to express our love and gratitude. This weekend, let’s take a moment to visit our dads, hold their hands, and shower them with affection. It's a day to celebrate the unwavering support and kindness they have shown us throughout our lives. Whether it's through heartfelt hugs or thoughtful surprises, we can make this day memorable for them. Reflecting on my own father, Ricey, I realize how much he has shaped who I am today.

He has always been my guiding light, offering love and forgiveness, no matter the circumstances. His belief in me has been a powerful motivator, pushing me to strive for success and to learn from my experiences. As I navigate my own journey of fatherhood, I aim to embody the same values he instilled in me. I may not always get it right, but I will always strive to be the best father I can be for my children. So as Father's Day approaches, let’s honor our dads and the incredible impact they have on our lives. Let us take a moment to reflect on the profound strength and guidance that fathers provide.

The ultimate example of fatherhood is found in God the Father, who sacrificed His only Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. This act of love illustrates the essence of fatherhood: a commitment to sacrifice for the well-being of one’s family. Fathers are called to be spiritual leaders, guardians, and role models. They nurture their families through prayer, courageously witness the Gospel, and offer unwavering support. They embody goodness and truth, leading with accountability and the willingness to lay down their lives for others. On this special day, let us express our gratitude for all fathers—by birth or adoption—who love and support us throughout our lives. We thank God our Father for His just teachings and boundless mercy. We pray for young fathers who are just beginning their journey, that they may find the strength to balance work, family, and faith with joy and sacrifice. We also remember fathers around the world who face the pain of loss or suffering in their children, and we ask that they feel the comforting presence of God in their sorrow. Let us not forget those who may not be fathers but still offer guidance and mentorship with a fatherly heart. Finally, we honour the memories of fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers who have passed on, cherishing the love they continue to inspire in us.

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Thought for Father’s Day

As your thought for Father’s Day, make your dad feel the most special man in the world by showing your care, love and affection. To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honours. We all know how our parents cared for us over the years and gave us every little thing that we ever needed. Love them, respect them, and care for them. Most of all let your dad know how much you love him not just for Father's Day but for all time. Father’s Day is a beautiful reminder to honor the incredible men in our lives. It’s a day to express our love and gratitude to our dads, who have shaped us in countless ways.

From the little lessons to the big life moments, their guidance is invaluable. In being a dad to Mia and Sophie I have learned how to be a better listener, to be more compassionate, tender and patient. However, the most important thing that I may have learned from being a dad is to always be respectful. I believe being a dad has helped me to better respect the gift of life, the people and friends in my life and the people around me whom I come into contact with. Writing this thought for the week has helped me to realize that Fathers’ Day is so much more than a celebration of fathers. It’s a celebration of all of the people in our lives like our parents, our wives, our friends, and the father figures who help father’s carry out their important role each and every day. So be truly grateful for your dad and for the other father-like figures that have selflessly supported you in your life. To my Dad, Ricey, thank you for all the things you've led me and my siblings through and taught us and continue to do. Through and through you've shown me the ropes. Helping me in anything and everything I face.

Everyday you're there for me by simply calling your name. Daddy, if you end up reading this at some point, I love you. With all of your amazingness and imperfections, you are a man I look up to, a man I am proud to call my dad, a man I look forward to learning more about as the years progress, a man with heart and soul that I love dearly. Unconditionally! Rarely do I get to thank you enough. So on this special day, I do exactly that. Thank you Ricey for being my Dad and to all Dad's, Happy Father’s Day. I love you Daddy! Thank you, thank you, thank you for you. I’m so grateful for my Dad and for the other father-like figures that have selflessly supported me in my life. Nevertheless, these earthly role models and mentors serve to make me aware that there is a heavenly Father whose providential grace has guided my entire life. Happy Father’s Day to all our fathers out there reading this message. Hopefully you are getting to spend the day exactly as you want it. Thank you, God, for giving us all of the men in our community who love, nurture, care, support, and guide their families and our communities.

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