Father’s role in family very important; Bishop Gerald Lobo
Udupi: Father Play’s vital role in the development of the family said Bishop of Udupi Most. Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo. He was speaking presiding over World Father’s Day programme organised by Family Commission at St. Mary’s English Medium School, Kannarpady here on June 19.
A father’s role in the family is very important. His job is to provide for his family, by working, disciplining and nurturing them. Father plays an important role in strengthening the family; his love for his family is ultimate. A father takes all hardships to support his family. His role is prominent in promoting overall development of the family. Fathers play a much more important role in the family. He is the backbone of the family and his role cannot be undermined.
Retired Prof. Alban Rodrigues spoke on the roles and importance of father in the family. Vicar General Mosgr Baptist Menezes also shared his insights.
Alphonse D’costa secretary diocese pastoral council, Retired teacher George Castelino Nakre, Fr. Valerian Mendonca Chancellor Udupi Diocese, Fr. Herald Pereira Director SCC, Fr. Chethan Lobo spiritual Director family commission, Lesli Aroza director of the commission were present.
A Father of the family is in fact a real Father of the Community. A father is a leader of the house, and his dedicated leadership obviously spreads to the neighborhood and to the community spread smoothly and quietly without a murmur. When a family prospers well, the community looks upon the family as a role model, and the Father as the head of the household shoulders all the praises and also the burdens.
In the Christian World, the role of a Father is indeed unique. Year after year, during the season of Xmas when we recollect the Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem we vividly attribute most of the praises towards St. Joseph for the role he played in taking Mother Mary to a safe shelter where Jesus was born in a humble manger. St. Joseph, although did not live too long to see the welfare and glory of Jesus, Joseph is still revered as an ideal father, a loving leader of the simple household and also a humble carpenter.
In America, of course, the role of a Father is indeed unique, but the value of Fatherhood is not highly visible in the mainstream of America because of the history of America where we all came from and established a home that had lot to do with the migration of people from all cultures and civilizations of the world. The value and prominence of a Father is very much appreciated and valued, but the modernization has taken over so many other value systems, and that is sad.
Whereas in a country such as India, because of the vastness of our indigenous culture of Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity and Sikhism, our value and importance towards a FATHER is exceptionally great. This value system and importance towards fatherhood also helps us to appreciate the value of democracy and even the family values of India.
Thank you, Bishop Gerald, for your initiative in recognizing the Father’s Day in Udipi Diocese. One of these days we are going to visit with you and pay our respects to you for all your Leadership and your dedication to the people of your Diocese.