Fathers were the topic when Bishop Andrew Cozzens joined “Practicing Catholic” host Patrick Conley for a recent show.
Bishop Cozzens referenced studies indicating that if fathers practice their faith — go to church, speak about faith at home, talk about why they believe — about two-thirds to three-quarters of children that grow up in that type of family will practice the faith. But if they grow up in a family where the father does not lead in the area of faith, but only the mother leads, only about one in five of those children will grow up practicing the faith.
Bishop Cozzens also referred to “a beautiful letter” whose title translates to “the heart of the father” that Pope Francis wrote about St. Joseph when he introduced the Year of St. Joseph.
“What a great example to show that real leadership of the family is not abuse of patriarchy,” Bishop Cozzens said. “Nothing could be further from St. Joseph, who so humbly never says a word in Scripture, but he speaks loudly by his actions.
“And he’s a man who puts his own life completely at the service of Our Lady and our Lord, and does that in a very humble, very strong, very clear way.”
Bishop Cozzens called St. Joseph a great example of a real father. He referenced meditations in Pope Francis’ letter that described St. Joseph as a tender father, a strong father and a providing father. “Each of those categories can be a wonderful meditation for fathers today,” he said.
Conley, who said he and his wife had not been blessed with children, asked Bishop Cozzens how he would see the elements of fatherhood living out in the life of someone like him — a man who wants to model good spiritual discipleship to young children, or be a good example in that way to express the gifts of fatherhood. Bishop Cozzens said those men, which include priests, have many ways to give life, lead, guide and form the next generation.
“When someone like you finds ways to engender the life of faith, especially in young people, and help form them and to support that, that’s real spiritual fatherhood,” he said.
Catholic Father’s Day
Conley also described Catholic Father’s Day, an event sponsored by Catholic Watchmen that takes place from 4:30-8 p.m. June 19 at Maternity of Mary in St. Paul. “Come and ask Jesus to renew Catholic fatherhood in imitation of St. Joseph,” Conley said.
“I’m excited to be there,” said Bishop Cozzens, who will preside at a 4:30 p.m. Mass at the church and then help lead a 1.5-mile eucharistic procession to Lake Como and back to Maternity of Mary for fellowship, food and fun.
“We’re going to do a beautiful procession around Lake Como and we’re going to walk with our Lord,” Bishop Cozzens said. “I’ll help in that procession along with some other priests.”
The Catholic Watchmen initiative was launched in the archdiocese to raise the importance of men’s evangelization with the recognition that, since men and women are different, sometimes men need a particular approach, Bishop Cozzens said, and can be helped by being in relationship with other faithful Catholic men.
“We wanted to both strengthen the faithful Catholic men we have in our archdiocese, as well as invite them to reach out to other Catholic men and invite them in so they can become full and active members of the Church,” he said.
To learn more and to register online for the Catholic Father’s Day event this Saturday, June 19, visit rosarylive.org.
To hear the full interview with Bishop Cozzens, listen to this episode of the “Practicing Catholic” radio show. It airs at 9 p.m. June 18, 1 p.m. June 19 and 2 p.m. June 20 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Tim Cahill and Nestor Arguello from Catholic Beer Club, who address ways to cultivate friendships as adults, and with Laura Elm, who seeks proper burial for deceased embryos from in vitro fertilization labs.
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