5 easy things to do for your priest on Father’s Day

Fatherhood. It’s a difficult job. It is often an overlooked and underappreciated job. It could be especially difficult for priests. They have devoted their lives to the Church and will not be husbands or fathers as most of their congregations. This sacrifice makes it especially important to acknowledge the role they play as our spiritual leaders and how appreciative we are of their sacrifice and servanthood. There are 5 small gestures that could go a long way in helping your priest know he is loved during Father’s Day.

1.) Pray for him: Prayer is the most powerful thing we can do for someone. Pray for him during the days leading up to Father’s Day and especially on Father’s Day.

2.) Give him a card: Writing cards seems to be a lost art in today’s culture, but it could be deeply meaningful to your priest. You can give him a Father’s Day card and write how much you appreciate him, tell him a few things you appreciate about him, or give him some examples of how he has helped you or increased your faith. Writing a card to your priest can be especially encouraging and motivating to him.

3.) Invite him to your home: Priests are often away from their family during holidays and Father’s Day is no exception. For those who still have their father, your priest may not be able to spend time with his father on Father’s Day. He may have to settle for a phone call or video chat with his earthly father. It can feel lonely. One of the ways to help your priest feel appreciated and acknowledged as your spiritual father is to invite him to your home for lunch or dinner. An invitation to join your family for your Father’s Day celebration can help your priest feel loved and appreciated. He is part of your family. He is a crucial part of your spiritual and church family.

4.) Give him a gift card: Who does not like a gift card to their favorite store, restaurant, or coffee shop? It’s an easy and thoughtful gift to show you care.

5.) Make him a spiritual bouquet: Making a spiritual bouquet is an excellent way to have your children get involved in giving something to your priest. A spiritual bouquet can be something as simple as a card with notes about all the prayers you have prayed for him. You can have your children to cut out flowers or beads of a paper rosary and place the prayers on them that you have prayed for your priest. It can be something as simple as telling him you included him in your rosary that day, you prayed the Divine Mercy chaplet for him, you prayed 5 Hail Marys for him, or even that you just prayed specifically for an individual need of his. The added touch of your children making something for him will make it even more special for your priest.

It does not have to be something elaborate or complicated. Father’s Day is certainly about honoring and cherishing our earthly fathers for which God has given us. On the other hand, it is also a day to celebrate the spiritual fathers God has anointed to lead us. Don’t forget your priest this Sunday.