Gratitude for our Fathers – Natural and Supernatural
Dear Parishioners,
I would like to take a moment to reflect on the gift of fatherhood and what it has meant in my own life. As a priest slightly over the hill, I find myself in an interesting place. To some, I am old enough to be a father; to others, I am young enough to be a son. Both perspectives remind me of the relationships that have shaped my life and vocation.
I was blessed to be fathered well. My own father, along with many other men and women of faith, taught me what it means to love, to sacrifice, to serve, and to trust in God’s providence. Because I was loved and guided by others, I have, in turn, been able to love and accompany others as a spiritual father. Fatherhood, whether natural or spiritual, is never something we create on our own. It is first received as a gift before it can be given to others.
This past weekend gave me a special opportunity to reflect on that reality. I was not able to attend all the Masses here because I attended the Mass of Thanksgiving of a newly ordained priest from my home parish, Sacred Heart in Bowie. Sacred Heart was the parish where I grew up, where Msgr. Well had served and where I learned what it meant to be a son in the family of God and a brother among fellow disciples. It was a community that nurtured my vocation and helped form me into the man I am today.
The newly ordained priest is someone whom I had the privilege of accompanying during part of his formation. Standing there at his First Mass, I found myself experiencing the beauty of vocation from a different perspective. I watched it unfold once again, this time from the outside, seeing how God continues to call and raise up laborers for His harvest. There was great joy in seeing someone whom I once accompanied now stand at the altar as a brother priest, sharing in Christ’s spiritual fatherhood.
Moments like these remind us that vocations do not emerge in isolation. They are fostered within families, parishes, schools, and communities of faith. They are supported by prayers, sacrifices, encouragement, and faithful witness. Every vocation is, in some way, the fruit of a community that believes God is still calling men and women to serve His Church. That is why I am so grateful for the many ways our parish supports vocations. We continue to pray for seminarians, priests, deacons, and religious, and we encourage young people to listen attentively for God’s voice.
Father’s Day reminds us of the gift of earthly fathers, and for that we give thanks. But it also points us toward the deeper reality that all fatherhood finds its source in God the Father. Whether we are called to fatherhood within a family, within the priesthood, or through other forms of service and mentorship, we participate in His love whenever we help others grow in faith, hope, and charity.
As I reflect on my own journey—from being a son in my parish, to a brother among fellow disciples, and now to sharing in spiritual fatherhood as a priest—I am filled with gratitude. I thank God for those who fathered me well, for the privilege of accompanying others in their vocations, and for the opportunity to serve God’s people.
May we continue to pray for all fathers, living and deceased. May we pray for our bishop, our priests, our seminarians, and all those discerning God’s call. And may the Lord continue to raise up generous vocations from our parish and throughout our Archdiocese, for the service of the greater Church and the glory of God.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Kevin Regan
The celebration of my parents’ 50th Anniversary in 2024 at Sacred Heart Chapel in Bowie, MD.
My siblings and I were all baptized in this holy place.
In 2004, a young priest, Fr. Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, began his priestly ministry at the Germantown parish of Mother Seton. His warm spirit and gentle nature made him a beloved member of the parish community. Today, after many journeys, he has been appointed the tenth bishop of Wheeling-Charleston.
Mother Seton Parish is grateful for Bishop Evelio’s service to us and would like to present him with a Spiritual Bouquet of prayers and devotions offered for him by the parishioners.
Please indicate how many of the following you will offer for Bishop Evelio and his intentions:
-Masses attended
-Holy Communions offered
-Rosaries / Divine Mercy Chaplets said
-Visits to the Blessed Sacrament
Como sacerdote de mediana edad, me encuentro en una situación especial: para algunos soy lo suficientemente mayor para ser padre, mientras que para otros sigo siendo lo suficientemente joven para ser hijo. Al reflexionar sobre el Día del Padre, doy gracias por quienes me guiaron y ayudaron a formar mi vocación. Gracias al amor, la fe y el acompañamiento que recibí, hoy puedo servir a otros como padre espiritual.
El fin de semana pasado asistí a la Misa de Acción de Gracias de un sacerdote recién ordenado de mi parroquia de origen, Sacred Heart en Bowie. Fue allí donde aprendí a ser hijo en la familia de Dios y hermano entre los discípulos de Cristo. Haber acompañado a este joven durante parte de su formación hizo aún más especial verlo ahora como sacerdote.
Su vocación nos recuerda que las vocaciones nacen y crecen dentro de comunidades creyentes. Sigamos orando por seminaristas, sacerdotes y quienes disciernen el llamado de Dios, apoyando iniciativas como Ride for Vocations y DCPriest.org.
En tant que prêtre d’âge mûr, je me trouve dans une situation particulière : assez âgé pour être un père pour certains, mais encore assez jeune pour être un fils pour d’autres. À l’occasion de la fête des Pères, je rends grâce pour ceux qui m’ont guidé et formé dans la foi. Parce que j’ai reçu amour, soutien et accompagnement, je peux aujourd’hui exercer une paternité spirituelle auprès des autres.
Le week-end dernier, j’ai participé à la messe d’action de grâce d’un prêtre nouvellement ordonné provenant de ma paroisse d’origine, Sacred Heart à Bowie. C’est là que j’ai appris à être fils dans la famille de Dieu et frère parmi les disciples du Christ. Ayant accompagné ce jeune homme pendant une partie de sa formation, quelle joie de le voir maintenant servir comme frère prêtre.
Sa vocation nous rappelle que les vocations naissent au sein de communautés croyantes. Continuons à prier pour les séminaristes, les prêtres et tous ceux qui discernent l’appel de Dieu, en soutenant des initiatives comme Ride for Vocations et DCPriest.org.
Là một linh mục ở tuổi trung niên, tôi nhận ra mình đang ở giữa hai vai trò: đủ lớn để làm người cha đối với một số người, nhưng vẫn đủ trẻ để là người con đối với những người khác. Nhân Ngày Hiền Phụ, tôi tạ ơn Chúa vì những người đã yêu thương, hướng dẫn và giúp hình thành ơn gọi của tôi. Chính nhờ nhận được tình yêu, đức tin và sự đồng hành đó mà hôm nay tôi có thể phục vụ người khác như một người cha thiêng liêng.
Cuối tuần vừa qua, tôi tham dự Thánh lễ Tạ Ơn của một linh mục mới được truyền chức đến từ giáo xứ quê hương tôi, Sacred Heart tại Bowie. Chính tại giáo xứ này, tôi đã học được ý nghĩa của việc trở thành người con trong gia đình Thiên Chúa và người anh em giữa cộng đoàn đức tin. Thật là niềm vui lớn lao khi thấy người mà tôi từng đồng hành trong quá trình đào tạo nay trở thành một linh mục.
Ơn gọi là hoa trái của gia đình và cộng đoàn đức tin. Xin tiếp tục cầu nguyện cho các chủng sinh, linh mục và những người đang phân định ơn gọi, đồng thời nâng đỡ các sáng kiến như Ride for Vocations và DCPriest.org.