Masses in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Sunday included a Father’s Day Blessing for all fathers present and those joining the celebration online, watching on television or listening on radio.
“As we remember our fathers and grandfathers today, we want to recognize the importance of fatherhood — not only in our homes but in our whole society,” Archbishop Jose H. Gomez said in his homily in a Spanish-language Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles.
“To be a father is a beautiful and a noble vocation. It is a calling to serve and to love and to sacrifice. And in the love that a father has for his wife and his children, we see the love that God our Father has for us.
“That is one of the beautiful realities of our faith — that in the divine design, our relationships as men and women, our relationships in our families, are meant to reflect the image of God and his love for us. God loves each one of us as every father loves his own sons and daughters. And in the Gospel today, Jesus tells us how much God our Father loves us.
“We have a Father who loves us, a Father who cares for us — even to the point of counting every hair on our head. Our Father holds this world and all of our lives in his loving hand. So, this week, let us reflect on the beautiful truths that God is our Father and that every life is sacred to him.”
The faithful were invited to participate in the special Cathedral Candle Program for Father’s Day. The candles will remain lit and in the sanctuary of the cathedral. Gomez, the cathedral’s priests and staff will keep the prayer intentions in their daily prayers.
The archdiocese consists of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.