Happy Father’s Day
to all fathers, with a special word of thanks today for our pastor, Fr. Patrick Michaels,
spiritual father to all of us!
The Church Fathers
had much to say about spiritual mentorship.
St. Pachomius the Great proposed that a spiritual father
is a man of tradition – one who hands
on the wisdom and practices he has learned from his teachers; a man of Scripture – one who takes in the Word, making it a part of
his very being; a man of prayer – one
for whom petitions on behalf of others give expression to his love for humanity; a man of humility – one interested
in furthering God’s kingdom rather than creating his own; a man of ministry – one whose prayer and humility blossom into
service of others; and a man of miracles and
visions – one who embraces God’s vision and is willing to allow the power of God's love to work in him, thereby accomplishing the extraordinary.
The parishioners
of Our Lady of Mount Carmel are so very grateful to you, Fr. Pat, for all you
do to embody and fulfill this beautiful vision of the spiritual father. May the Holy Spirit continue to inspire you
and affirm your myriad gifts as you continue to serve this parish as spiritual
mentor and guide in the years to come!
(To read more
about St. Pachomius & spiritual mentorship, click here -- the article begins on page 6.)
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