Last month, I talked about how mental health awareness calls for action. We have come a long way since 1949, when Mental Health Awareness Month was established in May. Now June 2026 is here, and Father’s Day is just around the corner.
Researching for this blog often leads me in directions I never expected. I find myself reading articles, exploring data, and hopefully spreading hope to those in need. One article, written by a father who works in the mental health field, provides insight into men and their approach to mental health. I also explored the concepts of “solo dads” and “absent dads” and found an article from the U.S. Census Bureau that highlights the extremes of fatherhood. One can easily get lost in the data it provides, but it is a fascinating read. Fatherhood, like any relationship, can be complex, and every family faces its own unique challenges.
If you are looking for good role models, you will find many in your own extended family, in your neighborhood, or perhaps even at the grocery store. You may also choose to look to the Bible for examples. The Bible, just as in life, is full of stories that can make you scratch your head at times. One article offers 12 examples of good fathers portrayed in Scripture, though I am still scratching my head about a few of them. Saint Joseph, however, may be the best example of a good father—quiet and steadfast.
He faced the same social stigma as Mary, though without the fear of being stoned. He listened to divine guidance and gave up his plan to quietly divorce Mary. He led his family to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod, providing protection and spiritual leadership for Jesus. I am sure he experienced tremendous fear and pain when he and Mary searched for Jesus in Jerusalem.
I was fortunate to have a very good father. Yes, he had his faults, but he was present. He provided for us, offered advice (whether we wanted it or not), and cared for my mother through the difficult health challenges she faced during the final years of her life. Taking care of her may have been one of his finest moments as a human being.
Still, another example stands out to me. He showed our family how to live well by keeping God first. One Sunday, my family attended an early Mass and returned home for breakfast. As we sat down to say Grace, my father announced that he was leaving to go to Mass. “We just got home from Mass,” everyone protested. My father explained that he had been so busy ushering that he did not feel as though he had truly attended Mass himself. He told us to enjoy breakfast and headed back to church. That is what leading by example looks like.
If you are struggling with being a father, or if you are watching someone else struggle, pray for them and ask Saint Joseph to pray for them as well.
Just a reminder: Father’s Day is fast approaching on June 21. This year, I will celebrate my husband and my son-in-law as two wonderful examples of fatherhood.
By Linda Hopkins, Parish Mental Health Coordinator