Enduring Love: 4 Inspiring Father’s Day Stories

Dads, grandfathers, mentors, clergy—so many men in our communities are uplifting friends and loved ones, many going unseen. This Father’s Day, Catholic Exchange brings you true stories of fathers transforming lives.

Neighborhood Favorite

-Lynne Parker Davis from Atlanta, GA

My dad, Jack Gordon Parker, made friends easily and for life.

He was born in the late “roaring” 1920s. His father died in 1932 of the Spanish flu as the economy crashed. Dad always remembered the hungry times too well. There was never a creamed meat dish or seltzer served in our home.

He joined the Army during the conflict in Korea, returning with hundreds of pictures of his buddies and the children they sponsored in Japan and Korea.

He married into an Italian immigrant family at a time when Italians were reviled. Although my mother’s brothers teasingly called him “The Americano,” he was well-loved by the family. Parts of his own family expressed their disapproval, but he was never bitter.

His was a steady faith. In high school, religious education class was offered a 20-minute drive away, and Dad drove us there each week through our senior year. Now that I think back on it, there wasn’t enough time for him to go home and return. I guess he relaxed or slept in the car waiting for us.

He had tremendous faith in himself but no ego. He had the confidence to tackle difficult projects like building a house, putting up with our prickly, mentally suffering mother, and yet found time to help whoever asked.

He and Mom decided the only way they could afford a home was to build one. Mom worked the 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. shift, so every day after his work, Dad walked home, fed us, borrowed my uncle’s car, and dragged us out to the country while he constructed the amazing California contemporary home Mom wanted. Over the stretch of seven years, he put in every nail, cut every board, ran every inch of wiring and plumbing.

On Sundays, he rested.

As Mom slowly slid into dementia, he quietly took over the cooking, cleaning, and bill-paying. He took care of Mom for eight years at home and then eight years at a long-term care wing of a hospital.

He was honored with the hospital’s Volunteer of the Year award for his devotion and kindness. He brought laughter to all those around while giving Mom the special attention she needed. And he often won Best Costume in the Halloween hospital contest—just to make people smile.

When he came to live with me full-time, he moped without his bevy of friends. At 90, he took up walking to a nearby four-way-stop corner, parking himself on his rollator, and spending a couple hours waving to the people who drove by. He’d shout, “Have a nice day” and “Have fun today” to the cars, and “Study hard” to the waving kids on the bus.

People loved seeing him, especially while we were isolated because of COVID-19. His joy bubbled over. He gained such a following that, on the neighborhood app Nextdoor, I had to announce when he was visiting one of my brothers and when he was returning, so that they wouldn’t worry.

One of my messages had 2,999 hearts/responses welcoming him back.

He was like that, thinking of others and finding a way to create joy with love throughout his life. I am honored to be his daughter and live challenged by his goodness.

From Addiction to Abundance of Life

-Jacob Plante from Miami, FL

My father, John Plante, was born and raised in Derby, Vermont, to a Franco-American family of six. To someone who has never met my dad, I would describe him as “full of life.”

At 65, when many people would merely seek to lie down and rest, he makes every effort to exercise, learn new skills, teach others, and grow in any way he can. He’s also an outstanding father, who is present with love and care to everyone he meets. Some of my friends enjoy spending time with him even more than their own fathers, because they see in him what a father should be.

My childhood memories are filled with moments where my father simply delighted in me as his son, taking every opportunity to smile and laugh with me. As I grew in my faith, I realized that God the Father is the same way, delighting in us as His children.

My father’s faith has impacted me because he understands the transformative power of suffering. Before I was born, he struggled with alcoholism, which led him and my mother to an addiction ministry called Nueva Vida. It changed his life, not only helping him overcome his addiction, but also allowing him to minister to others in similar situations.

To this day, he emphasizes the value of the Serenity Prayer, which he learned during his recovery. He especially highlights the line asking God for the grace to accept “hardship as a pathway to peace,” and like Jesus, taking the world “as it is, not as I would have it.”

My dad sees this as taking up your cross exemplified, and this piece of wisdom has taught me: if I can accept the struggles of life and offer them for God’s greater glory, then no suffering is in vain.

I don’t know where I would be without my father’s love and guidance all these years, forming me in my faith, my relationships, and my life.

Better Than a Millionaire

-Belkis Mejia Perdomo from Miami Beach, FL

My father, Edgardo Mejia, figures out a way to resolve anything and everything. He bends over backwards for everyone. No task is too big.

You need a lift to your house? He’ll take you there.

Your tire has a hole? He’ll patch it up.

You need a friend? He’ll listen to you without judgement.

He’s been spending time with a man who has special needs. “He needs a paternal figure in his life.”

He doesn’t openly share with others what he does, usually uttering the words, “I have a church event.” What people don’t know is he’s been planning that church event for weeks, figuring out how to run it in three days on little sleep and never showing an inkling of frustration.

My dad is from a little town in Honduras called Buenos Aires. He immigrated to the U.S. when he was 20 and, similarly to his father, he’s a contractor who loves his job. He’s always helping the nuns whenever they need help fixing something, always trying to be a better neighbor to those around him. 

He honors his parents. In his young boy heart, he still looks forward to spending time with his 92-year-old dad. For years, he’s had the same Sunday routine: wake up, pick up his dad, go to 7:00 a.m. Mass, grab breakfast, and laugh over a new story before dropping him at his sister’s for lunch. He always says, “I don’t envy what millionaires have. I have a father who has more wisdom and stories on his pinky finger than anyone I’ve ever met.” 

My dad has been a large reason why I’ve grown up loving the Faith. He taught me to be amicable, a peacemaker, and to serve people. My dad is my best friend. He isn’t always perfect, but he sure tries to make up for it.

A father who prays over me—whether it’s my friendships or work—he reminds me that no action is too small. 

The Proud Homesteader

-Connor S. Curley from Bethune, SC

⁠ My father, James Curley, is a homesteader with a Master’s degree in physics.

Besides teaching almost continuously throughout the years, he raises hogs, chickens, milk cows, and the occasional goat. He has held several side jobs to accommodate our large family of eight children. He has been a quail farm foreman, a patent agent, a fiber cable developer, and a newspaper deliverer—to name only a few. 

The stories I share about him usually end with some anecdote, advice, or inspiration he gave me, and for good reason.

I remember one afternoon, the Bethune Chicken Strut came to town. This year was special: my brother and I were scheduled to compete in bull riding at the town rodeo. And my father was just as excited as any of us.

As we were preparing to leave the house, I turned the corner on our small property carrying a pail of water for the hogs. I stumbled upon my father there, standing alone, praying his Rosary. I asked him if he wanted to ride in the rodeo with us one day, mentioning something about having opportunities that he never had.

That question is a vague memory, but I will never forget his answer.

“Connor,” he said, “sometimes, parents pressure their kids into sports, outings, or events because they are trying to live vicariously through their children. And in another lifetime, I would have loved to do all this. But I have my role being married to your mother, and that is the best thing.”

He went on, “I would have loved to be a cowboy growing up, but I don’t feel like I missed the boat. I love watching you guys, and you kids make me proud; but I have never tried to live vicariously through you guys, and I am happy watching.”

This might seem like a small thing. I suppose, when it comes down to it, every story about every father is a small thing to someone on the outside. This story may have been a bigger deal had I won a buckle that night (I didn’t). Or perhaps the narrative could do with some fabrication about my father getting his shot to be a cowboy, even after being at peace with opportunities he never got.

But none of that really happened.

That year would be our last festival: the town shut it down thereafter.

That night, though, my father watched us ride, the same way he has watched all of his kids—with excitement, love, and pride—all while standing beside my mother.

Now that my wife and I are fighting to build a family of our own, I cannot help but think of all the things my father did for us—and did gratuitously. His orientation for sharing good things with his children simply because it is good to do so is a strong factor in the life experiences my wife and I seek out, share, and communicate to our own little one.

When it comes down to it, it is not much different than what God our Father does for us. I have just had the privilege of having a proximate example.

We wish a happy and blessed Father’s Day to all fathers, spiritual fathers, and grandfathers of the Catholic Exchange community! The joy, example, and hard work you give has the power to transform hearts and influence generations for the better.

Photo by Nabil Naidu on Unsplash