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各位教友：
本週是父親節，首先在此恭賀各位得到這份從天降下的禮物。在過去的幾個星期，我收到很多資料，從不同角度講論父親這職份，這充分說明了父親在我們生活中是扮演了多麼重要的角色。在不同程度上，我們總可分享父親的點點滴滴､分享父親如何影響我們的生命，以及他們如何成就了今天的我們。
我希望藉此良機跟大家分享我的思緒。我恆常祈禱﹕每一世代的父母都能醒覺他們對子女所肩負的責任，特別是耶穌怎樣親自教導我們稱呼我們的主為「父」。
以下的材料是摘錄自「澳洲主教會議團」所編寫的「父親﹕事實與自省」(Father Facts & Reflections)。我希望你們讀後能感到振奮人心和樂趣無窮。
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「我的父親常常在飯桌上，跟我們分享他的生活經驗､他對人性的了解､他的觀點和智慧。爸爸從來不急於結束飯局。」
社會學研究證實，父親若能積極參與孩子的培育，會教養出更有自信的孩子。
「爸爸給我最鮮明的影像是﹕爸爸愛媽媽簡直到了崇拜的地步。我上了人生重要的一課﹕一個好父親必須是愛情的先驅。」
父親能為孩子所做最重要的事，莫過于愛他們的母親。但凡丈夫與妻子分居，父親能為孩子所做最重要的事，莫過于原諒孩子的母親，並尋求她的寬恕。
「父親對我的愛﹐並沒有因為跟媽媽離異而有絲毫減退。我想爸爸意識到他所犯的過錯，故能充分理解我也會有失誤。我們的關係正日益增強，現在我們無所不談。」
年輕人的健康成長，有賴擁有一個可以盡情傾訴的父親。
受離婚影響的單親家庭，非同住的父親仍然對孩子的成長扮演了極其重要的角色。
「從小時候開始，父親便常誦念家庭玫瑰經和作飯前祈禱。透過爸爸對天主和教會的全情奉獻，主日彌撒､懺悔告明､祈禱和領受聖事，已融入我們日常生活裡面。」
孩子心中的天主形像，實有賴父親的苦心培育，不僅始於孩童時，更必需貫徹其整個生命。
「當爸爸在60歲時患上心臟病，每個人都這樣說﹕『他工作太辛勞了』或『他被壓力打垮』。這使我想到，我從來沒有好好向爸爸道謝。當我長大後，我才意識到他為整個家庭所作的貢獻﹐竟被視為理所當然。」
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在這特殊的日子，順道跟大家重溫我的父母在十一年前的留影，當時他們專程來港參與我的執事晉秩典禮。
主佑
莫靖龍神父
(此乃莫神父致教友書信之意譯，書信內容以英文為準)
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Dear Parishioners:
This week is Father’s Day, first of all congratulations to all of you who have received this gift from God.
A couple of weeks I received some material that speaks about different aspects of being a father and how important this role is for the development in our lives. All of us have stories to share about our Dad, the way they have influenced our lives and in a way have made us the person we are today.
I want to share some of these reflections with you with my prayers that every day and in every generation, parents are more aware of the responsibilities they have towards their children and specially how Jesus himself taught us to call God “Our Father”
The part that follows are some extracts of the material prepared by the Australian Bishop’s Conference and is called “Father facts & Reflections” . I hope you find this inspiring and interesting.
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“My Dad would talk to us around the dinner table, sharing his life experience, his understanding of people, his views and wisdom. Dad was never in a hurry to conclude the meal.”
Sociological research confirms that the self-esteem of children is greater when their fathers are involved in their formation.
“The first thing I would say about Dad is that he loved Mum. He just adored her. This has taught me that, first and foremost, a father is a lover.”
The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Where husband and wife are estranged, the most important thing a father can do for his children is to forgive their mother, and to seek her forgiveness.
“My parents have divorced, but it has not compromised my Dad’s love for me. I think Dad realises he made mistakes and is able to understand my own mistakes. Our relationship has grown stronger. Now we can talk about anything.”
The wellbeing of young people correlates with their freedom to confide in their fathers.
In families affected by divorce, non-resident fathers continue to be vitally important for the general development of their children.
“When I was growing up, Dad would pray the family rosary and grace before meals each day with us. Sunday Mass, confession, prayer and the sacraments were built into our lifestyle, largely through Dad’s commitment to God and Church.”
Fathers have a particular influence on the formation of their child’s image of God, not only in childhood, but throughout life.
“When Dad had a heart attack at age sixty, everybody said things like “He works too hard” or “Stress brought it on.” It occurred to me that I had never thanked Dad for working so hard for me. When I was growing up, his work and all the security and education it provided for the whole family was just something I took for granted.”
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I leave you with a picture of my mum and dad when they went to visit me in Hong Kong for my ordination as a deacon 11 years ago.
Peace in Jesus
Fernando Montano MG
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