PROVIDENCE — A new book from Rhode Island’s Tyler Rowley provides an important look into the Catholic Church’s teaching on fatherhood through the personal stories of 23 Catholics. With current research on the family, Rowley also makes clear the urgent need for more men to take seriously their God-given task of raising children and forming them spiritually.
Rowley, a parishioner of St. Pius V Church, released “Because of Our Fathers: Twenty-Three Catholics Tell How Their Fathers Led Them to Christ,” (Ignatius Press) to make the case that a father’s primary and pivotal role in raising his children is to know and understand the Catholic faith.
The book contains essays from many Catholic contributors from all walks of life: priests, successful businessmen, NFL players, media personalities, stay-at-home-moms, authors, professors and entrepreneurs. Some notable reflections come from Abby Johnson, Patrick Madrid, Anthony Esolen, Bishop Joseph Strickland, Father Paul Scalia, Jesse Romero and Father Rocky — all who give portraits of their own fathers as the conduits and models that led them to know and love Christ and his Church.
Meg Meeker, M.D., a New York Times Best Selling Author, said that “every man, whether or not he is a father, must read this extraordinary book. Men need encouragement, teaching and support from other men in order to be the good fathers or mentors that God gifted them to be. This book will inspire you, bring you to tears and change your life. Thank you, Tyler, for having the courage to write it.”
In thinking of all the people in one’s life who are either committed or fallen-away Catholics, you will notice the trend of a father’s influence, explained Rowley.
“A father’s headship in the home makes him the natural evangelizer of his children. When the father falls away from the Church, his children follow; and when he lives his faith, his children follow. The Church will stand or fall upon the backs of Catholic fathers, which is why the secular culture’s intentional breakdown of the family starts with attacks on fatherhood.”
Rowley shared how his own experience as a father has impacted the message he hopes to get across in his book.
“Being a father makes you aware of the power of fatherhood. When I became a father I had to come to terms with the fact that I’m now mainly responsible for my children’s knowledge and love of God. That’s both a blessing and a serious responsibility. Being a father is what made me passionate about the topic and ultimately led me to write and compile the book.”
While many parishes work to do so through their CCD programs, the author feels that the Catholic Church needs to continue to consider the amount of time, money and resources that go into educating the youth.
“If they go home to a father who is not committed to the faith, all of the efforts to evangelize that child often fall on deaf ears. We live in a period when we need to also catechize the parents of our children.”
“I had a mother email me and say she did everything she could do to raise her two boys in the faith, including Catholic school. But her husband rolled his eyes and mocked the faith. Both of her sons have fallen away. She bought the book to hopefully get it into their hands so they can see how much of an impact a father has on the spiritual life of a child.”
Rowley shared that while so many parents pray for their children to return to the Catholic Church, the faithful need to figure out how to prevent them from leaving in the first place.
“The lifelong witness of a good Catholic father is the best way to do that. I think already-committed Catholic men and women will need to put this book in the hands of young men as encouragement, but it’s also a warning that they are the persons most responsible for the eternal salvation of their children.”
Steve Ray, author of “Crossing the Tiber” and “Upon This Rock,” said “Our wounded generation demonstrates the result of absentee fathers. Tyler Rowley has given us glowing examples of the opposite — what happens when Christian fathers proudly take up the challenge of being real dads and leading their families to Christ. Heartwarming testimonies that should be read by every father.”
“Because of Our Fathers: Twenty-Three Catholics Tell How Their Fathers Led Them to Christ,” by Tyler Rowley is now available on Amazon.com. To learn more about the author or to buy direct from Rowley, visit tylerrowley.com.
