March 19 is the Feast of St. Joseph, sometimes referred to as St. Joseph’s Day. This Feast of St. Joseph is extra special because it is also the Year of St. Joseph. With all of this St. Joseph-ness going on, it’s a great time to take a look at how you celebrate the St. Josephs in your life.

While God is Jesus’ father, Jesus also had the wonderful example of Joseph, his foster-father. In the same way, while our ultimate father is God, God shares His love with us through many different father figures: Traditional fathers, step fathers, foster fathers, brothers, priests, uncles, grandfathers, coaches, teachers and fathers-in-law, are just a few examples of the many different father figures we can have in our lives, and the feast of St. Joseph is a great time to celebrate them all.

Here are six ways to celebrate the father figures in your life:

1. RECOGNIZE HIM

Moms want to hear, “I love you.” Dads want to hear, “I need you.” Recognition is a spectacular form of appreciation. Try telling him you appreciate him by recognizing what he does for you or how important he is to you. Especially great for: step-fathers, foster fathers, fathers- in-law, priests and coaches.

2. PLAY WITH HIM

Imagine being St. Joseph and having to raise the Son of God! Fathers feel an incredible sense of responsibility, and more pressure than you likely realize. Take your father golfing, watch a movie, play a board game, a wiffle ball game in the backyard, anything that will
make him feel playful for a little while. Especially great for: Traditional fathers, priests and brothers.

3. MAKE SOMETHING WITH HIM

There is a reason dads love to tinker around in the garage and pretend we know things about cars. Dads love to create. From making a craft with the kids to helping him with a project around the house, fathers love spending time working with the people they love. Especially great for: Grandfathers, uncles and foster fathers.

4. PRAY FOR HIM

Fathers never want their loved ones to be worried about them, but prayer is both powerful and essential. Remember him in your prayer intentions, go to Mass with him, or even have special prayer time with him on St. Joseph’s day. Especially great for: Traditional fathers, step-fathers, foster fathers and brothers.

5. GIVE HIM A GIFT

St. Joseph’s feast day falls during a bleak time of year. March isn’t really filled with any holidays; the weather is often cold and rainy; and baseball hasn’t started yet. Celebrate St. Joseph’s feast day by surprising him with an unexpected gift. Especially great for: Priests, uncles, traditional fathers and fathers-in-law

6. FEED HIM

Fathers love to eat. Seeing as St. Joseph’s feast day is, well, a feast day, go all out and celebrate! It may be Lent, but Catholics still love to party. Try having a big dinner with family, grill out in the backyard or safely go out to his favorite restaurant. Especially great for: Traditional fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles and priests.

No matter what kind of father figure you want to honor this St. Joseph’s feast day, these six celebrations are sure to make him feel special and beloved on March 19. St. Joseph, husband of Mary and father of Jesus, pray for us!

This article appeared in the March 2021 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.