Think about all the people who helped shape you into the person you are today. Chances are, it wasn't just one person. It may have been a parent, a teacher, a coach, a neighbor, an uncle, or a family friend. In their own way, each stepped into your life with presence, encouragement, and loving guidance, reminding you that you didn't have to face life alone.

It's in these moments that we realize God often works through a whole community of people. His love becomes tangible through those who show up, invest in us, and help us become who we are meant to be.

And since we recently celebrated Father's Day, our attention turns especially to those who have played the role of a father. We are reminded that there are many ways to be a dad. In fact, you might say that dad is a verb. Fatherhood is not simply a title or a matter of biology. It's something you do. It's showing up. It's offering guidance, encouragement, and steadfast love. It's being present.

Because the people who shape us most are often the ones who gave us life and the ones who gave us their time, their presence, and their love. Fatherhood is more than biology—it's a way of loving. In other words, it's choosing to "dad."

This past Sunday, Ryan Malawy offered a special reflection at Mass on the many ways one can be a father and the profound impact father figures—whether dads, foster parents, stepfathers, grandfathers, mentors, neighbors, or friends—can have on the lives of those they love and guide.