While the Gender Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Home Affairs held its second annual Men’s Week celebration, churches throughout Anguilla held special Fathers’ Day services and programmes on June 20 and 21.
The Gender Affairs Unit highlighted the contributions of a number of selected men to the Anguillian community; and the varied events held in the churches were aimed at bolstering an awareness of the importance of fatherhood in the home and society.
St. Mary’s Anglican Church held its annual Fathers’ Day brunch at the Scouts and Guides Ruthwill Auditorium following the second of two Sunday morning services. The officiating Priest was Reverend Menes Hodge, but it was arranged for a noted Methodist Local Preacher, Mr Sanford Richardson, to deliver the Fathers’ Day message.
Commenting on Mr. Richardson’s contribution to the event, Reverend Hodge had this to say: “The message was presented by a guest. We had invited Sanford Richardson of the Methodist Church, a Local Preacher there, to deliver the message. He is a very able speaker and is associated with the Social Welfare Department, and is a father himself. He gave a good presentation because he spoke about the importance of a father as a protector, a provider, a person whose presence should be with the children and who should set a good example.
“In my mind, it was well presented and well received, and I have gotten a few comments from members of the congregation who were very pleased with his work. Had it been me, I would have given a similar presentation because a father needs to shoulder his responsibility and to recognise that it is a God-given privilege that he has – and should not neglect it. Many fathers are neglectful, and shame on any man or boy who would undertake to be a father and then neglect his responsibility.”
Reverend Hodge also commented on the men’s brunch. “As usual, at the end of the service, the men came across to the Ruthwill Auditorium,” he said. “They were entertained by the Anglican Church Women Association, and other ladies, of the parish. When the women have their Mothers’ Day, the Brotherhood of St. Andrews entertains them. The Fathers’ Day brunch was very delicious and the fathers have had an enjoyable time.”
Mr. Fitzroy Tomlinson spoke on behalf of the men. “The fathers want to thank the ladies of the Anglican Church Women Association and the other ladies for going beyond the call of duty,” he stated. “The key to a man’s heart is his stomach so they did a wonderful job with the food – to get to our hearts – and I want to thank them very wholeheartedly.”
Mr. Tomlinson added: “I consider fatherhood to be a natural instinct for fathers and everybody to protect their offspring and provide for them. I do not consider it to be something that you have to go beyond the call of duty to do. You brought children into the world and I think you should just protect and provide for them… and it will also be just as natural for children to respect that.”
