On this Father's Day weekend, Fr. Bruce Riebe and Fr. Fabian explore the unique vocation of married priests in the Byzantine Catholic Church, examining how they balance family life with priestly duties. The hosts reflect on the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel from Matthew 10, where Jesus calls his disciples to fearless faith. Drawing on the spirit of "Be Not Afraid," they connect godly courage to the role of fathers — both spiritual and biological — and lift up St. Joseph as the model for all fathers.
This Father's Day episode of Be Not Afraid on Iowa Catholic Radio opens a fascinating window into the married priesthood of the Byzantine Catholic Church. Fr. Bruce and Fr. Fabian discuss the practical realities these priests navigate — from finances and child-rearing to spiritual discipline and, in rare cases, divorce. Fr. Bruce shares his personal discernment between marriage and celibacy, offering an honest reflection on why he felt called to give himself fully to priestly life.
The hosts also unpack the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel (Matthew 10:26–33), in which Jesus urges his disciples to fear no one but God. Fr. Bruce recalls his Covid-era mantra — "faith driven, Eucharistic centered, and not fear based" — and explains how that spirit gave rise to the name Be Not Afraid. The episode closes with a meditation on St. Joseph as the perfect model for fathers, stepfathers included, and a blessing for all dads on their special day.
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