Ignatius Press Releases Book on Fatherhood; Twenty-Three Inspiring Stories

Lincoln, RI – Tyler Rowley recently released a book with publisher Ignatius Press titled Because of Our Fathers: Twenty-Three Catholics Tell How Their Fathers Led Them to Christ. The book makes the case for a father’s primary and pivotal role in raising his children to know and understand the Catholic faith.

“If you think of all the people in your life who are either committed or fallen-away Catholics, you will notice the trend of a father’s influence,” said Rowley. “A father’s headship in the home makes him the natural evangelizer of his children. When he falls away from the Church, his children fall even further away, 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.”

The book contains essays from twenty-three Catholics from across the United States—including Abby Johnson, Patrick Madrid, Anthony Esolen, Bishop Joseph Strickland, Father Paul Scalia, Jesse Romero, Fr. Rocky—who give portraits of their own fathers as the conduits and models that led them to know and love Christ and His Church. The twenty-three contributors include people from all walks of life: priests, successful businessmen, NFL all-pros, media personalities, stay-at-home-moms, authors, professors, and entrepreneurs.

The Introduction and Conclusion by editor Tyler Rowley serve as a wake-up call. Illustrating the Church’s teaching on fatherhood with current research on the family, he makes clear the urgent need for more men who take seriously their God-given task of raising children and forming them spiritually.

“Every man, whether or not he is a father, must read this extraordinary book,” said Meg Meeker, M.D., a New York Times Best Selling Author. “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.”

Ignatius Press, named for Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order, is a Catholic publishing house based in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1978 by Father Joseph Fessio. a Jesuit priest and former pupil of Pope Benedict XVI. In an interview in 1998, Father Fessio said, “our objective is to support the teachings of the Church.” Ignatius Press also produces Catholic World Report, Homiletic and Pastoral Review, Ignatius Insight and the blog Ignatius Insight Scoop. It is one of the leading Catholic publishers in the world.