The Diocese of Grand Rapids celebrated Father's Day, which originated as a Catholic holiday, on Sunday with a plea for everyone to pray for all fathers.

“Happy Father's Day!” the diocese posted on Facebook. “Pray with us today for all fathers - those who are part of our lives by birth or adoption, and our priests and bishops who act as spiritual fathers, inviting the intercession of St. Joseph to strengthen and guide them.” 

Father's Day began as a Catholic holiday sometime in the Middle Ages. It used to be celebrated on March 19, which is the feast of St. Joseph. 

St. Joseph, a carpenter, was engaged to Mary when she became pregnant with Jesus, a report on Catholic.org said. Although he knew the baby wasn’t his, he also knew that adulterous women could be stoned to death, so he decided instead to send her quietly away. But an angel visited him and told him that he should take Mary as his wife, because the child she carried was the son of God. Joseph trusted the angel and married Mary. Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church, unborn children and fathers. 

"Fatherhood has its origins in God, who chose to reveal Himself to us as Our Father, sending his only Son for the sake of our salvation," a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops report said. "Fathers therefore have a special role 'in revealing and in reliving on earth the very fatherhood of God' (Familiaris consortio 25). Father’s Day is an appropriate time to recall the essential role of fathers in the life of the family and in building a culture of life. It is also an opportunity to highlight spiritual fatherhood, which all men are called to embrace.”