It was in the 1980s, 1987 perhaps, when I was at a Catholic mass and the priest made fatherhood the entire subject of his sermon.  After all, it was Fathers Day. At the end of the sermon, he asked all the fathers in the church to stand.  Nearly all the adult males in the nearly-full church were standing.  I did not.

It was at that moment that a sense of reality gripped me.  I was in my mid-30s, never been married, and at that stage of my life unlikely to ever become a father.  I had no prospect of marriage at that time.

It was a few years later that I would meet Jane.  We were married in 1991, and at our age, realized we had one opportunity to become parents and we did.  We were surprised when the nurses told us to expect twins, but also very excited.

I feel so fortunate that God gave me the opportunity to become a father in the latter stages of life.  I could not be more blessed to have two wonderful daughters, Allison and Mary.  They are now both adults and married.

I am preparing myself for the next stage in all this, becoming a grandfather in August, as Allison and her husband Jacob prepare to become parents for the first time.

Anything I know about fatherhood came from my own dad, who sadly left us 26 years ago.  His impact on me and my five siblings continue to this day.  Bernie Lannan was a great man.

So, Allison and Mary, it is each of you that makes this day special for me.  Thank you for being daughters any father would be proud of…..and thanks to Jane for being the best mom ever to both of them.

Daddy’s little girls have grown to be outstanding young women.