Roman Catholic Archbishop Jason Gordon says T&T’s fourth president George Maxwell Richards’ devotion to family life and his role as a father was something we can all emulate.
Gordon spoke yesterday following the funeral service of Richards at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, Port-of-Spain, following the State funeral for the former president.
Having listened to the eulogy delivered by Richards’ two children, Mark and Maxine—who spoke about the role their father played in the lives as children and even adults—Gordon said it showed that the former president was a man of distinction and a great family man.
Of all the tributes that were paid to Richards in the last nine days, Gordon said Mark and Maxine’s testimonies were most touching “because you got the inner core of who the President was. You heard from his children that he was not only a man of distinction for the nation or industry but a good father who took his time in the bringing up of his children.”
In today’s world, Gordon said Richards demonstrated an example for all fathers of our nation to emulate.
“And so he leaves us a challenge for our fathers to really participate in the bringing up and the life of their children.”
Gordon said of all the things Richards had contributed to T&T “that certainly is one of the pieces of the puzzle we have not highlighted. And one that I think is a wonderful and outstanding contribution.”
Asked if the absence of fathers in homes had been contributing to a breakdown in family life, Gordon said family life had seen a serious challenge all around.
“A big part of that in our country has been the absent fathers in the home…and now more and more the absent mothers in the home,” he said.
The first responsibility of any parent, Gordon said was to teach, guide and inculcate values and respect.
“All the external accolades that we might have will never make up for the parenting that we were entrusted to do for the children that we have.”
Stating that we lived in a fast-paced world, Gordon said he empathised with some parents who have to juggle work and manage a home which often leads to little family life.
“Unless you make family life a priority it’s easy to get caught in all the activities. And the husband and wife become strained from each other and also from their children.”
Gordon said it took a conscious commitment to build a strong family life and ensure that relationships are intact which in turn will lead to the proper growth of our children.