The football season was intense. St. Pius beat Marist for the first time in 21 years. Marist went on to win the state championship. Blessed Trinity beat Our Lady of Mercy during Mercy’s homecoming game.

And throughout the fall, fathers of each team cheered on their children’s teams, the friendly rivalry sometimes growing as intense as that of the schools’ students.

But an annual event brings the dads of Catholic high schools together for the first time to share in the joy of their faith and their roles as fathers.

This year, St. Pius X High School’s annual Dad’s Day of Recollection will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, and will be open to fathers from Marist School, Atlanta, Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell, Our Lady of Mercy High School, Fairburn, and St. Pius.

The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Pius. Fathers and grandfathers of past and present students are invited to attend the event, which will feature Mass and talks by Msgr. Richard Lopez, religion teacher at St. Pius.

Msgr. Lopez is a renowned speaker, famous for his hilarious stories and profound message. This year his theme will be on God as Father and fathers as God’s image. The sessions will include question-and-answer sessions and discussions among the attendees. Opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation will conclude the day.

Dads are asked to bring a brown bag lunch from home. Drinks will be provided.

For more information or to register call Bob Wannemacher at (770) 564-2488 or e-mail him at roderabl@bellsouth.net.

Those interested can also call Mike Cote at (404) 512-4910 or e-mail him at cotem@mindspring.com.