Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez shared a Father's Day message in a Facebook video that was posted Sunday.

"Today is an opportunity to express gratitude for the love and support you provide and the sacrifices you make,” he said in the video. "Whether you're a biological father, foster father, adoptive father, priest or male religious, you play a critical role in the lives of your sons and daughters at every stage of life.”

The Catholic Church is said to have started the Father's Day tradition, going back to sometime in the Middle Ages. It used to be celebrated on March 19, which is the feast of St. Joseph, one of the best examples of good fatherhood.

St. Joseph and Mary were engaged to each other when she became pregnant with Jesus, Catholic.org confirms. Even though he knew the baby wasn’t his, he also knew that adulterous women could be stoned to death, which likely would have killed the baby, too. Joseph decided to send Mary quietly away to save her life. An angel visited him before he sent Mary away, telling him that he should take Mary as his wife, because the child she carried was the son of God. Joseph trusted the angel’s message and married Mary.

By acting to protect Mary and the baby, Joseph earned the title of 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," according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). "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.”

Perez underscored the message the Church has for fathers.

“As Pope Francis said, I ask that you have the grace to be very close to your children,” he said. “They need you - your presence, your closeness and your love. May you be for them as Saint Joseph was: guardians of their growth in age, wisdom and grace. Happy Father's Day. God bless you.”