This is a busy Sunday for us, the fourth Sunday of the Easter season. Because of the Gospel reading in which Jesus states that his sheep hear his voice, that Jesus knows his flock, and that his flock follows him, this Sunday is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Jesus as our Good Shepherd is such a beloved image for us. In addition, with great love and joy, we celebrate Mother’s Day in our Church and in our country this weekend, as we show our love and gratitude for our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. In addition, this is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, fulfilling the Lord's instruction to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest. We all have different vocations to which God calls us, but, particularly on this world day of prayer, we pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated religious life. As I said, we have a lot going on this Sunday! We are also in a very busy mode here at St Jude getting ready for Deacon Andrew Bowden’s ordination to the priesthood and for his Mass of thanksgiving and reception that will be held at our parish next weekend. I am thankful for all of our parishioners who are busy with those preparations. We are looking forward to celebrating with Andrew and his family next weekend!
With our first celebration of first holy communion with our children last weekend, which was such a joyful day, we are now looking forward to our celebration of confirmation with the youth of St Jude with Bishop Joseph Kopacz on June 1.
Our psalm today states: “Know that the Lord is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. The fact that our shepherd “made us” reveals our destiny, which is quite a special destiny indeed. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, will go to great extremes for us as members of his flock. He will give up his life for his sheep.
May Jesus, our Good Shepherd, always lead us and guide us through the ups and downs of life. Blessings to all of you on this 4th Sunday of Easter and on this blessed Mother’s Day weekend. Father Lincoln.
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