Newsletter - 21 April 2024
Good Shepherd Sunday
“Rejoice that the Lord has made you members of his flock
and knows each of you by name! Follow him with joy and
let him guide you in all your ways”.
Pope Benedict XVI
This Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Easter, is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday”. After three Sundays of the Resurrection appearances, we turn to John 10, Jesus’ great revelation, “I am the Good Shepherd”. Over three years, we hear most of the chapter (Year A: verses1-10, Year B: v. 11-18, Year C: v. 27-30).
I discovered the power of this image more than 30 years ago when I read the book, The Religious Potential of the Child, by Sofia Cavalletti. She asks: how can we “explain” the concept of God to a young child who is incapable of abstract thinking? How can we answer the unspoken questions of the child, “who are you, God?”, “who am I?”, and “who am I in relationship with?” She says we can’t explain it at all, but we can (as Jesus did himself) propose concrete images that tell us about God: “I am the Light of the World”, “I am the Good Shepherd who knows my sheep by name, and they know my voice.” This introduces children to a relationship that speaks to their need to be loved and known. What better image of God could there be?
Reading this book brought me into a vocation as a catechist with the method developed by Cavalletti which takes its name from this image – the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
On the first floor of the parish we have a special room, the atrium, dedicated to the religious life of the 3-6 year-old child. There are special materials which invite the child to explore with their hands many stories from the Bible and liturgy. Here they can return to the Good Shepherd material not just one Sunday a year, but every time they come to the atrium.
Besides the materials based on John 10, we return to the Good Shepherd many times. For example: the presentations on Baptism (we are called by name to become one of the flock – the Good Shepherd’s own child), the Last Supper (the moment the Good Shepherd announces that he will lay his life down for the sheep), the Eucharist (the Good Shepherd feeds his sheep in a most particular way). It’s clear the Good Shepherd isn’t just for children but is an image that can nourish us all through our life.
Nancy Wood, ccn
Focus of the Week
Change to Mass times on 12 May
Mass times : 10.00am and 12 noon
On Sunday 12 May we will be celebrating First Holy Communion masses.
On this occasion the masses will be at 10am and 12 noon.
Bingo Night
Saturday 27 April – 6.30pm
Tickets £15 Child £7.50 (under 12)
Food, soft drinks and 5 games of bingo included.
Additional game books available to buy on entrance.
Tickets will be on sale after weekend masses
and also available from the parish office.
We would be grateful for any donated prizes which can be left in the parish office.