Dear Parish Family,
As we approach this season of gratitude and joyful anticipation, let us begin with a prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of our parish community and for the many blessings You bestow upon us. As we reflect on Your love and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ, fill us with hope, peace, and a spirit of service. May all we do glorify Your name and bring us closer to You. Amen.
This month’s newsletter is filled with reflections and opportunities to engage more deeply with our parish life. You’ll read about the ministry highlights, including two meaningful ministries—Bereavement Ministry and Our Lady’s Rosary Makers—that we hope to bring back to life through your prayers and participation.
In the Catechesis and Evangelization section, we reflect on a recent event that brought families together in faith and look forward to the upcoming Advent Retreat, a time for prayer and preparation during this holy season.
Finally, the Parish Life section offers reflections on All Saints and All Souls Day and invites us to prepare spiritually for Advent—a time to ready our hearts for the coming of Christ.
As you read through this issue, I hope it inspires you to grow in faith, connect with our community, and embrace the joy of serving one another.
May God bless you and your families abundantly as we journey together in faith and love.
In Christ,
Fr. Alex Chavez
Pastor, Good Shepherd Catholic Parish
At the heart of Good Shepherd Catholic Parish is a commitment to serving others and building a community rooted in faith, hope, and love. This November, we turn our attention to two ministries that have been dormant but whose revival could bring profound blessings to our parish family: the Bereavement Ministry and Our Lady’s Rosary Makers.
A Light in Times of Loss
The Bereavement Ministry has long been a source of comfort for those navigating the pain of losing a loved one. This ministry offers spiritual support to grieving families, helping them find solace through prayer and connection. Facilitators assist with funeral rosaries and memorial services, offering thoughtful gestures such as condolence cards, words of comfort, and pamphlets with guidance for healing.
During its active years, the ministry also coordinated the offering of Memorial Candles at monthly Sunday Masses—a beautiful tradition where families gathered to honor and pray for those who had recently passed. Imagine the healing impact of reinstating these sacred practices in our parish.
If you feel called to bring hope to those experiencing grief or wish to help organize these meaningful acts of service, we invite you to join us in revitalizing this vital ministry.
Crafting Hope, One Bead at a Time
The Rosary is one of the most powerful prayers in our Catholic faith, and Our Lady’s Rosary Makers once played a significant role in spreading this devotion far and wide. This ministry trained parishioners to craft rosaries, providing them free to ministries, catechists, retreat participants, missionaries, and even the homeless. Through their mission work, they brought hope to many, both locally and globally.
In addition, they kept our parish office stocked with rosaries for those in need and raised funds through annual rosary sales to sustain their mission.
Reinvigorating this ministry would not only provide a valuable devotional tool to many but also reignite the joy of creating something beautiful with our hands in service to God. Whether you’re interested in learning to make rosaries or helping coordinate their distribution, your talents and faith can help bring this ministry back to life.
A Call to Serve
Both ministries represent the essence of Christ’s love in action. The Bereavement Ministry offers solace and healing, while Our Lady’s Rosary Makers provide a tangible connection to prayer and hope.
Are you feeling the Holy Spirit calling you to help? Reach out to our parish office today to express your interest or learn more about how you can support the revival of these important ministries. Together, we can continue to grow as a parish family, united in our mission to serve one another and spread God’s love.
Take a moment to fill out this form and let us know how you’d like to be involved.
Together, we can make a difference!
Parish Life: A Time for Reflection and Preparation
As the days grow shorter and the air grows cooler, November invites us to pause and reflect on life’s profound mysteries—those of eternity, sanctity, and the coming of Christ.
Reflecting on All Saints and All Souls Day
Earlier this month, we came together as a parish family to honor the great feast of All Saints Day and the solemn commemoration of All Souls Day. On All Saints Day, we celebrated the lives of the countless holy men and women who have gone before us, inspiring us to live with faith, courage, and charity.
All Souls Day followed, a sacred time to remember and pray for our beloved departed. Many parishioners lit candles in remembrance and offered prayers for the eternal rest of those who have gone to meet the Lord. This season serves as a reminder that our prayers can aid the souls in purgatory and that our connection to our loved ones transcends the boundaries of time and space.
As we continue through November, the month dedicated to the Holy Souls, let us carry this spirit of prayer and remembrance with us. Consider adding a special intention for the faithful departed during your daily prayers or visiting the cemetery to pray for those who rest there.
Advent: Preparing Our Hearts for Christ
As November draws to a close, we prepare to enter the sacred season of Advent, a time of joyful anticipation and spiritual renewal. Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year, offering us an opportunity to reflect on the coming of Christ—not only in His birth at Christmas but also in His presence in our daily lives and His return in glory.
Advent is a season of hope and preparation. Amid the busyness of the world, it calls us to pause and make room in our hearts for the Lord. Here are some ways to embrace the spirit of Advent and prepare for the coming of Christ:
Set Aside Time for Prayer: Dedicate a few quiet moments each day to reflect on scripture or meditate on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love represented by the Advent candles.
Create an Atmosphere of Anticipation: Place an Advent wreath in your home or light a single candle each week as a visible sign of Christ’s light entering the world.
Seek Reconciliation: Advent is a time to reconcile with God and others. Reflect on your relationships and seek forgiveness where needed.
Practice Acts of Kindness: Embrace the spirit of giving by reaching out to those in need, offering kindness and generosity as a reflection of Christ’s love.
Advent is more than a countdown to Christmas—it is an opportunity to deepen our faith and draw closer to Christ. Let us prepare our hearts with the same quiet joy and expectation that Mary and Joseph experienced as they awaited the birth of Jesus.
May this season of Advent lead us all to a deeper encounter with the Lord, filling our hearts with hope and preparing us for the celebration of His birth.
High School Confirmation's Family Day
Earlier this month, our Catechesis and Evangelization team hosted the first High School Confirmation Family Day, an inspiring event designed to deepen families’ understanding of the Mass and their faith journey. The day was thoughtfully structured into four interactive stations, each teaching a different part of the Mass:
Entrance
Liturgy of the Word
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Conclusion
Families also engaged in the Examination of Conscience and were invited to participate in the Sacrament of Confession, helping them reflect and grow closer to Christ.
Inside the Hall, parents and students explored The Search: What Do You Seek?, a thought-provoking lesson by the St. Augustine Institute, which encouraged participants to reflect on life’s purpose through the lens of faith.
Fr. Carrillo opened the day with a beautiful prayer and meaningful words, inspiring families to embrace their role in fostering faith at home. Parents were actively engaged and reminded of the importance of leading by example in their children’s spiritual development.
This Family Day was a testament to the power of shared learning and worship, reminding us all of the richness of our Catholic faith.
Upcoming Event: Advent Retreat for Families
As we prepare for Christmas, we invite all families in the First Communion, Confirmation, CCAT, and Family Catechesis programs to join us for a special Advent Retreat on December 7 at St. Charles Catholic Church from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM.
This retreat is a sacred time to step away from the hustle of the season and refocus on what truly matters. Through prayer, reflection, and community fellowship, families can prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ in a meaningful and prayerful way.
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the true joy and peace of Advent as a family and as a community of faith.
Celebration to Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 3 - 12
View flyer for details
St. Charles / Holy Family Church
Baby Shower honoring the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 8
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
St. Charles Hall
Simbang Gabi 2024
December 15 - 23
View flyer for details
St. Charles / St Mary's Church
Religious Education Advent Parents Retreat
December 7
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
St. Charles Hall
Rorate Caeli Mass - Celebrated by candlelight
December 14
5:45 am
Holy Family Church
Share Your Stories: Celebrating Our Parish Community
At Good Shepherd Catholic Parish, every parishioner and ministry plays a vital role in building our vibrant, faith-filled community. Each of you brings unique experiences, talents, and contributions that make our parish a place of worship, service, and fellowship. Now, we invite you to share your stories with us!
Whether you’re part of a ministry, have participated in a parish event, or have a personal story of faith and service, your experiences matter. By sharing them in The Good Shepherd’s Voice, you can inspire others, strengthen our community, and highlight the incredible work happening across our parish.
Ministries, too, are encouraged to submit updates, events, and stories that showcase the positive impact you are making. These stories are a way to recognize the hard work and dedication that often happens behind the scenes and to inspire even greater involvement.
If you have a story or event to share, please submit it using the Communications Request Form. Together, we can continue to celebrate the many ways God is working through each of us in our parish community. Let’s keep building a parish where every voice is heard, and every story of faith is celebrated!
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