Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This Sunday, the fourth Sunday of the Easter season, the Church Universal celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday, a powerful reminder that we are not alone in this journey of life and faith. Jesus proclaims in the Gospel of John, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep, and mine know me.” These words are more than a comforting image—they reveal God’s very heart.

A shepherd leads, protects, and provides for his flock. He knows each sheep by name and is willing to lay down his life for them. In Jesus, we encounter a Shepherd who does exactly that. He doesn’t lead from a distance—He walks among us, seeks us when we stray, and carries us when we are too weak to go on.

Good Shepherd Sunday also marks the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. It is a day to reflect on the ways God continues to call men and women to serve His flock—as priests, deacons, and religious. The Church needs shepherds who model their lives after Christ: who know their people, love them, and guide them with patience and truth. I invite all of us to pray especially for vocations, and to encourage young people to be open to the Lord’s call for their lives, whatever it may be.

What a powerful moment we are in as a Church on this Good Shepherd Sunday!  At the time of this writing, the Conclave has not yet begun, but it will have started, and maybe even concluded, by the time this article is published, so as you read this we may have a new Pope, the “Chief Shepherd” of the Lord’s flock.  Whether we do or do not yet have a new Pope, let’s pray.  We must be a people of prayer, coming like lambs to the feet of the Good Shepherd, trusting in Him for all our needs.

Please pray for your priests, deacons, catechists, seminarians, religious, consecrated, that each in the way the Lord desires, we would have His shepherd’s heart as we serve and lead.

Praised be Jesus Christ, alleluia! Now and forever, alleluia!
All you holy saints of God, pray for us!

Peace in Christ,
Fr. Michael Silloway
Pastor