Church
of the
Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd - Newsletter
Untitled
A Year of Patronage of St. Joseph - Foster father of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
SYNOD:

As announced at our Parish Synod, Holy Father Francis invites the Universal Church to contribute to the Synod of Bishops announced for ad 2023. This week we have a Pastoral Letter from Bishop Patrick introducing us all to our involvement in the process. A prayer card will be distributed today which we shall use at the end of the Universal Prayer of the Mass to pray for the success of the Synod and our involvement in it. Details of our parish Synod & our personal involvement in the Universal Synod will be published next week.
Parish Synod - Parish Renewal.

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the Parish Synod on the 2nd the Pastoral Team are analysing the responses and hope to be able to feedback to the parish in the next month. This is only the beginning of a time of renewal in the parish, change can be scary but the life of Catholics is to be constantly changing to be more like Jesus. In the words of St John Henry Newman: 'To live is to change, and to change often is to become more perfect.' In the meantime please keep sending your thoughts and especially your dreams of what the parish can be to the parish office. We want everyone to be involved. To avoid confusion with the worldwide synod we will now refer to the parish synod day as the first parish renewal day.
MAD HATTERS QUIZ NIGHT:

A warm welcome to all ticket holders. There may be a few on sale on the night, but for catering purposes your advance purchase is encouraged. We publish the menu here: 1st Plate: Autumn Soup followed by 1)Chicken leek & tarragon pie, or Harissa Beef & Crispy potato or Gnocchi mushroom & thyme; followed by fruity meringue flan or mystery trifle or melon & fresh fruit.
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS:

The season begins now with your visit to the PARISH REPOSITORY where you will find all of your Advent and Christmas needs. Advent Candles, Nativity Sets, Cards, wrapping paper etc. and much more.
ANNUAL BAZAAR:

chocolate donations needed - Parishioners, we need your help please. Please could you donate chocolate items for our chocolate tombola stall, which is a favourite of the children at the Christmas fair on Sat 27 Nov? Please place donations in bags marked "bazaar" by the internal steps into the parish centre. Thank you.
SECRET SANTA TICKETS:

Sales continue briskly for this annual event and again the luncheon menu will be published shortly. You don't need a "Secret Santa" ticket to come and enjoy the annual Parish Christmas Lunch. Yes we know you are all disappointed to have missed out over the last 18 months, but all is restored. There will be "Children's Activity Tables", "Santa in his Grotto", Children's entertainment throughout the celebration as well as the tombola.
PARISH CAROL SERVICE:

followed by a "Secret Santa Happy Hour" with nibbles for "mingling & munch". There is so much to look forward to! Book the dates in your diary now!. The 17th December at 7.00 pm.
PREPARING FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT:

Can you help as we return to "normal"? We need our Children's liturgists back. If you supported this in the past, please come forward again to develop it forward! You will have noticed we haven't a Readers/lectors schedule yet. Please sign your name. Ann Jones is waiting to develop the schedule! The Finance Team are eager again to re-establish Sunday counters. Can we rely on previous members? Are there any new members who will help? Please see the ministry table at the back of the Church and sign up your support for your parish now!
FRIENDS OF ST. BARNABAS CATHEDRAL:

The diocese is developing a new venture of friendship to support our Cathedral Church. Please pick a leaflet from the Welcoming Area and share in the launch of this venture.
FRIDAY LUNCHEON RESTORED:

The first of the Friday (after mid day Mass luncheons was restored with great success. The Kitchen Co-workers hope to have the next one on the First Friday of November, building up again to the weekly sessions all used to enjoy. Pop down any time from 12.30 pm onwards for friendship and light lunches in the Josephinium.
FIRST SACRAMENTS PREPARATION:

In line with the diocese we share a different approach to our children's preparation for First Confession (when did you last share this wonderful Sacrament?) & First Holy Communion. Enrolment cards are now available on the "Ministries Table" at the back of the Church. Our parents; as the first catechists, will be invited to share the Alpha Course in January / February (this takes the place of parents meetings) to engender their gift of Faith in Jesus. On successful completion of this course, the children will be enrolled in the First Sacraments programme. Please ensure you fill out both sides of the enrolment cards with all details to ensure that we can contact you and invite our parents to this opportunity of building up the parish community.
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH:

Following an approach by the organisers of a local filming project, we have agreed to allow the church building to be used this week for filming purposes. As a result, there will be certain times of the day when our church will be closed. Please also note that Holy Mass on Friday October 22nd, will be celebrated at St Anthony's, Calverton. Church will also be closed at the following times: From 2pm on Wednesday 20th October 10am until 5pm on Thursday 21st October, 7am until 8pm on Friday 22nd October (Holy Mass will be celebrated at St Anthony's Calverton) Thank you in advance for your support and understanding.
PARISH OUTREACH:

  1. "GUIDES DOGS APPEAL": Our sincere thanks to all who supported this appeal last week. £200 was raised and all winners have been notified. Thank you.
  2. "LOVE IN A BOX" A shoebox full of goodies brings so much joy and excitement to a child who rarely receives gifts, and sends them a powerful message of loving kindness. It's amazing how much you can fit into a shoebox and there are excellent ideas and suggestions to be found on the Teams 4 U website. If you would like to create a shoebox please take a Teams 4 U leaflet from the Narthex. Collection date late November, specific date to follow.
THESE WE HAVE KNOWN:

Our farewell from the parish until we can meet please God in Heaven for:-
the late Krystyna Scott RIP takes place on Wednesday, 20th October at 12.30 pm prior to interment at Redhill Cemetery.
The late Kathleen Zajac RIP, and her son the late, Mark Zajac RIP will be on Thursday, 28th October at 9.30 am with Requiem Mass and interment at Redhill Cemetery.
The late Sedella Mary Stephens RIP will be received at the Good Shepherd Church on 8th November at 6.30 pm followed by Requiem Mass on 9th November at 11.00 am prior to interment at Redhill Cemetery.
We commend to your prayer Ernest Dale RIP, a tremendous friend to all of your parish priests and late editor of this parish newsletter who died peacefully at home last Tuesday. Arrangements will be announced as we receive them.
Our further commendation to your charitable prayer is for Mrs Jean Healy RIP of our parish community of many years standing. Again arrangements will be announced when received.
May the souls of the Faithful departed now rest with the Lord.
From the Finance Committee of The Good Shepherd:

Collection last week: £1610.71 Standing Orders: £917.00 Parish Debt: £371.82
Thank you for your generous and responsible giving.
DONATIONS BY SMARTPHONE: It is also possible to make one-off donations to the parish by smartphone technology. The code for you to scan with a smartphone camera is shown to the left. By scanning this code the smartphone will immediately open the parish's dedicated on-line donations page. To scan the code you will need to have installed a reputable QR and Barcode scanner app on your smartphone.
Legacies: Thank you for remembering the work of the Good Shepherd & St. Anthony's in Your Will.
NOVEMBER VISIT TO REDHILL CEMETERY:

Please note that the traditional pilgrimage to our parish Cemetery of Redhill will take place on Sunday, 7th November. Meeting at the Cemetery chapel for opening liturgy and rosary procession through the cemetery we shall celebrate consecration of the ground and hold memorial of our beloved dead beginning at 12.15 pm. Individual blessing of graves will follow. November memorial Mass envelopes are now available in the Church for you. Please return these as soon as possible for inclusion on the Altars of our Churches throughout the month of November. Thank you.
Dear parishioners:

PLEASE CONTINUE to offer courtesy to our neighbours when parking cars in the vicinity of the Church. Thanks!

Last updated 15.10.2021
3 Thackeray's Lane, Woodthorpe, Nottingham, NG5 4HT. Tel: (0115) 926 8288