Welcome to our parish website
This is the Justgiving site where you can contirbute to our parish finances.
You can use the code reader scan or the link below to make a contribution.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Good-Shepherd-Church-Downham
All churches are suffering financial hardship since the pandemic and now further exacerbated by our current economic climate.
You may not be a regular attender at Good Shepherd but have family links or fond memories of the church of your youth. Your parish is dependent on your generosity to continue serving our community.
Thank you for your support.
Seventh Sunday of Easter
World Communications Sunday.
Second Collection for the Catholic Communications Network
Supporting the Bishops' Conference in promoting the Gospel nationwide.
On Tuesday.
Holy Face Prayer Group
Upper Hall at 3pm.
On Wednesday.
11th June.
Bible Study Group.
Upper Hall at 7.30pm
All are welcome.
Diocesan Jubilee Celebration
at Aylesford Priory.
on Saturday 7th June 2025
From 10 am to 5 pm.
Over 2000 people expected.
Free Entry.
Some events for children will need to be booked.
All are welcome.
See link for further details.
Pentecost Sunday
The Birthday of the Church.
The end of the Season of Easter
Pentecost Sunday.
The annual Mission Appeal
We welcome Fr Antony Cosmo from the Missionaries of St Paul.
who will make the Mission Appeal.
The MSP is a religious congregation operating in various parts of the world,
dedicated to proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ
and the salvific work of God the Father through the Holy Spirit.
The MSP warmly invites you to support their mission appeal.
There will be a second collection at all Masses.
Changes to Lewisham Borough. *Lewisham residents — please read and share!*
Lewisham Council is running a “Sustainable Streets” consultation that includes plans to expand *Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs)* — which means:
• New or higher parking charges • Less free parking near homes, shops & schools • Restrictions for visitors, carers & tradespeople
*These changes will impact Deptford, New Cross Gate, Brockley, Telegraph Hill, Ladywell, Crofton Park, Forest Hill, Perry Vale, Sydenham, Bellingham, Catford South, Downham, Hither Green & Grove Park.*
*Deadline to respond: Monday 16 June*
Have your say here: https://lewishamsustainablestreets.commonplace.is/map/remaining-areas-phase-3
*Please share this with others in Lewisham — people may not even know it’s happening.*
Labour MP, Tonia Antoniazzi, has tabled
a new extreme abortion up to birth amendment
ahead of the Report Stage of the Crime and Policing Bill.
click link for further details.
Employment Opportunity at SPUC
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) is hiring! It is currently looking for a
full-time Receptionist for its HQ in Kennington, London SEll. This is an exciting opportunity to
work for the UK's largest pro-life organisation. If you believe yourself to have the skills, energy
and passion to deliver justice for unborn children, then go to www.spuc.org.uk/joinourteam to
find out more about the role and download the Application Pack.
If you want to make pro-life activism your full-time job, please consider this.
Inauguration of Holy Year Jubilee 2025
Seee link for latest.
For those who joined the Church at Easter.
Celebration Masses
for those who were received into the fullness of the Church
through being numbered among the Elect or Candidates on Holy Saturday
Three venues around the diocese.
See link for details.
Mass in Celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage, July 12th, at St George’s Cathedral.
If you are celebrating your 1st/10th/25th/40th/50th/60th + wedding anniversary this year,
please let us know as soon as possible, and no later than the middle of May,
providing the following details: your names in the format John and Mary Smith, your home address, your parish,
and the anniversary you are celebrating,
so you can receive an invitation from the Archbishop for the renewal of vows during Mass.
Spaces are limited.
Contact us at mflse@rcaos.org.uk As the title of your email, please write your parish location e.g. Clapham, Beckenham.
Marriage and Family Life South East
RC Archdiocese of Southwark
Parish Funday
Sunday 13th July 2025
12 noon to 3 pm.
Application forms are available at the back of the church.
Please return to Fr John in the sacristy.
I am just getting in touch again to let you know that, following the Report Stage debate on the Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill on Friday,
it’s very important that your MP receives a follow-up email from you.
TAKE ACTION
We have launched a new tool that enables you to send a follow-up to your MP now.
As we have done in the past with similar tools, the email that the tool sends is personalised based on how your MP voted at Second Reading in November:
Please click the button below and take 30 seconds to send a follow-up email to your MP now:
Click here to send a follow-up to your MP now. Best wishes,
Catherine Robinson
Right To Life UK
A Year of Hope: Introduction to the Jubilee Year
How can we respond to Pope Francis’ call to be “tangible signs of hope” in this Jubilee Year?
Find out by watching this inspirational event
find it and other Jubilee resources at cafod.org.uk/jubilee).
Featuring Fr Jan Nowotnik, Director of Mission at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales,
CAFOD Director Christine Allen and more.
Discover how we can act in faith and in love as pilgrims of hope this Holy Year.
You Can Help Your Marriage –Do you feel alone?
Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue … or have you just stopped talking to each other?
Does talking about it only make it worse? Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long'i') helps couples through difficult times in their marriages.
Out of 21 couples who joined the Retrouvaille programme in February,
two couples have turned away from divorce, and others now found hope to restore their marriages.
There is no group therapy or group work.
This programme has helped 10s of 1000s of couples experiencing difficulties in their marriage.
For confidential information about Retrouvaille’,
or to register for the next programme commencing via Zoom on …
20-22 June 2025
Call or text 0788 7296983 Email info@retrouvaille.org.uk
A Jubilee Year
is a special time dedicated by the Catholic Church
to reconciliation, conversion, and spiritual renewal.
During this year, the faithful can receive
plenary indulgences, participate in events and spiritual activities, and deeply reconnect with their faith.
As so many will not be able to travel to Rome to celebrate the Jubilee Year,
the Pope asks local Bishops to designate appropriate churches in each diocese
to be centres of pilgrimage where the many Jubilee Indulgences may be obtained.
See link for further details.
Details of all programmes,
listed above,
in the Headline menu.
First Holy Communion Programme.
Sunday Liturgy for Children
Sacrament of Confirmation
Discovering the Catholic Faith
Infant Baptism.
Vocations to Priesthood, Diaconate and Religious Life.
See link for further details.
for children aged 3 years and above.
contact the school on 020 8698 4173 or
www.goodshepherd.lewisham.sch.uk.
Appeal for School Governors.
Governors have an important role to play in ensuring sure schools are run effectively.
They work as part of a team with the Headteacher and other staff
to provide a happy, safe, and thriving learning environment as well as an excellent education for all the children.
See link for details.
For families and young adults:
The latest CELEBRATE resource which is ourLent Online Family Activity pack designed to support family faith life.
It is packed full of engaging activities, ways to pray, books to savour and films that both entertain and promote conversation in faith.
Parishes, schools and families can download their free Lent family activity pack here.
CELEBRATE also has a couple of events coming up:
See link for details.
Some Reflections in Light of the Synod on Synodality.
Summary by Archbishop John Wilson.
See link for details
Racial Justice and Social Inclusion
See Link for latest Newsletter.
Newsletter of the Commission for Promoting Racial Justice and Cultural Inclusion
December 2024. Issue 12.
Jubilee Year 2025
Latest news on Jubilee Year 2025.
See link
Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis
See link for latest newsletter.
Caritas in Southwark
Archbishop John Wilson challenges his diocese to respond.
Pope Francis reminds us,
‘Each individual Christian and every community,’
he says ‘is called to be
an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor,
and for enabling them to be fully a part of society.
This demands,’ says Pope Francis ‘that we be docile and attentive to the cry of the poor
and to come to their aid.’
(EG 187)
Latest Bulletin June 2024
See link.
See link for details.
CSAN (Catholic Social Action Network).
Do Justice Campaign.
The aim of the campaign is to encourage Catholic parishes and schools to discern the needs of their local communities in the light of the Gospel and to act with the skills and resources they have at their disposal to bring about a more just society.
See link for details
Called to be Peacemakers
A new document of the International Affairs department of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
A Catholic approach to arms control and disarmament.
See link for details.
Lewisham Council.
Lewisham Foodbank
Worrying about money!
Struggling to pay the council tax!
Better off Lewisham
Need for Foster Carers
Recycling and Waste Collections
click link for details.
June Edition
With the ESV translation of the scripture.
Price £1.
now available from the back of the church.
This is a useful little book (A5) which contains the daily Mass Readings.
Link yourself with the Universal Church in taking a few minutes,
on your way to work or during a break,
to unite with God's Word,
as it is received throughout the world on each day.
Available from the back of the church. Price £1.
Anne Duggan RIP
Received into Church: Monday 16th June at 4pm
Funeral Mass: Tuesday 17th June at 10.30am
Committal: Hither Green Cemetery at 12 noon
Martin Joyce RIP
Funeral Mass: Thursday 19th June at 11am.
Committal: Camberwell New Cemetery at 1pm.
Suzette Alexis RIP
Funeral Mass: Thursday 26th June at 9.30am
Committal: Grove Park Cemetery at 11am