Parish Contact Information - Google Form
Join our parish community
by clicking on the underlined link.
Fundraising at Good Shepherd
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.
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Latest News
Don't forget to register for Parish Funday.
Sunday 13th July from 12 noon to 3pm.
Activities for children.
Hot food and drink.
See further below for details.
Stella Maris.
Every year churches around the world celebrate Sea Sunday.
It is a day on which people come together to pray for seafarers and fishers
and thank them for the vital role they play in our lives.
Second Collection taken today.
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
Marriage Care.
Seeking volunteers to help with preparing couples for marriage
At Blackheath.
See link for further details.
On Tuesday.
Holy Face Prayer Group
Upper Hall at 3pm.
On Wednesday.
16th July.
Bible Study Group.
Upper Hall at 7.30pm
All are welcome.
SOUTHWARK DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
There are still a few places available on the pilgrimage, which Southwark makes to Lourdes from 22 to 29 August this year.
For information and booking, please seehttps://www.tangney-tours.com/diocese-pilgrimages/diocese-ca/
There are a range of hotels available, though most Southwark pilgrims will be staying at the Hotel Eliseo.
Further information is available from Bishop Paulpaulhendricks@rcaos.org.ukor Canon Pereraedwardperera@rcaos.org.uk
A Jubilee Year
is a special time for Catholics
to seek reconciliation, conversion, and spiritual renewal.
Through local designated churches,
Believers can receive indulgences and reconnect deeply with their faith.
Visit link for details on this opportunity.
Inauguration of Holy Year Jubilee 2025
Seee link for latest.
Parish Funday
Sunday 13th July 2025
12 noon to 3 pm.
&
Farewell Mass with Fr John
at 11am Mass.
Giving thanks to God for 34 years of service
to the parish community.
This will be the only celebration of his retirement
(at the request of Fr John).
(Fr John will remain in the parish until the end of August).
Register for Food on Funday / Retirement Event.
Please fill in our Registration Form if you wish to share in the food on the day.
Register the number of family members who will attend
and
return the form to the church.
Or
Apply for a Registration Form
by contacting
downham@rcaos.org.uk
The Registration Form also asks for volunteers.
Please return to Fr John in the sacristy.
- Those requiring food will need to register.
- Additionally, we are seeking volunteers to assist on the day.
- Also, we are asking for donations of food for the day
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
Details of all programmes,
listed above,
in the Headline menu.
First Holy Communion Programme.
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Sunday Liturgy for Children
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Sacrament of Confirmation
Discovering the Catholic Faith
Infant Baptism.
Good Counsel Network.
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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.
July 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.
Forthcoming Funerals
Elizabeth Ann Bowie RIP
Funeral Mass: Tuesday 8th July at 11am.
Committal: Hither Green Crematorium at 12 noon.
