Parish Contact Information - Google Form

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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.

Meet our Parish Priest

Rev Canon Gregory Verissimo was ordained to the priesthood on the 13th of July 2002 in Nigeria. He worked in Nigeria for six years and then moved to the United Kingdom on the invitation of Archbishop Kevin McDonald in 2008. He was first appointed to St John the Baptist Church Purley and after eight years, went to study Canon Law in Belgium. On his return from Belgium in 2017, he was appointed Parish Priest of English Martyrs Streatham. While being Parish Priest of English Martyrs, he was also appointed Parochial Administrator of SS. Simon and Jude Streatham Hill from 2020-2022. In 2022 he was made an honorary Canon. On the 1st of September 2025, Archbishop John Wilson appointed him Parish Priest of the Good Shepherd Downham.

Join the Pro-Life Mission - SPUC Education Officer (England)

SPUC is hiring a full-time Education Officer, based in London, with travel across England.

Help bring the pro-life message to schools and communities through engaging talks and outreach.

A passion for life and youth engagement is essential.

To apply or find out more, visit: spuc.org.uk/joinourteam

Dates for Diary

A Day With Mary in Downham: Saturday 28th February 2026

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 …

See list for 2026

Call or text 0788 7296983 Email info@retrouvaille.org.uk

www.retrouvaille.org.uk

Click on link for further details.

Growing in Faith

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.

Supporting Young People & Family Life

Latest Youth Network Newsletter

click on the link.

Saturday Retreats (13 - 17 years).

Youth Days (10 - 14 years).

Vocations to Relgious Life

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.

Family Life

Is your marriage under stress?!!

Retrouvaille : A Lifeline for Married Couples.

See link for details

Do you wish to build a stronger marriage?

Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

See link for details

Building a Better Marriage in the Jubilee Year.

See link for events organised in the diocese.

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.

Overseas Aid & Deveolpment

See link for details.

Cafod Family Fast Day (Spring).

Total sent £217.86

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.

Helping our Neighbours at home.