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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.
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Latest News
Week commencing Sunday 19th January 2025.
The Wedding Feast at Cana.
Second Week in Ordinary Time;
ferial cycle 1; psalter week 2.
Week ahead.
Mass change on Thursday at 9.15 am.
- Peace Sunday 2025
‘Forgive us our trespasses:
Grant us your peace.’ -
Promoted by Pax Christi
with the support of the
International Affairs Department,
Catholic Bishops’ Conference, England and Wales
Envelopes available at the back of the church.
We live in a world riven by war and violence. As Pope Francis has said on a number of occasions, it is as if there is a third world war - 'one that is being fought piecemeal.'
Our vision is of a world where everyone can live in peace, without fear of violence in any form. We work for that peace in a number of ways:
- We offer peace and nonviolence education for schools and youth groups
- We campaign for the abolition of war, against the arms trade and against increasing militarism.
- We advocate for general and nuclear disarmament and for a just peace wherever there is violent conflict.
-We promote the message of gospel nonviolence, believing nonviolence is central to the teachings of Jesus and that we are all called to embrace nonviolence in our daily lives.
- We are always grateful for the donations and gifts we receive from churches and organisations on or around Peace Sunday. They are a significant part of our annual income and enable us to continue our vital work.
In 2025, a year of Jubilee, we want to develop our work. In his message for the World Day of Peace, Pope Francis has challenged us to 'disarm' our hearts as a path to the peace we seek. We want to be able to provide opportunities, tools and resources that will help us all to meet that challenge.
Every donation counts and is an encouragement to us.
Help Shape the Future of Our Archdiocese
The Archbishop invites you to play a vital role in shaping the future of our Archdiocese.
In today's pastoral letter, he encourages everyone to reflect on the themes in the
Called to Bear Fruit booklet
and participate in small group discussions over the coming weeks. Here's how you can get involved:
- Form a group: Gather 4–12 people.
- Choose your schedule: Discuss all six themes across six sessions or combine them into fewer meetings—whatever works best for you.
- Share your insights: Submit your group's reflections via our online form or as a typed hard copy.
The more people who take part, the richer our understanding of the needs of our archdiocese will be.
Let's work together to shape our future! Thank you for your involvement.
Inauguration of Holy Year Jubilee 2025
Seee link for latest.
On the 1st January each year, the Catholic Church observes the World Day of Peace,
first instituted in 1967 by Pope St. Paul VI.
In England and Wales, the Bishops have designated the second Sunday in Ordinary Time as
'Peace Sunday',
a day when parishes are encouraged to reflect on the Pope's message for that year.
This Year Sunday 19th January 2025.
Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of Peace was published last week
and his theme is
‘Forgive us our trespasses: Grant us your peace’.
See link for further details.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Octave for the Unity of the Entire Catholic Church
OCTAVE FOR CHURCH UNITY
On January 18, the Church began the Octave for the Unity of the Entire Catholic Church, approved by Pope Saint Pius X in 1909 and encouraged in the same form for the next five decades. It is now a recommended annual devotion leading up to the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul on January 25.
This Octave originated by an Anglican priest, Father Paul of Graymoor, who later converted to the Catholic Church and founded the order of the Society of the Atonement. Subsequently, St. Pope Pius X gave his approval and blessing of this octave on December 27, 1909.
It is a wonderful Octave, for eight days the entire Church prays for the conversion of those without the Fold, that all people will be united in the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church.
Taken at Good Shepherd on
Sat/ Sun 25/26 January
at all Masses.
Racial Justice Sunday
16th February 2025.📍
Venue:St George’s Cathedral, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7HY
⏰Time:10:00 AM (Please be seated by 9:45 AM)
🎉Dress Code:Traditional attire (optional)
🌍Special Feature:Bring a national flag to represent your heritage
🍽After Mass:Refreshments and community gathering in Amigo Hall
See link for poster.
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.
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 …27 February to 2 March 2025
Call or text 0788 7296983 Emailinfo@retrouvaille.org.uk www.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.
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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.
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
Better off Lewisham
click link for details.
January Edition
With the ESV translation of the scripture.
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.
