The Good Shepherd Catholic Community

A Year of Prayer

Man is in search of God. In the act of creation, God calls every being from nothingness into existence. "Crowned with glory and honor," man is, after the angels, capable of acknowledging "how majestic is the name of the Lord in all the earth."1 Even after losing through his sin his likeness to God, man remains an image of his Creator, and retains the desire for the one who calls him into existence. All religions bear witness to men's essential search for God.

God calls man first. Man may forget his Creator or hide far from his face; he may run after idols or accuse the deity of having abandoned him; yet the living and true God tirelessly calls each person to that mysterious encounter known as prayer. In prayer, the faithful God's initiative of love always comes first; our own first step is always a response. As God gradually reveals himself and reveals man to himself, prayer appears as a reciprocal call, a covenant drama. Through words and actions, this drama engages the heart. It unfolds throughout the whole history of salvation. (CCC 2566-2567)    Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Pray for Us!

Adult Faith Formation THE CREED

The keys that unlock the beliefs of the Christian Faith are stated succinctly in the Nicene Creed, which we pray at every Sunday Mass. Born at the Council of Nicaea in the Fourth Century after intense debates, this formal statement of faith is the foundation of both eastern and western Christianity. And to this day, most Christians around the world would subscribe to it.  Please join us as we explore the Creed with Bishop Robert Barron in a new study beginning Wednesday, November 10^th, at 6:30pm at St. Hyacinth Center.                
Contact the Faith Formation Office for more information.  
Phone # 315-252-3439                                

2021-2022 Faith Formation Year

Family of Faith is our 1^st through 5^th grade program which combines whole family at home learning, and one community gathering a month. The community gathering brings together all the families to review and share what they are learning that month, as well as large group activities to further expand the months lessons. There will be a gathering in Cato, Auburn and in the Good Shepherd Catholic Community.

6^th and 7^th grade Alive in Christ, students, with parental guidance, will complete lessons at home and once a month the students will gather to review and share what they are learning. The monthly gathering is also a time for these students to grow in community with one another and learn how to witness their faith to others.

8^th and 9^th grade years are focused on the Sacrament of Confirmation.

High School is a time of further discovering who you are and your mission in life. High School gatherings focus on scripture, fellowship, and serving others.

Sacrament Formation Important Dates

1^st Penance/Communion orientation will be Wednesday September 15^th at 6:30pm in St. Hyacinth Church. This is just for parents.

Adult Faith Formation will begin September 29 at 1pm and again at 6:30pm. We will begin with a 6-week course on the Sacraments. The great sacraments of the Church—Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Reconciliation, the Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders—have endured for thousands of years and structured countless lives. Everything in the Church’s life comes from and returns to them. But there is far more to these ancient rites than meets the eye. Contact the Faith Formation Office if you are interested.

Did you know…?

One of the ways that Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Assumption around the world is through elaborate Firework displays.

Except for the first day, the entire month of March falls during the liturgical season of Lent which is represented by the liturgical color violet or purple — a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart. All saint days that are usually Memorials are shifted to Optional Memorials during the season of Lent.  Read more

Spotlight on Sacraments

Please pray for our Year 2 Confirmation Candidates who will have their final confirmation retreat on Saturday March 5th! Come Holy Spirit and Enkindle the Hearts of Thy Faithful!

Song of the Month

Thy Will by Hillary Scott. Lent is a great time to seek God's Will in our lives. Jesus and Mary are models of saying YES to God's Will.

MONTHLY INSPIRATION

Consider having a family Lenten Adventure. Check out Holy Heroes' Lenten Adventure. Fun for the whole family.

FEATURED ARTICLE

Want to Keep your Kids Catholic? Make your home a Church

Lent can be a great time for the family to grow in faith and in relationship with one another.

Check our all of these resources from videos to craft ideas, to praying the Stations of the Cross as a family!

Make the choice for the Best Lent Ever!

Creating A Safe Environment 

Diocese of Rochester Creating A Safe Environment Policy: https://www.dor.org/protecting-our-children/office-of-safe-environment/ also at https://www.dor.org).

Creating a Safe Environment Newsletter: https://www.dor.org/protecting-our-children/newsletters/

Volunteer Code of Conduct: https://www.dor.org/wp-content/uploads/Volunteer-Code-of-Conduct-for-Adults.pdf

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)

“Your Journey Of Conversion To Jesus Christ”

There will be two information meetings about RCIA/RCIC for those who would like to learn more about the process of coming into the church and to ask those burning questions you have about the Catholic Church. Informational meetings are Sunday August 29 at 10:00am at St. Mary’s Hall, and Monday August 30^th at 6:30pm at St. Hyacinth School.  

Are you, or  someone you know not baptized? Are you baptized in another Christian church and wish to become Catholic? Are you an adult Catholic and have not yet been confirmed? Do you have a child age 7+ who has not yet been baptized? We would like to journey with you as you come to experience Jesus in a deeper way through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Contact Carlo Stebbings, carlo.stebbings@dor.org for more information