Our Parish Blog

Good Shepherd Feast Day

“I Am The Good Shepherd.” This Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter, is our Feast Day. Let’s celebrate as a parish family! Smile, greet and welcome each other.

Interested In Becoming A Catholic?

Do you wish more information about becoming a Catholic and/or completing your Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation? Just come and see — no obligation! Our Inquiry nights continue—Thursday evenings; May 10th, 31st, June 14th and July 19th. For more information, please call Sr. Virginia at (310) 285-5425 or e-mail vstehly@goodshepherdbh.org, or Penny Lane (310) 739-8762.

Cardinal McIntyre Fund For Charity Annual Collection May 5-6

Since 1951, the Cardinal McIntyre Fund for Charity has offered hope for those in crisis situations throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Next weekend, May 5-6, all parishes in the Archdiocese will take up this Annual Collection. Your contribution goes directly toward emergency needs for children, adults and families and provides one-time emergency help for food, utilities, medical, housing or funeral expenses. The goal of the Cardinal McIntyre Fund for Charity is service to the “neediest of the needy,” those for whom no other resources exist. Please be as generous as possible. Envelopes are in the pews.

Sacred Heart Women’s Retreat “Open Wide the Doors to Christ”

Conducted by the Sacred Heart Sisters at the Sacred Heart Retreat Camp, Big Bear Lake: May 4-6. The retreat will include communal and private prayer. Celebrations of the Eucharist and Reconciliation will highlight the retreat experience. Come and be refreshed  by the love and company of our Lord Jesus Christ. Donation: $90. For more information, call (909) 866-5696.

Gathering Of Ministers

Tuesday, May 8, 2012
7 – 8:30 p.m. – Parish Hall

According to our Yearly Tradition of Planning, the Gathering of Ministers is the time when ALL those involved in groups and ministries have a chance to give feedback to the Commissions about what has happened so far this year, to offer ideas about what the Commissions are planning for the next year and to help identify new Leadership Commission members. Join Us! Join your fellow Stewards of Service! Sponsored by the Pastoral Council. Refreshments will be served. For more information please call the Parish Office at (310)285-5425.

Get On The Bus Is Rolling Again Saturday, June 2nd is the Day!

Thirty nine (39) children and teenagers ages 1-17 and their care givers will be going to  see their Dads in prison.

How can you help?

• Activity items for their bags to occupy their time coming and going. Please be creative, be generous, coloring books, puzzles, reading books etc…etc… We did not do well with this last year, it was a very skimpy bag we gave them. Come on, we can do it! Bring the items to the Parish Center or Good Shepherd School.
• The Activity bag itself, 29 of them, nice bag to put all these items in
• Still need money donations
• Come on June 2nd at 4:45 a.m.
• Need volunteers to sign in families, load buses, hand out T-shirts, serve breakfast, check paperwork.
• Most of all, sit and talk to the families, make them feel welcome.

For more information, please call Lynn Slotsve at (323) 459-9919 or e-mail lslotsve@sbcglobal.net

Used Book Sale

Donations of books and “Baubles of Jewelry” are being accepted for the parish sale on Sunday morning, May 6 in the Parish Hall. Kindly place items in designated containers in the Parish Hall by May 4th. Proceeds from this used book sale will benefit the “Get On The Bus” project, which travels to San Luis Obispo prison on June 1st. Used paperbacks will be sold $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00 Hardback books will be sold for $3.00 each.

English Tea

Please join us on Monday, May 14th from 2-5 p.m. in the Parish Hall for an afternoon English Tea. RSVP as soon as possible and, remember seats are limited. Men, please come out and support Fr. Tom Cahill and the Mission Circle. Ladies, please wear a Hat for the Tea. For more information please contact Shirley Smith at (213) 909-5500.

Exploring the Role of Mary In God’s Plan of Salvation – May 2012

A series of lectures on the role of Our Blessed Mother in God’s plan of salvation. The lectures will be based on Holy Scripture, illustrated by works of art, and will be given by Fr. Jack Brennan S.M.A., from St. John’s Seminary. The remaining lectures will be on Tuesdays: May 1st, May 8th and May 15th. They will beheld at the parish Hall of St. Victor’s Parish located at 8634  Holloway Dr., West Hollywood, 90069 from 7-8 p.m. All are invited.

Beverly Hills Meals On Wheels

The Beverly Hills Meals On Wheels needs volunteers to drive and deliver meals to the homebound seniors in the Beverly Hills area. We deliver Monday thru Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more details, please call Pat Jacobson at (310) 423-3517.

The Young At Heart

The Young At Heart will gather Saturday, May 19th (the third Saturday of the month) at 12:00 Noon in the Parish Hall. Newcomers are welcome. To R.S.V.P., please call the parish office at (310) 285-5425.

Electronic Offertory Giving with Faith Direct

Recently, we have introduced a new and exciting way for you to support our parish offertory and second collections: Faith Direct. With Faith Direct, you can make regular automatic contributions to Church of the Good Shepherd using your credit/debit card or bank account, the same process that you may use to pay utility bills or make car payments. Making your donations automatically means relief from the hassle of locating your offertory envelopes as you run out the door on Sunday morning, and guarantees that the church will receive your gifts even if you are unable to attend Mass. There is no fee to you, the parishioner, associated with use of the Faith Direct program. Automatic contributions greatly benefit Church of the Good Shepherd by providing a predictable cash flow as well as decreasing the time and money the church expends dealing with the envelope system. Faith Direct will provide you with personalized offertory cards that you may place in the basket, and a year end tax statement. We find Faith Direct a “win-win” for both parishioners and our parish. Please enroll in this program by picking up an enrollment form from the church office, clicking on the Faith Direct link here on our website or by visiting the Faith Direct website to enroll securely on line. Our parish code is CA461.

Sacred Heart Women’s Retreat “Open Wide the Doors to Christ”

Conducted by the Sacred Heart Sisters at the Sacred Heart Retreat Camp, Big Bear Lake: April 27-29 or May 4-6. The retreat will include communal and private prayer. Celebrations of the Eucharist and Reconciliation will highlight the retreat experience. Come and be refreshed by the love and company of our Lord Jesus Christ. Donation: $90 For more information, call (909) 866-5696.

Bible Study

The next gathering of the Bible Class is April 23rd, 7 p.m. in the Parish Center. we will be studying Isaiah, ch. 47- 49.

Thank You For Your Generosity and for accepting the challenge to Be Imitators of…Christ!” 1 Cor 11:1

Together In Mission as of April 12, 2012
Parish Participation: 74 Individuals/Families
Parish Goal: $63,647.80
Amount Pledged: $58,023.00
Amount Paid: $44,004.00
Amount to Reach Goal: $19,643.00
Question: What happens when a Parish does not meet its goal? Answer: All parishes that do not succeed in reaching their goal through in kind donations in cash paid are obligated to provide a parish check for the difference to fulfill their obligation to “Together in Mission”.

Exploring the Role of Mary In God’s Plan of Salvation – April/May 2012

A series of four lectures on the role of Our Blessed Mother in God’s plan of salvation.
The lectures will be based on Holy Scripture, illustrated by works of art, and will be given by Fr. Jack Brennan S.M.A., from St. John’s Seminary.
The lectures will take place on four consecutive Tuesdays: April 24th, May 1st, May 8th, May 15th. They will beheld at the parish Hall of St. Victor’s Parish located at 8634  Holloway Dr., West Hollywood, 90069 from 7-8 p.m. All are invited.

Thinking of Becoming a Catholic?

Thinking of becoming a Catholic and/or completing your Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation? If you need answers, welcome to our Inquiry Night, April 26th, 7:30 – 9 p.m. in the Parish Center. This will be a time to ask your questions, seek the answers to what your heart desires. If you hear God   calling in your heart, then “Come and See”. No obligation, just come! For more information, please call Sr. Virginia at (310) 285-5425 or e-mail vstehly@goodshepherdbh.org, or Penny Lane (310) 739-8762.

S.O.S. – Get On The Bus News!

Dear Parish Family,
We must do better, it’s getting late. Our goal is $8,000 and we are only up to $3,200! Let’s not let the children down with their opportunity to visit their Dad in prison. Our buses will not roll to far at the present moment. We need to get them to San Luis Obispo. Every dollar helps! Come on, We Can Do This! Good Shepherd parishioners are people you can count on. We average about 200 people at each Mass, five Masses on the weekend. Just think if each person gave $4, we would have $4,000 in one weekend. Wow! Let’s do it!

Used Book Sale

Request book donations for used Book Sale for “Get On The Bus”. Donations of books and “Baubles of Jewelry” are being accepted for the parish sale on Sunday morning, May 6 in the Parish. Kindly place items in designated containers in the Parish Hall by May 4th. Proceeds from this used book sale will benefit the “Get On The Bus” project, which travels to San Luis Obispo correctional facility on June 1st. Used paperbacks will be sold $2.00 each or 3 for $ 5.00 Hardback books will be sold for $3.00 each. The Jewelry as priced.

Gathering Of Ministers

Tuesday, May 8, 2012  7-8:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall

According to our Yearly Tradition of Planning, the Gathering of Ministers is the time when ALL those involved in groups and ministries have a chance to give feedback to the Commissions about what has happened so far this year, to offer ideas about what the Commissions are planning for the next year and to help identify new Leadership Commission members. Join Us! Join your fellow Stewards of Service! Sponsored by the Pastoral Council. Refreshments will be served. For more information please call the Parish Office at (310)285-5425.

Beverly Hills Meals On Wheels

The Beverly Hills Meals On Wheels needs your help! We Need volunteers to drive and deliver meals to the homebound seniors in the Beverly Hills area. We deliver Monday thru Friday from 10:30 a.m. to about Noon. For more information, please call Pat Jacobson at (310) 423-3517.

Electronic Offertory Giving with Faith Direct

This month we are introducing a new and exciting way for you to support our parish offertory: Faith Direct. Faith Direct enables your family to make your parish contributions through either direct debit to your checking account or through your Visa, Master Card, American Express or Discover credit cards. No more writing checks or searching for envelopes on the way out the door. Now you can apply the convenience of direct debit to your parish offerings in much the same way as you may now use it to make your mortgage, car or tuition payments. With Faith Direct, Church of the Good Shepherd will gain predictable cash flow that will help us with planning our parish needs and programs. Faith Direct also offers you personalized offertory cards to replace your envelopes for the collection basket. Of course, enrollment is voluntary, but many parishes and their members around the country have experienced a win-win with Faith Direct. If you find this program to be appropriate for your family, please enroll by responding to the mailings you will receive or visit www.faithdirect.net to enroll securely on line. Our parish code is CA461.
God bless you.
Rev. Msgr. Thomas Welbers