Vocations: the Gift of the Love of God

Good Shepherd Sunday will be celebrated on Sunday 29th April 2012. On this day we join together to pray for our priests and seminarians and to ask God to raise up more men willing to answer the call of the Good Shepherd to serve as priests in the Diocese of Bathurst. Read the letter from Pope Benedict XVI here. 

Below are two resources which parishes and schools may download for their own use in promoting Good Shepherd Sunday 2012. The first is the 2012 vocations poster. The second is the A4 resource booklet. 

New Deacon

On Friday 16th March 2012 Rev. Reynold Jaboneta was ordained a deacon by Bishop Michael McKenna in the presence of gathered clergy and parishioners from around the diocese. This was a most joyful occasion for Reynold, his family and friends, and all the diocese. Please keep Deacon Reynold in your prayers as his ministers in St Brigid's parish Dubbo and prepares for ordination as a priest. You can read Reynold's vocation story and see pictures from the ordination here.

Our Seminarians 

In 2012 four young men entered Good Shepherd Seminary Homebush to begin formation for the priesthood. Karl Sinclair, Paul Dong Nguyen, Anthony Diep Nguyen, Andrew Van Tran, and Karl Sinclair join Reynold Jaboneta (resident in Dubbo) as seminarians for the Diocese of Bathurst. Click their photos to read their vocation stories.

Diep and Dong

Karl and Van

Good Shepherd Sunday 29th April 2012

Message from the Bishop

The Good Shepherd described in today’s Gospel is Jesus Christ. Let’s begin and end our thoughts this Sunday by putting our trust in him. In times of uncertainty and worries about the future, we can find peace and hope when we hear his voice and walk his way.

Our prayers today are especially for priests. We thank God for the priests that God has given us in the Diocese of Bathurst. With faith and generosity they have given their lives with Christ to share in his care for the flock. We pray that he will strengthen their hearts to continue in service, not as hired hands, but as true shepherds. As well as prayers, we priests always need the practical collaboration and support of our people. Every parish, every parishioner might reflect on how well we are doing that.

We also thank God that we now have four seminarians and a deacon on the road to ordination for our Diocese. The seminarians are just beginning and we pray that the Good Shepherd will bring them to the knowledge of God’s will. To provide for the expenses of their training (over $80,000 this year), I have recommenced an annual collection in the parishes on Good Shepherd Sunday. I ask you to give generously to this appeal.

In a special way, we pray for Deacon Reynold Jaboneta, now serving in Dubbo, who will be ordained priest at 2pm on Tuesday 4th September in the Cathedral of St Michael and St John in Bathurst. All are welcome to this great event for our local church.

And we pray that more young men will hear the call of the Good Shepherd and consider seriously their willingness to answer it. May they have the encouragement of their families and parishes in saying Yes to the Lord, wherever he may lead.

The vocation of every Christian is to stay in touch with our Good Shepherd. He knows us and he knows where the rich pastures and springs of living water are. Listen to him. Follow him.

+Michael McKenna
Bishop of Bathurst

Vocation Prayer

Gracious and loving God, help the men and women of our parish to hear the call to serve in the Diocese of Bathurst. Our needs are great and our people thirst for your presence.

Open the hearts of many, raise up faithful servants of the Gospel, dedicated, holy priests, sisters, brothers and deacons, who will spend themselves for your people and their needs. Bless those who are serving now with courage and perseverance. Grant that many will be inspired by their example and faith. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.