Good Shepherd Sunday 2021
Dear Friends in Christ,
This year, Good Shepherd Sunday and Anzac Day fall on the same day. It would be wrong to stretch the comparisons too far, but it is true to say that the themes of service, sacrifice, commitment and gratitude are threaded through both.
Our priests, as the Gospel today reminds us, are not merely “hired hands.” They have generously offered their lives to be ordained for the unique and irreplaceable service that brings us the Eucharist and all that flows from it. Every Christian has his or her part to play in the mission entrusted to the Church; and the dignity of each vocation is enhanced in appreciating more deeply the specific service of each one. Today, we give thanks for the gift of the ordained priesthood, which does not exist for itself, but to serve the pilgrim Church. It is both an awesome call and, properly understood, a humble office.
For Catholics, this is a day not only to pray and give thanks for the priests who generously serve us, but to recommit ourselves to supporting them. This means a willingness to be generous in our own service, working with them. It also means playing our part in ensuring that their modest material needs are cared for.
Each year, we also make a collection on this day to help meet the expenses of training future priests. At the moment, our Diocese has six young men at various stages of formation and discernment, in addition to two candidates who will, please God, be ordained this year. You can contribute to their support either through your own parish, or directly on-line at bathurst.catholic.org.au
Please pray for the priests we have, for those who are preparing for ordination; and for those whom the Lord is calling to leave everything and follow him.
Yours in Christ,
+Michael McKenna
Bishop of Bathurst
Diep Quang Nguyen (Candidate for Ordination) with Seminarians Kieu Van Le, Cong Van Hoang,
Ha Van Tran, Duong Van Ha, Nam Dinh Le and Thao Van Nguyen (Candidate for Ordination).
Absent: Dai Van Pham