The Fourth Sunday of Easter each year is known as Good Shepherd Sunday and is the day of prayer for vocations. The oldest image of Jesus found in the early Church is the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd carrying home on his shoulders a lost sheep. I once saw a wood carving of the Good Shepherd with Jesus having a smile on his face. The joy of the Good Shepherd was obvious. 

     Jesus speaks of Himself as the Shepherd and he makes the distinction between the Shepherd and the hired hand  The Shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep, while the hired hand will flee danger.

     Jesus uses this same image when he commissions St. Peter to lead the Church. From the very beginning of Christianity, the image of the Shepherd is used both for our Savior and for the clergy. These images are evident today.  We call the Pope the Shepherd of the Universal Church, our Diocesan Bishops are called shepherds and the symbols of their office include the shepherd’s crosier. Leaders of parishes are called “pastors” which call to mind the ancient symbol of the shepherd.

     So it is appropriate to take this day and pray for vocations to the clergy, both the religious and secular.  Religious clergy are the bishops and priests who are members of religious orders (Pope Francis is a Jesuit, Bishop Roger Gries is a Benedictine) while others like Bishop Pérez and I are members of the secular clergy. The Lord has called each Bishop, Priest and Deacon in a specific way to serve the Church. Members of both the clergy and the faithful are called to support our clergy through prayer and to pray that more will receive and answer the call to serve as members of the clergy.

     All of us need to continue to pray for an increase in vocations and to support our priests, bishops and deacons in their vocations, and encourage our seminarians to continue their journey following their call of ordained ministry.

                                                                    God Bless ! Fr. Joe Bacevice

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

We ask you to remember in your prayers the soul of Joseph Obranovich who died last week and was buried from our parish. May he have eternal rest in the peace of God’s kingdom.