The Fourth Sunday of Easter is called “Good Shepherd Sunday” because of the gospel of the Good Shepherd we hear today. It is also designated as World Day of Prayer for Vocations, particularly to the priesthood and the religious life. It seems fitting that today I write about a new program that is underway at St. John’s called Shepherd’s Little Flocks.
Jesus says in John’s gospel that the sheep follow the shepherd because they recognize his voice. They follow the shepherd because they know his voice and they trust it. They will not follow a stranger, because they don’t recognize the voice of strangers. Jesus, of course, is the Good Shepherd whose voice we seek to hear. He knows each of us, his sheep, by name and he cares about our every need. He knows what’s best for us, and if we listen to his voice and follow him, we will find the way to the “verdant pastures” spoken of in today’s responsorial psalm, Psalm 23.
Jesus appointed others to help him shepherd his flock. When Jesus appointed Peter the first pope, he said, “Feed my sheep.” The apostles were the first Christian shepherds, and they in turn appointed others to help them. And so on to our own day. The bishops throughout the world are the successors of the apostles, continuing the work of shepherding God’s flock. Bishops are assisted by their priests, and each pastor is given a section of the flock in the local diocesan Church. Each section is called a parish, and the pastor is its Chief Shepherd.
Canon Law gives a detailed job description for pastors (Canons #519-539). Its model is that of the Good Shepherd. “The pastor should strive to come to know the faithful who have been entrusted to his care; therefore he is to visit families, sharing the cares, worries, and especially the griefs of the faithful, strengthening them in the Lord, and correcting them prudently if they are wanting in certain areas…” (Canon 529).
Whenever I read that job description I recognize how overwhelming the job of shepherding is! With something like 8,400 souls to shepherd, I can’t do it all by myself. Even with a parochial vicar, three deacons, and an excellent pastoral staff to assist, there are many “sheep” who get lost. Thus the need for Shepherd’s Little Flocks became evident to me.
Last September we quietly launched the Shepherd’s Little Flocks program here at St. John’s. Ten “flock leaders” were trained to be little shepherds in our parish. I appointed to each flock leader 4-8 parishioners (individuals or families) who would be “flock members” in their “little flock.” Their task is to shepherd their little flock: to know each member by name, to pray for them, to assist them to grow in their Catholic faith, and to provide them with a sense of community. They do this by seeking to connect with their flock members on a regular basis and come to know them. The hope is that, as parishioners come to know that someone cares about them, they will grow spiritually and be more engaged in parish life.
Today we are announcing Shepherd’s Little Flocks in a louder way, since we are in the process of training 14 new flock leaders. These leaders are married couples or individuals. Parishioners who have joined the parish in recent months or had a baby baptized will be invited to be in a little flock. On Ascension Sunday, June 5th, we will commission the new flock leaders at the 10:30 am Mass. Please pray for this program, that all God’s flock come to know the care and guidance of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Fr. Michael Skluzacek
~Bulletin Article May 15, 2010
