The Good Shepherd

Roman Catholic Parish in Telford, Shropshire incorporating St. Mary's, Madeley and St. Paul's, Dawley

Also serving the communities of Broseley and Stirchley

Sermon: Christ the King

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St. Mary's Live Stream

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Newsletter: Christ the King

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Called and guided by Pope Francis, the first Synod on Synodality took place in Rome throughout the month of October. In his homily for the closing Mass of the Synod, the Holy Father recalled the Synod’s ultimate goal: ‘The Lord will guide us and help us to be a more synodal and missionary Church, a Church that adores God and serves the women and men of our time, going forth to bring everyone the consoling joy of the Gospel.’ During our Bishops’ Conference plenary meeting we listened to the personal reflections of those, from among our number, who experienced the Synod first-hand. We share with you here the fruit of our consideration and the response that followed.
The Synod members, bishops, priests and deacons, male and female laity, and consecrated men and women, some younger, others older, came to Rome from every continent. We heard of the joy that characterised the encounters between the representatives gathered from our world-wide Catholic Church. The synodal process was long and demanding but manifested a communal desire to listen attentively to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Convergence in faith was honoured and divergence was explored without rancour.
At the heart of the synodal process of renewal stands the person of Jesus Christ and his Gospel of Salvation. The Lord ‘pitched his tent among us.’ (see Jn 1:14) He is constantly in our midst, guiding, teaching, consoling, and nourishing us in every circumstance. The renewal we seek has Christ as our unchanging key point of departure and reference.
We considered how the synodal process might be taken forward in our communities, here and now, in England and Wales. Some initial guidance came from further words spoken by Pope Francis in his homily for the closing Mass of the Synod:

‘It is important to look at the “principle and foundation” from which everything begins ever anew: by loving. Loving God with our whole life and loving our neighbour as ourselves. Not our strategies, our human calculations, the ways of the world, but love of God and neighbour: that is the heart of everything. And how do we channel this momentum of love? I would propose two verbs, two movements of the heart, on which I would like to reflect: to adore and to serve. We love God through adoration and service.’
The prayer of adoration keeps us centred on Christ, freeing us from other preoccupations which serve only to limit and imprison us. Christ himself calls us to find our home in him and promises to make his home in us. (see Jn 15:1-8) Pope Francis linked our adoring love for God with our servant-love for others, all in the context of synodal renewal:
‘In the great commandment, Christ binds God and neighbour together so that they will never be disconnected. There can be no true religious experience that is deaf to the cry of the world. There is no love of God without care and concern for our neighbour; otherwise, we risk becoming pharisaic. We may have plenty of good ideas on how to reform the Church but let us remember: to adore God and to love our brothers and sisters with his love, that is the great and perennial reform.’
Echoing our Holy Father’s sentiments, we invite every parish, school, and community to look anew at how the adoration of the Lord, not least through Eucharistic Adoration, and the service of the Lord in people in need, can be better connected and reinvigorated. This deeper relationship with the Lord will enable us to embrace what emerges from the second part of the Synod Assembly taking place in October 2024.

All renewal in the Church is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Truth draws us into the unity of faith, into communion with Christ, with the Church, and with each other. Renewal requires ongoing conversion, personally and in our communities. In discerning how this might be undertaken, we keep in mind the guiding themes of the synodal journey, namely communion, participation, and mission. These help us to formulate some important questions:
How can we create and promote space and time for prayer, for spiritual communion, for adoring God, and for listening and responding to God?
How can we deepen and broaden opportunities for people to participate in the prayer of adoration, linking this to the service of others?
How do we encourage greater participation in the synodal process at the local level, including further reflection on the Synodal Synthesis?
How can our experiences of prayer, of thirsting and longing for God, and of gratitude and wonder, give a missionary witness and invitation that is attractive to others?
How can the person of Christ be clearly seen at the heart of the service we offer?
How can our service to people in need be framed and shaped to increase the widest possible participation?
Following Pope Francis’s invitation, we invite Catholics in England and Wales to consider these questions as an intermediate step towards taking an active part in the synodal renewal. With the Lord Jesus at the centre, our pathway is one of joyful faith which seeks to bring the Gospel alive in daily life.

Statement from Southwark JPIC

Supreme Court Rwanda Policy Ruling

The coast of our archdiocese has long been a focus for the arrival of desperate asylum seekers using poorly documented or irregular means of travel to seek safety and build new lives in Britain. Arrivals by coach from central Europe have long been followed by stowaways in and under trains and lorries, and now by the more visible and dangerous use of small boats.

These are our fellow humans, who deserve dignified treatment to assist recovery from trauma, with opportunities to have their claims examined with care, in conformity with established regulations.

Rapid removal to Rwanda could potentially violate basic rights, increase fear and uncertainty and bring down our reputation among other members of the family of nations.

We are pleased to welcome the sensible and considered opinion of the High Court that this policy is unlawful. In operation, contrary to the example of the Good Samaritan, it would devastate the lives of many who are in need.

We pray that reflection upon this situation will promote the development of a fairer and more compassionate asylum system that starts by recognising new arrivals as human persons rather than as problems, and offers an initial welcome and sanctuary until their status is assessed, as many individuals and communities already do, nationwide.

We join Bishop Paul McAleenan in calling for prayer for people on the move, and for our government, that it will respect the Court’s ruling and respond to the needs of migrants and asylum seekers in ways that fully uphold their innate human dignity.

-Southwark Justice and Peace in Creation

Archbishop John Wilson's reflections

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Synod on Synodality from Archbishop John Wilson

Archdiocese of Southwark

Advent Journey 2023

Thursday 30th November
Waiting in Grief for Peace ~ The Power of Lament
Companion ~ Alison Phipps
In the midst of suffering and desolation how do we manage to grieve and do justice to those we grieve for? The wisdom, insight and power of Lamentation.

Thursday 7th December
Guilty Bystanders?
Companion ~ Muriel Pearson
We begin with confession: We are all guilty bystanders; all implicated in systemic evil; all beneficiaries of unjust economic systems. Many of us live far from the epicentres of human suffering. We aspire to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ, but none of us is guiltless.
From Thomas Merton - The Gifts of a Guilty Bystander

Thursday 14th December
Finding Light: Embracing Hope Amidst Grief and Lament
Companion ~ Omar Haramy
Amidst Suffering: The Need and Power of Listening to Voices in Grief.

Thursday 21st December
Liturgy of Lamentation
Companions ~ Hyab Yohannes and friends
Through prayer, silence, song, story, and images we reimagine the gift of the Incarnation in 2023.

This is the link for the programme and also to get full details of our companions

All our sessions begin at 7.00pm UK Time.

The sessions are recorded and will be shared on our YouTube Channel as soon as possible after the event.

To ensure we have adequate capacity for the sessions please register only if you intend to participate in the live session.

Cost of Living: Help for Households

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Check if you are eligible for the

Priority Services Register

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Enjoy a space to meet and chat

The SVP Conference of the Parish of the Good Shepherd is providing a space to meet and chat in the Lower Room of St. Mary's Presbytery.

The SVP space is available on Mondays from 10:00 until 14:00 and can accommodate 26 people at any one time.

It is staffed by SVP members and parish volunteers.

Tea, coffee, biscuits, soup and a roll are available free of charge and newspapers, puzzle books and board games are available should people want to make use of them.

As part of this venture, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to The Ugly Duckling restaurant who are providing the hot soup.

Thank you to Father Michael for making the space available for use and to those who have donated board games.

Thanks also to those who have voluteered to help run it.

Grants for Older People on Low Incomes

Small grants of up to £400 are available to support vulnerable older people living on low incomes in England and Wales.

Friends of the Elderly currently have four grant streams open for older people who are of/over state pension age, have savings of less than £4,000, and who do not fit the criteria for other funders.

The funding is available to help with the cost of replacing everyday items, small home repairs and mobility adaptations; help older people get online; to help with unexpected bills; and essential living costs including clothing, food, medicines and books.

Applications must be made via a third-party Referral Agent such as charities, local authorities, housing associations, community organisations, Information, Advice and Guidance providers and social services representatives.

Applications can be made at any time, but resources are limited.

If you think you may qualify, the SVP will be happy to help you, in confidence. Just speak with Father Michael or one of the SVP members

You can find more information here

MASS TIMES
Saturday Vigil
St. Mary's, Madeley - 5pm

Sunday
St. Paul's, Dawley - 9am
St. Mary's, Madeley - 11am

CONFESSIONS
See Parish Newsletter

WEEKDAY MASSES and OTHER SERVICES
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FIND US

CONTACT US
Telephone: 01952 586118
e-mail: pp@goodshepherd.org.uk

St. Paul's
Burton St. and Doseley Rd.
Dawley
Shropshire. TF4 3AH
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St. Mary's
70 High St.
Madeley
Shropshire. TF7 5AH
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