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    Diversity, Camaraderie, Bargains and Great Food

    8/7/2017

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    by Rosemary Murray
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    ​How do you combine diversity, camaraderie, bargains, great food and charity into one event?  If you have participated in Good Shepherd Catholic Church’s annual International Festival for the last 41 years, you know precisely how that works.

    Begun in 1975 as a one-day Festival, it has expanded to three days of fun-filled activities over the entire Labor Day weekend. 

    Beginning on Saturday there is a 5K race and the largest, best-organized indoor yard sale in the area.  Opening at 8:30 am, September 2, this air-conditioned venue has over 5,000 square feet of such treasures as small appliances – crockpots, coffee makers, waffle irons, blenders, etc.; bedroom ensembles – spreads, comforters, sheets, pillows, lamps and more; games and puzzles; sports equipment; jewelry; yard tools; beautiful Christmas decorations and collectors’ items galore.  Those who make this an annual “must-do” know that the early birds pay a $10 entrance fee from 8:30 am until 9:30 am.  After 9:30am, all shoppers enter for free. 

    On Sunday there is a multicultural Mass where participants are encouraged to dress in the native costume of their heritage.  Monday is the pure fun day – games for the kids, bingo in the air-conditioned hall for the adults, a huge bake sale, music provided by various groups, and food booths of many nationalities.  Of course, the raffle with its $10,000 prize is always a popular feature for the thousands of visitors and parishioners who participate in the festivities.

    But, for the bargains and treasures you must come on Saturday! And you can shop knowing that all the net proceeds from the Yard Sale go to charity. The Yard Sale items are donated, sold at affordable prices, and arranged by volunteers who work seven days a week for five weeks to ensure its success.  The best part is that every cent of the net proceeds from the three-day Festival is awarded in the form of grants to various charities. 

    Over the last decade, Good Shepherd Catholic Church has granted over $500,000, yes a half million dollars, in grants to worthy charities, such as Community Lodgings to provide educational supplies for learning centers for disadvantaged children; New Hope Housing for their work to assist homeless individuals secure stable employment; Mt. Vernon at Home to provide low-income residents a non-cost membership which allows seniors to age in place; and the Hogar Immigrant Services program to fund legal immigration workshops.
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    So, gather your friends, family, neighbors and come join the fun – Saturday, September 2 for the 5K and Yard Sale; Sunday, September 3 for the International Festival Mass, and Labor Day, September 4 for food, music and games.  All are welcome! The address is 8710 Mt. Vernon Highway, Alexandria, Virginia 22309.  Visit gs-cc.org/international-festival.html for details!
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    Time for a clean sweep?

    6/13/2017

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    by Joan Sheppard 
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    Breathtaking scenery near Doolin, Ireland

    ​I recently returned from an unforgettable 10 day trip to Ireland. It is a breathtakingly beautiful country, and I relished the opportunity to slow down, appreciate the experience, and take it all in. 

    On the last few days of my trip, as I contemplated my return to the ‘real world’, I realized what a truly special gift I had been given. For these 10 days, I was transported out of my everyday world. Work and home responsibilities were carrying on without me, and, due to infrequent internet access, I spent far less time and energy on email and Facebook.  I was virtually (and literally) on an island far away from my everyday routine.

    I was reminded of a show I used to watch called ‘Clean Sweep’. The premise of the show was that a couple submits a desperate plea for help to overcome extreme clutter in their home. The star of the show, Peter Walsh, an organizer extraordinaire, comes in to save the day – take this excessively overcrowded space and transform it.

    The process was this: remove everything from the room (they quite literally took everything outside) and place it on one of three tarps: Keep, Donate and Trash. Only the Keep items were allowed back in the house, and only those that would fit on the tarp. Tough choices had to be made. 

    I realized that my Ireland trip was an opportunity to make a Clean Sweep in my life. I spent 10 days free of all my routines and habits and there was no reason I had to resume right where I left off. I could take this chance to look at how I typically spend my days and decide what to Keep, Donate and Trash, making purposeful decisions and not simply falling into old habits. 

    Take a look at what you and your family do in a typical day or week. Are there things that feed a chaotic, hectic lifestyle that you can put on the ‘Trash’ tarp? Are there some things you can ‘Donate’ – they’re still good/fun/useful, but no longer need to be a priority in your life? Think of the crowded, busy days of your life, and imagine paring them all down to what fits on one tarp instead of three. Can you picture this peaceful, focused existence?  Mine is a work in progress, but I’m excited about the journey!

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    Joan Sheppard
    Director, Faith Formation
    joan@gs-cc.org
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    Easter Hope

    4/16/2017

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    by Father Tom Ferguson
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    Very often the word most associated with Easter is joy.

    It is a great joy to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, especially after forty days of Lent that culminate in our remembering His death.

    There is also great joy in recalling that neither Jesus’ death, nor ours, is our final destiny, but rather eternal life in God’s heavenly kingdom.

    In the circumstances in which we found ourselves today, however, perhaps it is hope that is the Easter virtue and gift that may mean the most to us.

    Hope enabled the Beloved Disciple to consider the possibility of resurrection at the empty tomb, and hope enabled Mary Magdalene to recognize Jesus when He spoke her name, and hope enabled Peter to profess love even after denying Jesus three times.

    ​As many people experience worry, fear, illness or anxiety, my prayer this Easter is that hope will enable us all today - and throughout this season - to recognize God’s presence in our midst no matter what may be a source of darkness or difficulty in our lives.

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    Father Tom Ferguson, Pastor
    Good Shepherd Catholic Church
    t.ferguson@gs-cc.org
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    And Jesus Wept (Fifth Sunday of Lent)

    4/2/2017

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    by Father Tom Ferguson
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    It has been said that John 11:35 is one of the shortest verse in the whole Bible. Succinctly, it states: “And Jesus wept.”

    The context is Jesus’ arrival at the tomb of his friend Lazarus.

    Jesus, like us in all things but sin, is overcome with emotion and responds in a way characteristic of all of us at a time of loss.

    Jesus wept. 

    We would all do well to ponder the image described and the message proclaimed in these three words.

    Jesus experienced sadness and grief when He considered the prospect of physical separation from His dear friend.

    He also shared with compassion the loss of Martha and Mary who mourned the death of their brother.

    Raising Lazarus from the dead would be one of the greatest signs of the divinity of Jesus recorded in the gospel of John.
     
    But before He revealed the glory of His divinity, Jesus revealed the glory of His humanity when He became willing to share in one of the most visceral of our experiences.

    Jesus wept.

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    Father Tom Ferguson
    Pastor
    Good Shepherd Catholic Church
    t.ferguson@gs-cc.org
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    Possible Podcasts for Lenten Listening

    3/31/2017

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    by Joan Sheppard
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    Hi Everyone - 

    I hope you are enjoying a blessed Lent!

    I want to share with you a couple of podcasts I've recently discovered.  You can subscribe to these in order to have them automatically delivered to your device when a new one is posted.  You can listen on your phone, computer or tablet.  (Note:  If you want to limit downloading to free WiFi, disable the 'Cellular' capability for the Podcasts App on your mobile devices.) 
    ​

    1.  Some of you may remember Fr. Ricardo Martín who was in residence here at GS from 2009-2012.  He has a wonderful podcast called "Two Guys and a Gospel" - it's brief, only 10-12 minutes, and it is a conversation between Fr. Ricardo and another priest, Fr. Phillip, discussing the themes they see in the Gospel reading for the coming Sunday and how they might shape their homily.
    https://www.archmil.org/TwoGuys


    2.  You may already be familiar with Jeff Cavins through the Ascension Press Bible studies.  He has a podcast entitled 'The Jeff Cavins Show' where he looks at various topics.  The one I'm listening to now is how God shapes us in order to use us according to His plan and how this compares to the way an arrow must be shaped in order to be effective at hitting its mark.  It's a bit longer, 40-45 minutes, and really fantastic.  Scroll down to the Jeff Cavins Show section to choose the podcast to listen to.

    http://ascensionpresents.com/podcasts/

    I pray you will enjoy a wonderful Easter!

    God bless,

    Joan

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    Joan Sheppard
    Director of Faith Formation
    Good Shepherd Catholic Church
    Joan@gs-cc.org
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    Sacraments for the Sick

    7/29/2016

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    Anointing of the Sick

    The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is the Church's sacrament for those who are sick and aging, and is a sacred moment when we pray for God's grace to strengthen someone who is suffering from any form of illness. “When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically ​

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    Corporal Works of Mercy: Visit those in Prison

    7/12/2016

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    by Miguel DeAngel
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    Sunday, May 29, was the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), and GS parishioners participated in our annual procession. (The procession is in Spanish, with English translations provided.) Parishioners walk from Mount Vernon High School to the church, stopping along the way for reflection, prayer, and singing. The theme for this year's procession was  "The Corporal Works of Mercy."  This blog post is one of the reflections offered during this year's procession.
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    Visit the imprisoned


    ​Not many of us get the to visit the imprisoned. But the men and women who do this work of mercy are doing special work in the Church. The ministry of bringing Christ’s mercy to prisons whether through a simple visit or by bringing the Sacraments to the imprisoned is one way Christ’s mercy reaches for everyone’s heart. The inherent dignity of each person cannot diminish even if we commit the worst of crimes. God’s mercy continues reaching for us always.


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    Corporal Works of Mercy: Visit the Sick

    6/13/2016

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    by Deacon Tom White
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    Sunday, May 29, was the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), and GS parishioners participated in our annual procession. (The procession is in Spanish, with English translations provided.) Parishioners walk from Mount Vernon High School to the church, stopping along the way for reflection, prayer, and singing. The theme for this year's procession was  "The Corporal Works of Mercy."  This blog post is one of the reflections offered during this year's procession.

    Lord, when our first parents - Adam and Eve - sinned against you, sickness of mind, body, and spirit entered your perfect creation.  Then you sent your Son, Jesus, to come into that same world to destroy the power of death and to provide us divine nourishment to feed and heal our souls.  In that same outpouring of love, your Son commanded that those who love Him, love one another.

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    Corporal Works of Mercy: Feed the Hungry

    5/25/2016

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    Claudia Fiebig, Pastoral Associate
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    This coming Sunday, May 29, is the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), and GS parishioners will participate in our annual procession. (The procession is in Spanish, with English translations provided.) Parishioners walk from Mount Vernon High School to the church, stopping along the way for reflection, prayer, and singing. The theme for this year's procession is  "The Corporal Works of Mercy."  This blog post is one of the reflections offered during this year's procession.

    ​Our initial reading or understanding of ‘feed the hungry’ is obvious, feeding people and meeting their physical need for food. Food sustains our bodies so we may be active and full disciples of Jesus.  People in our parish, community, and the world are hungry; many may be unable to afford food for themselves or families, access to food, or are food deprived because of poor government leadership or oppression. Food is a basic human necessity and our awareness and response to hunger promotes human dignity. ​

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    Congratulations, Joan!

    5/23/2016

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    by Father Tom Ferguson, Pastor
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    As we begin to celebrate graduations at all levels of education, I am delighted to share the good news that one among our parish staff, our Director of Faith Formation, Joan Sheppard, has recently received the degree of Master of Science in Church Management from Villanova University!

    Not only has Joan earned her degree, but she also received the Bartley Medallion which is given to the outstanding student in her class.
        
    Joan’s program included courses in every area of Church management including canon law, risk management, information technology and stewardship.

    Already recognized as an outstanding leader in the ministry of faith formation, and in the Cursillo movement, Joan has broadened her knowledge of Church leadership, while she continues to serve as an exemplary role model of missionary discipleship, growing in her love for the Lord and her desire to share gifts of faith, hope and love with others!

    Congratulations to all of our 2016 graduates, thank you to all of the members of our wonderful parish staff, and way to make us all proud, Joan!

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    ​​Father Tom Ferguson
    Pastor
    Good Shepherd Catholic Church
    t.ferguson@gs-cc.org
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      Shepherd's Watch

      a blog from Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Alexandria, Virginia
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       "Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock." Lk 2:8
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    Good Shepherd Catholic Church
    8710 Mount Vernon Highway Alexandria, Virginia 22309
    Phone: (703) 780-4055    FAX:
    (703) 842-8232    Email: office@gs-cc.org
    Office Hours: M-F 9:30am - 5:00pm  Closed Saturday  Open 1st,  3rd and 5th Sundays 8am - 4pm 

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