Daily Rosary

We welcome all to join us after each 9:00 AM Daily Mass to pray the rosary. We especially need prayer during these troubling times!

The “Good Shepherd” is an image that Jesus wants us to hold in our minds and hearts. He spoke of this to His disciples as being willing to “lay down His life” and contrasted that commitment to loving them to a hired hand, who is less than willing to put themselves at risk. Our Gospel says that the hired hand “runs away” when the threat of the wolf comes upon them.

Jesus, on the other hand, is not afraid of putting Himself at complete risk for His flock – for us! Just as He showed an example of how to serve one another to the Apostles at The Last Supper by washing their feet, He is giving them, and us, an important example in the parable of the Good Shepherd. We can’t help but link this image to the Lost Sheep as well.

Not only does the Good Shepherd stand ready to sacrifice His own life for any and all of the sheep, but He also reaches out and searches for any and all the sheep who wander off. So many times, when we see this image in art, we view that lost sheep as a little lamb. Artistically, that seems gentler, and draws from Luke’s version of this story where the Good Shepherd places the lost sheep upon his shoulders.

But we can also keep to the text and recognize that the Gospels each simply call the missing one from the flock a lost “sheep.” That likely points more to a fully grown animal. One that may be stubborn, unruly, and wanting to follow their own path, even if that is a dangerous path.

Picture Jesus wrestling the fully-grown sheep upon His shoulders, and calming them down, and saying, “Listen, I get it that you don’t understand where and why I am keeping you here on the safe pasture, but I am bringing you back to safety. When you wander off by yourself, you are at risk, and I won’t allow that to happen. Come back with Me. Trust Me.”

Psalm 23 also gives us an image of a Good Shepherd: “The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.”

We might miss the last line in this familiar passage: “… your rod and your staff comfort me.” Jesus, the Good Shepherd, not only brings us back to safety, but He offers us correction to our faults. No one likes to be corrected, but Jesus obviously thinks it is important. He calls us to change; He calls us to a life of goodness. Only then will we find peace.

- Father Jim

To learn more about the 2024 Annual Catholic Appeal and to donate online, please click here.

Hospice Care Information

On Sunday, October 16th, OLGC offered an information program on Hospice Care and Spirituality at the end of our lives. We had a good turnout of about 35-40 parishioners in attendance. For those who may have missed the information session, below are links to the documents which were shared with the attendees.

Please always remember: if your loved one needs the Sacrament of the Sick, do not hesitate to call us at (856) 425-0181, our parish Emergency Number, and Father Jim or Father Jack will respond immediately to your request.

Advance Directives for Healthcare

USCCB: The witness of the good samaritan

Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services

Faith at Home

These links provides you with the latest one-page resource for families, Faith At Home; it connects to the theme of the upcoming Sunday Liturgy. This resource is updated each week and can be found on the diocesan webpage at www.dioceseoftrenton.org/faith-at-home and en Español at www.dioceseoftrenton.org/fe-en-casa.

May God continue to bless us and keep us close to Him.

Please support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul so that together we can help local families in need. Those needing help should call the SVDP helpline at 856-291-7313.

Local food pantries include:

Live Civilly: St. Matthew's Church, 318 Chester Ave.

First Baptist Church, 19 West Main St., Moorestown

Bethel AME, 512 N. Church St., Moorestown

SVDP also has Thinking of You cards available. A gift can be given to the poor in the name of someone special at your

request. You will be remembered in the prayers and works of the Moorestown Vincentians. We are so very grateful for your

generous ongoing donations.

Respect Life Homily

Deacon Tom Kolon shared a wonderful and informative Catholic perspective on Respect Life, encompassing current events and statistics that spanned from end of life through the very beginning in the womb. You can re-watch his homily on the live streaming or may click here for a written copy to share.

Our Promise to Protect

The Diocese of Trenton is committed to the initiatives outlined in the U.S. Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in regard to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse allegations involving minors. The Diocese has in place a Victim’s Assistance Coordinator, who is available to obtain support for your needs and help you make a formal complaint of abuse.

If you have been sexually abused as a minor by a member of the clergy or anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know someone who was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan Abuse Hotline: 1-888-296-2965 or via email at abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org.

The Diocese encourages anyone with an allegation to also report that abuse to their local law enforcement agency. The Diocese reports all allegations received to the appropriate county prosecutor’s office.