Good Shepherd Sunday
The fourth Sunday of Easter has been celebrated as Good Sheperd Sunday. To Understand the meaning of this Sunday, we must understand the important relationship between a shepherd and his flock, and it helps to know what the shepherds did at the time of Jesus. First of all, they would lead the flock by day. They would go in front of the sheep and the sheep would follow. This is different from modern shepherds, who often have sheepdogs lead while the shepherds stay behind. In Jesus’ time, the sheep would know the voice of their shepherd, and they would follow as the shepherd spoke to the sheep. During most of the year, at night the shepherd would bring the sheep back to a stone wall enclosure with no gate. The gate would be the shepherd himself, who would lay down and sleep in the opening of the sheep pen. Thus, the shepherd would prevent thieves and wild animals from getting into the enclosure by being the living gate. If there were many flocks inside the sheep walls, the shepherds would each take turns being the sheep gate. In the morning, each shepherd would call his flock and only his sheep would follow him and not the other shepherds, because they knew the voice of their shepherd and would only follow their own shepherd. The shepherd would once again lead his flock to green pastures where he would provide for the needs of the flock. The sheep of the flock would have no worries because their shepherd would protect them with his rod and staff. The shepherd’s main focus was always the good of the sheep and not his own comfort or pleasure. Hired shepherds would only be interested in what they would gain from shepherding the flock and they would not be interested in what happened to the sheep. The only response of the sheep was to follow the good shepherd. They needed to be attuned to the voice of the shepherd and do what the shepherd asked of them. Everything else would be provided.
Obviously, we can see how Jesus is the GOOD Shepherd. He has established a personal relationship with each of us, the members of His flock. We need to listen to the voice of Jesus, the GOOD Shepherd. If we do so, the GOOD Shepherd will provide for all our needs, even when we walk through the dark valley of death, for we will know that our GOOD Shepherd will be there, protecting us, feeding us, comforting us and searching for us if we get lost. Not only does Jesus, the GOOD Shepherd, have a personal relationship with us, Jesus laid down His life as the Sheep Gate. His Body is the only thing that keeps us safe at night. No one can come to harm us unless they are willing to face the GOOD Shepherd. So, we can sleep peacefully at night, knowing that our GOOD Shepherd is there for us.
And in the morning of each day, the GOOD Shepherd will again call us to follow Him. We will go out to even greener pastures. Our response is simply to listen for the voice of the GOOD Shepherd and follow.
Our response to the GOOD Shepherd and to those who have dutifully continued shepherding in the name of the GOOD Shepherd is to echo the words of the people who listened to Peter on that first Pentecost Sunday: “What are we to do?” We need to be obedient to the call of the GOOD Shepherd. We need to dedicate our lives to following where He leads. And, if we are called to shepherd (pastor) part of His flock, whether it be in our family, in our work, or in our faith community, we must be willing to do so with the same interest and loving concern as the GOOD Shepherd.
Please pray, especially this weekend, for a new vocation to the priesthood and religious life. Pray for a new shepherd who will love the Lord and care spiritually for his flock.
Restructuring Process Update
As you know, the Archdiocese of Detroit has entered into a process of Archdiocesan Restructuring. I would like to take this opportunity to share some important updates with you – what has been accomplished so far, and what lies ahead.
This spring, every parish will host two listening sessions where the first draft of pastorate models will be presented. Our parish listening sessions are scheduled for June 8th, 7-9 pm, and June 10th, 7-9 pm. You may RSVP for one of these listening sessions at restructuring.aod.org. These sessions will give you the opportunity to review the models developed by our priests and share your feedback on the proposed pastorates. After feedback is gathered from every parish, many of the models may be revised. Ultimately, Archbishop Weisenburger will prayerfully discern the refined models before determining the future structure of the Archdiocese, which will take effect in July 2027.
Every parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit will undergo some degree of change as a result of this process. As you consider these changes, I encourage you to review them as opportunities to re-envision how to minister to the people we serve. Given the upcoming structural shifts and decreasing number of priests assigned to each pastorate, many parishes will experience adjustments to their Mass schedules. In some cases, this will mean a reduction in the number of Masses offered at the particular location which will help ensure that priests have adequate time to travel between sites and remain available to their parish communities.
Changes in mass times, while challenging, will also present opportunities to welcome new faces, strengthen ministries, and collaborate more intentionally within our pastorate. Parish staff members may see shifts in responsibilities as new teams are formed, but they will also gain opportunities to work together in creative and innovative ways across parish boundaries.
I know that the thought of change can be difficult, especially when it touches our spiritual homes, our priests and our community members we hold dear. Yet I want to assure you that through every change and challenge, God is with us. He is inviting us to lay down our own desires and fears so that we can receive new and hopeful opportunities to renew the Church here in southeastern Michigan. Let us come to these sessions not ready to fight, argue, or insist that we are exempt from change. Instead, let us come with docility to the Holy Spirit – with open hearts and open hands – ready to receive what the Lord desires to give, ready to serve in whatever ways we are called, and always entrusting this important work to the Holy Spirit.
May God bless all of you.
Fr. Tom Wilisowski