A merger of faith communities from St. John, St. Columbkille, St. Joseph, and St. Ignatius.
Announcement Of Canonical Changes for Good Shepherd Parish Effective June, 2026
http://goodshepherdubly.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Decrees-Instructions-5-12-2026pdf-1.pdf
Parish Vision
Good Shepherd Parish will be a community where every member is on fire with the Truth. We will be guided by the Holy Spirit and will be a force for God’s mission. We will be strengthened through our worship, participation in the Sacraments, lifelong faith formation, study of the Word, and fellowship with one another, our neighbors, and beyond. We will show our love by being the hands and feet of Christ and sharing our joy with our community, our diocese, and our world.
Announcement from Next Generation Parish Implementation Team:
Dear parishioners,
Today, we want to talk to you about one simple but life-changing word: YES.
Throughout history, God has placed opportunities in front of His people—moments where He calls them to step forward in faith, to trust Him, and to be part of something far greater than themselves. And time and time again, the saints show us what happens when we say YES to God’s call.
Think of St. Peter—an ordinary fisherman, flawed and imperfect. Jesus called him to leave everything behind and follow Him. Peter didn’t have all the answers, but he said YES. And that yes made him the rock upon which Christ built His Church.
Or there’s St. Teresa of Calcutta. She was already a nun, already living a life of faith. But God called her deeper—to serve the poorest of the poor, to be His hands and feet. She could have ignored that call. Instead, she said YES. And because of that yes, millions of lives were transformed by God’s love.
Now, today, God is placing an opportunity in front of our Parish – You and I. An opportunity to remember that we are not just members of a parish—we are disciples on a mission.
Over the past year, Good Shepherd, with the help of an organization called Catholic Leadership Institute, has discerned a bold vision: to be a community on fire with the Truth, guided by the Holy Spirit, and strengthened through worship, the Sacraments, faith formation, and community. This is more than a vision—it is a call.
A call to say YES. A call to transformation.
Let’s be clear—visions don’t happen by accident. They come to life when ordinary people say YES to our extraordinary God.
That’s where YOU come in.
Through Catholic Leadership Institute and with our Parish envisioning team, we have set six bold goals—goals with strong timelines to be completed by early 2026. (Goals & Plans listed below)
These goals call us to rise beyond simply sitting in these pews—they invite us to step forward in faith, to say Yes. God is calling YOU—will you answer?
So today, we invite you: As we gather in worship this mass, take a moment to pray and ask God what He is stirring in your heart—calling you to play a special role in helping our parish fulfill its mission.
Goal #1: At least 30 people become actively engaged members of a small discipleship group by March 2026.
Plan #1: We are showing “The Chosen” series (Season 1) each week during Lent starting the week of March 9 in various small in-home groups. There are sign-up sheets for people to choose the time/area that works best for them/
Goal #2: All newly registered parishioners and new disciples who have been baptized or received into the Catholic Church at Easter will be formally welcomed by March 2026.
Plan #2: We will be giving out new member welcome baskets to new parishioners. We would like to get the baskets donated as well as donations for Catholic Christian items to fill it. We have a list of items but are open for other options.
We will also be asking people to help with a welcoming dinner or gathering.
Goal #3: 90% of the people at Good Shepherd Parish will report being spiritually fed through their participation in the Mass by December 2025.
Plan #3: Upcoming Parish Event: Babies, Baptism, and Beyond
Building on the success of “33 Days to Eucharistic Glory,” we continue to offer meaningful parish events. Our next event is celebrating baptism on Sunday, May 25th at 3:30PM at the parish center (childcare provided).
Who’s Invited: Parents and children baptized since 2019, their other children and their Godparents/Christian Witnesses. The entire parish is welcome to attend the 3:30 PM presentation by Guest Speaker & Family Spiritual Director, Keri Tarrant!
How You Can Help: We need volunteers for setup, childcare, and event promotion. Please sign up in the coming weeks to support this special gathering!
Goal #4: Every parishioner will invite at least one person to Mass annually by December 2025.
Plan #4: Project 99 – Bringing Lost Sheep Home
We are laying the foundation to welcome back those who have drifted away. Parishioners are invited to sign up lost sheep, pray for them, and ultimately extend a heartfelt invitation to return. Think of those you’d love to see beside you at Mass again. Use the QR code below or sign up in Mass to participate.
We will also host special Sunday events, including: Four-Generation Mass, Welcome Back Mass, and Memorial Mass honoring those we’ve lost in the past year.
Additionally, we need volunteers for Greeter Signup & Training to ensure a warm and inviting atmosphere for all returning members. Let’s make our Parish a true home for everyone.
Goal #5: 70% of registered parishioners will participate in at least one faith formation opportunity annually by March 2026.
Plan #5: Expand, create and invite parishioners to small faith-sharing groups focused on Scripture, prayer, and discipleship.
Goal #6: 75% of parishioners will report that they are growing as disciples by March 2026.
Plan #6: Promote parish ministries that encourage active discipleship (e.g., mentoring, outreach, bible studies, OCIA)
Our Parish Envisioning Team worked and prayed for many months to discern these new purpose and vision statements:
Parish Purpose Statement
We the members of Good Shepherd Parish, guided by the Holy Spirit and strengthened through sacraments, fellowship, and faith formation, serve as a force for good in our local community, our diocese, and our world. As a unified community, we are striving to become missionary disciples of Jesus.
Parish Vision Statement
Good Shepherd Parish will be a community where every member is on fire with the Truth. We will be guided by the Holy Spirit and will be a force for God’s mission. We will be strengthened through our worship, participation in the Sacraments, lifelong faith formation, study of the Word, and fellowship with one another, our neighbors, and beyond. We will show our love by being the hands and feet of Christ and sharing our joy with our community, our diocese, and our world.
KFC Fundraiser and Community Builder for Good Shepherd Parish – Will resume in fall of 2026
Flocknote
Parish family member or friend of the parish, as your pastor, I want to help you to stay informed about what our beloved Lord is doing in our parish and THROUGH our parish, and how He might be inviting you to join Him in His mission of rescuing the lost and the hopeless, and making intentional, joy-filled disciples..
Please join our new parish Flocknote! No passwords, no apps required. It allows parish leaders, including staff, leaders of ministries and groups, etc., to communicate important info via email or text.
I’ll be sending a weekly update via Flocknote. As you sign up, please choose groups/ministries you’re interested in receiving communication from (even if you’re only praying/thinking about joining that ministry).
Text to join: text the word BESTSHEPHERD to 84576
Or Join with link: https://GoodShepherdUbly.flocknote.com
PARISH RENEWAL PRAYER
After Masses, we will soon begin praying a “Parish Renewal Prayer”, as our Pastoral Council has agreed to do. I wrote the prayer inspired by prayers of various others. Our parish leaders need us to pray for them, because Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15) We need to ask God to give us leaders His Holy Spirit, so that we can discover God’s Vision for our parish, and make plans accordingly.
God’s Vision generally speaking is something we already know: the purpose of a parish is to promote the glory of God, the sanctification of souls, and the salvation of the lost. It is a “field hospital” for sinners, not a social club. It’s mission is to form “missionary disciples” of Jesus Christ and to become a “center of constant missionary outreach”, in the words of Pope Francis.
Here is the Parish Renewal Prayer phrase by phrase, with explanation:
“Come Holy Spirit, Fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love.”
***the beginning of an ancient prayer to the Holy Spirit. Pray it daily and you will see amazing things in your life
Enlighten parish leaders as they meet to discover God’s Vision for our parish.
***without the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment, we will remain in the dark and be vulnerable to the attacks of the devil, the ”father of lies” and author of confusion. Just as God has a Vision for our parish, so does the devil. We need to discover God’s Vision so we can make plans towards achieving it
Give to them, and to each one of us, “a lively faith, a firm hope, a fervent charity, a love of you.”
***from a prayer by St. Thomas More
Help us to grow in Your gifts and fruits, and to discover our charisms for ministry. Heavenly Father, We ask for a “new outpouring of the Holy Spirit”
***from the words of the shepherd Jesus appointed for our diocese, Bishop Robert Gruss (Great Lakes Bay Catholic, Issue #3). He asked us to pray for this new outpouring regularly. Please read the full article in Issue #3. There is a difference between the fruits, gifts, and charisms of the spirit; see back of the parish renewal prayer bookmark to see the difference. On October 27, 2023 our parish will be hosting the Called and Gifted Workshop to help us discover our personal charisms
…in our hearts, our families, our parish, and our diocese to bring about “an authentic and renewed conversion to our Lord Jesus Christ.”
***from article by Bishop Gruss. He has encouraged us priests to pray daily for the conversion of our parishes, as did St. John Vianney, the patron of parish priests. I do pray daily for my own deeper conversion and the deeper conversion of my parish. Now we’re all going to pray for conversion together
Blessed Virgin Mary, grant a “renewed Pentecost” “that will spread in everyone the joy of living and witnessing to the Gospel.”
***the prayer of Pope Benedict XVI (Regina Caeli Message, May 11, 2008)
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
***the beginning of the traditional St. Michael Prayer. I encourage every Christian to pray the full prayer daily. You can find it on the back of the hymnal
Jesus, we trust in You!
***the prayer Jesus asked St. Faustina to have inscribed at the bottom of the Divine Mercy Image
Praying with Scripture: Lectio Divina (Divine Reading)
ENCOUNTER JESUS: Watch The Chosen Series: Watching or re-watching this series about Jesus is a fantastic way to celebrate Advent. Options for watching:
- Watch for free in a mobile phone app: www.thechosen.tv/app or search “The Chosen” in your Apple or Android app store. From the app, you can stream to your TV using a streaming device, such as Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Chromecast, etc.
- You can purchase a Pay-it-Forward package in the app. This not only gives you lifetime digital access to season 1 of The Chosen, but it helps send streams all over the world to others who may not otherwise have the chance to watch
- Purchase the DVD/BluRay here at The Chosen webstore.
- Watch on VidAngel: Go to www.VidAngel.com and enter your email address to create an account
- If you have purchased digital access, you can watch it on The Chosen web player
If anyone is in great need of the Sacraments of Healing (including Reconciliation/Confession, and Anointing of the Sick), or if anyone is dying and in need of the “last rites” (Confession, Anointing, Viaticum- Final Holy Communion), please call the office 989-658-8824.