“So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

John 10:7-10

Last Sunday was Good Shepherd Sunday and the passage above comes from the Gospel that was read on Sunday. Sunday was the fourth Sunday of Easter and the readings throughout the Easter period are particularly joyful but also challenging. Each of the Sundays contains scripture which reflects on Christ’s self-gift and total love for all of us.

As the good shepherd Jesus knows his sheep by name, calls them, loves them and will leave all of the others to seek out the lost one. We can all see that it is entirely impractical to leave the rest of the sheep unprotected to go and seek out the one lost sheep. It is this very impracticality of Jesus’ love for all that makes it so profound, that led him to the cross as a complete gift of self that he might journey to the resurrection and through the cross and resurrection, free us from the effects of sin and death and give us eternal life with him.

At the end of the passage we hear the beautiful words from Jesus, “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” It is up to us to choose that abundant life, the life which living in relationship with Jesus and deepening that relationship day by day, will give us.

As Catholics and as Christians we are resurrection people. In this time of Easter we are called to Shepherd others, to love and protect others and to reach out to those in our community who are lost or on the margins. May we be good shepherds helping others to the abundant life to which Christ calls each of us. Let us also pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, which is also a focus of Good Shepherd Sunday, that we might have good shepherds to sustain and nourish our parishes and society in the future.

Upcoming Events related to the Special Character:

May is traditionally one of two months (May and October) set aside to honour Mary, our good mother and ordinary resource. As both a Marist and Mercy school we follow the example of St Marcellin Champagnat in looking to Mary as our example of faithfulness and discipleship. In Religious Studies lessons during May, students will have the opportunity to learn about and pray the rosary.

Feast Day Mass. The Feast Day Mass is on 18 May, the day on which we remember the birth of Pope John Paul II. We will have a full-school mass and some fun activities on that day. More details about this will be in next Friday’s newsletter and family will, of course, be welcome to join us for mass.

I am deeply grateful for the warm welcome I have received here and I look forward to continuing to work with the community to build up the Special Character in the school and to build connections between the school and the parish.

May God bless you all abundantly.

Joanie Roberson - Director of Religious Studies

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