October 11, 2026•Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Parish Family,
One of the great blessings of parish life is the opportunity to come together not only for worship, but also simply to enjoy one another’s company. Our annual Good Shepherd Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 24, is one of those opportunities, and I hope you will make plans to join us.
This year, we have decided to shorten and simplify our Oktoberfest schedule. Rather than stretching activities throughout the entire day, we are concentrating our celebration into an afternoon and evening filled with good food, fellowship, and fun. While the schedule may be shorter, the heart of Oktoberfest remains the same: bringing our parish family together.
Dinner will be served from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., featuring pork and sauerkraut or Kowalonek’s kielbasa with sauerkraut, along with mashed potatoes, green beans, and apple cobbler with ice cream. There will also be live entertainment, our Holiday Raffle, and Bingo beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Of course, one of the highlights of Oktoberfest is always our Raffle Baskets. Once again, our parishioners and ministries are putting together some wonderful baskets, and you won’t have to wait until Oktoberfest to see them! We will have a special Raffle Basket Preview and early ticket sales after Masses on the weekends of October 10/11 and October 17/18. Be sure to stop by, take a look at the baskets, and get your tickets early. It is a great way to begin the Oktoberfest fun before October 24 even arrives.
I am grateful to everyone who is donating a basket, contributing toward one, volunteering, preparing food, selling tickets, decorating, or helping in any of the many ways necessary to make this event possible. Parish events like this only happen because so many people generously give their time and talents.
Most importantly, I encourage you to come and be part of the evening—and bring your family, friends, and neighbors with you! Oktoberfest is more than a fundraiser or a dinner. It is a chance to reconnect with old friends, meet someone new, laugh together, and enjoy the community that God has given us here at Good Shepherd. It is also a wonderful opportunity to welcome others and share with them the warmth and fellowship of our parish family.
The day may be a little shorter this year, but there will still be plenty to enjoy. Come for dinner, take a chance on a basket, stay for Bingo, and bring your family, friends, and neighbors to spend an enjoyable evening with your Good Shepherd family.
I look forward to seeing you on October 24!
Grace and peace!
Father Neil Sullivan