September 20, 2026 •Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Parish Family,
What a joyful and memorable weekend it was for Good Shepherd Parish! I offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make the Dedication of our renewed church and altar such a beautiful celebration. After months of planning, construction, disruption, dust, decisions, and our summer together in the parish hall, it was wonderful to come home. More importantly, it was wonderful to see our church filled once again with our parish family, gathered around a newly dedicated altar and with the tabernacle once again at the heart of our sanctuary.
So many people contributed to this renewal and to the celebration itself. I am especially grateful to our parish staff, liturgical ministers, musicians, volunteers, those who prepared the church and reception, and everyone who worked quietly behind the scenes. Thank you as well to all who supported the project through your generosity, patience, encouragement, and prayers. Jen Miller, our Parish Manager, has carried and continues to carry an extraordinary responsibility throughout this entire project. Jen understood that we were doing more than renovating a building. We are preparing a sacred place for the worship of God and a spiritual home for generations yet to come. Thank you, Jen!!!
The weekend was made even more joyful by the ordination of Deacon Mike Nowakowski. Mike and Cathy have already been such an important part of the Good Shepherd family, and now we rejoice that Bishop Senior has assigned Deacon Mike to serve here at Good Shepherd. Congratulations, Mike! Congratulations and thanks to Cathy as well. The journey to ordination is never made alone, and Cathy has shared in the years of formation, prayer, sacrifice, and preparation that brought Mike to this day. We look forward to this new chapter of their life among us and to the many ways Deacon Mike will serve Christ and His Church here at Good Shepherd.
After a very full summer and an especially full few weeks, I will be away beginning Sunday afternoon and will return Saturday afternoon. I am grateful to have a few days down the shore and am equally grateful to our parish staff who will keep everything moving while I am away.
Our church has been renewed, our altar has been dedicated, and one of our own has been ordained and sent back to serve among us. Now the real work begins: allowing all these blessings to renew us as the living stones of Good Shepherd Parish.
May God bless Deacon Mike and Cathy, and may God continue to bless Good Shepherd Parish as we begin this new chapter together.
Grace and peace!
Father Neil Sullivan