Philippine-Australia-Saipan Province

Solemnity of Jesus Good Shepherd at Bundoora
and 48th World Day of Prayer for Vocations
 

On Sunday 15 May 2011, Good Shepherd Sunday, the Pastorelle communities of Thomastown and Bundoora gathered together with about forty Pauline Cooperators and Friends to celebrate our Congregational feast and to pray for vocations.
 

 

Sr. Doreen prepared a beautiful paraliturgy around the themes of the role of the shepherd, Christian unity and unity with Christ, drawing from the message that Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed at the beginning of his Pontificate.

 

We were reminded that “One of the basic characteristics of a shepherd must be to love the people entrusted to them, even as [he] loves Christ whom he serves. “Feed my sheep” says Christ to Peter.  These very words our Founder, blessed James Alberione entrusted to us as central to our vocation as Pastorelle Sisters, that is, shepherdesses in the midst of God’s people. It was also good for the young people present to hear the words:  “Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. Amen”.
 

A lovely part of the prayer service was Sr. Estelita’s sharing the story of her vocation. Clearly, the faith of her parents and the prayer life within the family played a very significant part in her personal faith-journey and response to the call to follow Jesus as a Pastorelle Sister.

 

At the beginning of the prayer we read the feastday greetings to us and to the Pauline Family from our Superior General, Sr. Marta, and our Provincial, Sr. Brenda. While at the end of the paraliturgy, Sr. Nelia distributed to each participant a small decorated candle with a quote from Blessed James Alberione in remembrance of the day.
 

The annual gathering for the solemnity of Jesus Good Shepherd with our Pauline Cooperators and Friends is a much appreciated tradition.

    

A group of Cooperators and Friends Three young sisters with Sr. Nelia
 

One of our venerable Cooperators and generous supporter of the Feeding Program in the Philippines is Vera Barron. She was the first one to arrive by taxi in the company of her life long friend, Mary, who was visiting her from Adelaide. And our youngest friends, the three sisters in red, would be very happy to join us for many more Good Shepherd Sundays throughout the year.
 

 

 JESUS, ETERNAL SHEPHERD OF OUR SOULS,

SEND GOOD LABOURERS INTO YOUR VINEYARD!
 

Sr. Mary La Bruna sjbp