THE CALL
We promote the Kingdom of God by living as disciples of Jesus.
Daily:
Happy Summertime!
As summer begins, I’d like to share a tradition from our end-of-school-year Mass: making simple, faith-filled resolutions for the summer I encourage you to do the same choose one thing to do daily, weekly, and monthly to keep your faith alive during these sunny months.
Pray a decade of the rosary, spend 10 minutes in quiet gratitude, or read a paragraph of Scripture (the Book of Tobit makes great summer reading!).
Weekly:
Attend a daily Mass, watch a video from Bishop Barron or Ascension Presents, have a meaningful family dinner, or spend time in Eucharistic adoration (every Thursday at Good Shepherd!).
Monthly:
Serve at the Food Kitchen, send cards or care packages to those in nursing homes, or find another small way to bring joy to others.
What will you choose to nourish your soul this summer?
It Takes a Village
A Fond Farewell
Meaningful Work
Father Anthony Mersmann
The three years I was able to spend at Good Shepherd have been powerful ones. I’ve learned to let go of some things, I’ve seen more concretely the beauty in diversity - age, liturgical style, background, you name it. Good Shepherd is a true home to so many.
There’s one thing I want to highlight more than the rest about my experience here, and that’s the work I see you all doing. The work of conversion, sanctification, and sacrifice. Those words look great on paper and sound powerful, but actually lived, they are sweaty, difficult, and met with plenty of tension most of the time The same work and sacrifices that seem brutal and hard to navigate to us when we’re doing them is beautiful and inspiring to those that witness it, assuming we’re at least trying to embrace it head-on.
Being a part of your lives for the last three years has been beautiful and inspiring to me. From seeing you deal with real family difficulties and coping with sudden changes thrust upon you, to seeing you joyfully spending time together and getting truly excited about the simple things like the grade school talent show or Lessons and Carols. Day-to-day, these things can seem like a busy kind
of work, and we can easily question the sacrifices we’re making for each other. That work, though, done with hearts open to the presence of God, is meaningful work.
For us to be able to do this fruitful laboring, we have to be open to the presence of God. We have to constantly be asking the question, ‘God, where are you in this?’ Even in the insane, unpredicted moments that feel like a bomb just went off and left our ears ringing, we have to have the wherewithal to pause and ask God, ‘where are you?’ and, ‘what are you asking me to do here?’
The more we pause, the better we can see God. The more we slow down from time-totime and enjoy God’s company and each other’s company, the more He can provide for us. Keep working, pause often, and know that God himself is working even more powerfully for you.
FATHER WILSON RODRIGUEZ
Father Wilson Garnica Rodríguez was born on June 23, 1981. He studied at the Major Seminary of San Jose in the diocese of Zipaquirá, Colombia. He was ordained a priest on May 24, 2008. In his time as a Priest he has served in several regions of Zipaquirá as Vicar and Parish Priest.
He was sent to serve the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas in 2023, as Parochial Vicar at Blessed Sacrament Parish. At 17 years of ordination, Father Wilson has consecrated his ministry to the maternal love of the Virgin Mary.
His ministry has been marked by joy, and his love of working with formation with the laity. Father Wilson enjoys playing soccer, reading, and listening to music.
He is very excited to meet, and to be able to learn from, this community, as well as to continue in his mission to lead the souls entrusted to him on the path of salvation.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” Acts 2:4
Come celebrate the Feast of Pentecost with our parish community as we rejoice in the birth of the Church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit! Just as the Apostles were sent out to the ends of the earth to proclaim the Good News of salvation, we are the living fruits of their mission diverse, united, and alive in faith. All are invited to share this joyful celebration by bringing food, traditions, prayers, music, and stories that reflect your cultural and ethnic heritage. Let us gather as one body in Christ, honoring the rich tapestry of our global Church and the Spirit who continues to breathe life into us all.
EASTER: A TIME FOR WELCOMING
We warmly welcome the newest members of our Catholic Church, who were fully initiated through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil Mass. Your “yes” to God’s call is a beautiful witness of faith, and our entire parish community rejoices with you as you begin this new journey in Christ. May the light of the Risen Lord guide and strengthen you, and may you always find a spiritual home here among us. Welcome to the family!
Janet Abad Bonifacio
Rossy Alicia Barragan
Armando Barragan
Jamila Abad Bonifacio
Ricardo Bonilla Pelayo
Francisco Delgado
Jesus Escareno Martinez
Merely Escareno Martinez
Kobbe Farwick
Miguel Angel Galindo Cruz
Alan Gonzalez Lopez
Alex Guevara Chavez
Brooke Hart
Melissa Morfin Avelino
Jose Luis Orozco
Ashley Peppers
Benjamin Peppers
Henry Peppers
August Peppers
Truman Peppers
Luis Fernando Pereira Gabriel
Angel Perez
Austin Perez
Jazlynn Janelle Prieto
Berenice Esmeralda Rodriguez Atahu
Christian Aldair Rojas Garcia
Zua Damaris Rojas Garcia
SERVICE WITH A SMILE
Service Club Shows Faith ThroughWorks
“What good is it… if someone says he has faith but does not have works?... So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James 2:14-17
At Good Shepherd School, the Shepherd’s Staff Service Club gives middle schoolers a chance to live out their faith through monthly service projects. This year, students have planted in the parish garden, sorted food at Harvesters, shopped with clients at Metro Lutheran Ministries’ Christmas Store, and painted birdhouses to brighten church grounds.
In November, a special trip to Harvesters included students and their families. Jessica Lilja, a parent volunteer, brought three generations along. “It was so much fun. I love that it was multi-generational... I would absolutely do it again,” she said.
Seventh grader Anna Lien has enjoyed many projects. “I really like helping in the garden and going to Turn Styles,” she said. Her favorite? Christmas shopping with clients. “I got to help everyone and help them have a good Christmas.”
Students help with the parish garden from spring planting to fall harvest. Anna’s mom, Janet, appreciates the learning that happens there: “Anna comes home surprised telling how many pounds of peppers were picked or how big the sweet potatoes are.”
Garden coordinator Donna Cornett, inspired years ago by Fr. Jim White, loves sharing that work. Quoting Audrey Hepburn, she says, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Donna adds, “Because the kids are taking on the task, I'm passing the torch.”
The club fosters friendships too. “It’s better than doing something by yourself,” Anna said. “You interact with people you're not friends with yet and become friends.”
To suggest local service opportunities, contact sponsor Renée Hance at rhance@gsshawnee.org.
2DELEGATIONSTOVISIT ELBUENPASTOR
JUNE3-10 JULY8-16
VACATIONBIBLESCHOOL JUNE2-5,2025
PENTECOST CELEBRATION
SUNDAY,JUNE8 130-330 GOODSHEPHERD SOCIALHALL
FATHERMERSMANN ANNIVERSARYPICNIC FRIDAY,JUNE13 4-8PM WILDERBLUFFPARK
BACKYARDPARTY WITHFATHERKENT
DATE????
18HIGHSCHOOLERS
3ADULTCHAPERONES
600+HOURSOFSERVICE COUNTLESSHOURSINPRAYER
PRAYERANDACTIONKC
JULY6-11
Bryce and Katie Fitzner Family
John Kriesman Family
Morteza and Emily Rabii Family
Kevin and Kay Fieler
Suzanne Sayre
Dennis and Brooke Verdict Family
Robert and Paula McDermott Family
Veronica Kariuki and Peter Karanja
Paul and Jody Grigsby
Jesse and Rachel Tharp Family
Cory and Megan Abbott Family
Jameson and Jennifer King Family
Katie and Brad Carolan
James and Patricia Nieuwendaal
Peter and Suzanne Neidhart Family
Ronald and Mary Moulin
Andrew and Amy Gansner Family
Kathleen Innis
Pamela Lacy-Ritzman
Alejandra Morales and Hector Rangel Family
Mariana Ramos, Lizeth Zuniga, Cristobal and Alma Arias, Fidel Silva Rangel and Angelita Carreno Ramirez Family, Gabriela Contreras Jaimez Family, Maria Fernanda Arias Family, Lizeth Abanto Family, Juan and Azucena Sosa, Fany Reyes and Alejandro Rojas, Cynthia Mancilla and Eduardo Calles Family, Abigail Ortiz and Maria Jose Castillo Family, Aldo Lugo and Yorleny Rios, Marvin Hernandez, Luz Garcia and Jesus Figueroa, Rogelio Garcia Torres and Lizeth Simon Barrera Family, Cynthia Mancilla and Eduardo Calles Family, Itzel Milagros and Marco Maldonado.
Rose Sefner, Douglas Lumley, Jasmine Pereda Gamez, Francis McElgunn, Gisela Rodriguez, Josep and Carolyn Brown, San Kerr.
