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NEWSLETTER INSERT - ON GOOD SHEPHERDS AND TEACHERS



“Christ's flock is made up of sheep that not only listen to their shepherd, but are also able to recognize his voice, to follow him, faithfully and with full awareness, on the pastures of eternal life”.


Pope St John 23rd


‘The doors of mercy are the wounds of the Lord; if you do not enter into your ministry through the Lord’s wounds, you will not be good shepherds’.

Pope Francis, 11th May 2014. Homily at Priestly Ordinations.

 

‘Be close to your priests with affection and with your prayers, that they may always be shepherds according to God’s heart. And pray for those whom God is calling to be priests that they may respond to this call with humility and joy’.


Pope Francis

 

'In the Church and on behalf of the Church, priests are a sacramental representation of Jesus Christ - the head and shepherd - authoritatively proclaiming his word, repeating his acts of forgiveness and his offer of salvation - particularly in baptism, penance and the Eucharist, showing his loving concern to the point of a total gift of self for the flock, which they gather into unity and lead to the Father through Christ and in the Spirit. In a word, priests exist and act in order to proclaim the Gospel to the world and to build up the Church in the name and person of Christ the head and shepherd'.

 

Pope St John Paul II, Pastores Dabo Vobis, 15


‘Jeremiah mentions two things the bad shepherds do to God's people - they mislead and they divide. That is they do not teach the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth and by doing so they divide the people. Truth unites, error divides. There is one angle for standing upright but many angles for falling.’


Peter Kreeft


‘To teach is to touch a life forever’


Nano Nagle


‘Our Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour and true Teacher of humanity, is the model  Catechist. In his earthly ministry Jesus left us a rich pedagogical example to model and emulate. In the Gospel accounts, Jesus presented himself to his disciples as their true teacher and at the same time as a patient and  faithful friend (cf. John 15:15; Mark 9:33; Mark 1:41-45). In the Gospel accounts Jesus is shown in various forms of teaching more than one hundred times. Jesus taught his disciples the truth through his whole life.  He provoked them with questions (cf. Mark 8:1; 4:21, 27). He explained to them in greater depth what he proclaimed to the crowd (cf. Mark 4:34; Luke 12:41). He introduced them to prayer (cf. Luke 11:1-2). He sent them on mission, not alone but as a small community (Luke 10:1-20). He promised them the Holy Spirit who would lead them into all truth (cf. John 15:26; Acts 4:31) and sustain them in moments of difficulty (cf. Matt.10:20; John 15:26; Acts 4:31). Jesus’ way of relating to others therefore is distinguished by his exquisitely educational quality’.

 

Irish Bishops Conference, Council for Catechetics, Fan Into a Flame, 3.

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