Good Shepherd's Voice: March 2025

Dear Good Shepherd Parish Family,

March has been a month filled with faith, fellowship, and preparation as our Parish family continues walking the Lenten journey together. In this edition of Good Shepherd’s Voice, we reflect on the beautiful moments that have shaped our community—from the inspiring work of the St. Hyacinth Chapter of the Lay Dominicans and their newly launched Beatitude Series, to the joy-filled celebration of Fr. Alex’s birthday at the Bethlehem Café.

We also look ahead with hearts full of hope as we share our Holy Week schedule, inviting all to join in the sacred days of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. This issue highlights the transformative

experiences of our youth through First Communion and Confirmation retreats, as well as the generosity of our parish through the Easter Basket outreach for children in need.

As we now turn the page into April, may the blessings of March continue to bear fruit in our hearts, drawing us closer to one another and to the love of Christ.

Ministry Highlight: The St. Hyacinth Chapter, Lay Dominicans

Walking the Path of Truth and Grace in the Dominican Spirit

At the heart of the Good Shepherd Catholic Parish lies a quiet but powerful presence—a community devoted to prayer, study, service, and truth. The St. Hyacinth Chapter of the Lay Dominicans has been faithfully living out the Dominican charism in Visalia since officially forming as a chapter in the summer of 2013. Though rooted in an 800-year-old tradition, their mission feels more relevant than ever: to defend the faith, to love the truth, to contemplate, and to share the fruits of that contemplation with others.

The members of the St. Hyacinth Chapter are everyday people—professionals, parents, and parishioners—who have answered a call to live out the Dominican spirituality within their daily lives. They fully embrace the mission of St. Dominic through prayer, study, and service, bringing the light of truth into the spaces where they live and work.

They gather for monthly meetings, open to those curious about Dominican spirituality. They lend their hearts and voices to Parish life through outreach, retreats, and apostolic work. When needed, they step into the spaces of adult formation, guiding candidates in RCIA and Adult Confirmation, planting seeds of truth that may bear fruit for years to come.

This year, their apostolate has blossomed into something both beautiful and bold: a monthly series on the Beatitudes, held at St. Charles Borromeo Parish Hall. Inspired by The Kingdom of Happiness by Father Vincent Kirby, this series invites parishioners to explore the transformative power of the Beatitudes—those profound teachings of Jesus that turn the values of the world upside down. Each month, the community gathers not just to listen but to enter into the mystery of Christ’s call to blessedness. It is a journey toward a deeper kind of joy, one that the world cannot offer, but which Christ freely gives to those who seek Him with open hearts.

A Beautiful Beginning: “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit”

On the evening of March 19th, the St. Charles Borromeo Parish Hall was filled with warmth, prayer, and a genuine spirit of community. On behalf of the St. Hyacinth Lay Dominicans, we extend heartfelt thanks to the 104 souls who joined us for our first Beatitude gathering: “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit.” It was a meaningful evening filled with reflection, fellowship, and a shared desire to grow closer to Christ.

The Journey Continues

This was just the first step. Over the coming months, the community is invited to continue walking this path of spiritual enrichment. Each Beatitude will be explored in depth, providing a fresh opportunity to grow closer to Christ and each other. From those who mourn, to those who hunger, to the peacemakers and the persecuted—each month will reveal another layer of God’s promise of happiness.

We invite you to join us again at St. Charles Borromeo Hall from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM as we continue this sacred journey. Let the Beatitudes not just be read, but lived. Let us gather as a parish family, inspired by the Dominican way, and grow together in faith, contemplation, and love.

May the path of blessedness continue to unfold before us.

Celebrating Fr. Alex’s Birthday

Sunday, March 16 was filled with joy and community spirit as parishioners gathered not only to attend the 8:00 and 10:00 AM Masses, but also to celebrate a very special occasion—Fr. Alex’s birthday!

A special thank-you was extended to the volunteers whose hard work made the celebration extra meaningful. The love and unity of our Parish family were felt deeply throughout the morning. May God bless each of you for your support of the Bethlehem Café and for making Fr. Alex’s birthday truly unforgettable.

Entering Holy Week Together

As we prepare to walk with Christ through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection, we invite you to join us for Holy Week 2025 at Good Shepherd Catholic Parish. These sacred days call us into deeper prayer and reflection as we unite as one parish family.

Holy Thursday will be celebrated on April 17 at 6:00 PM with a bilingual Mass at St. Charles Borromeo.

On Good Friday, April 18, we will gather for the Passion of the Lord with a service in English at 3:00 PM and in Spanish at 6:00 PM, both at St. Charles.

The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, April 19, will begin at 8:00 PM with a beautiful bilingual liturgy at St. Charles.

On Easter Sunday, April 20, we will rejoice in the Resurrection of the Lord. Masses at St. Charles will be held at 7:30 AM in Spanish, 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM in English, and 1:30 PM in Spanish. For those closer to St. Mary’s, there will be an additional Easter Sunday Mass at 7:30 AM in English.

Let us come together in love and devotion as we commemorate the heart of our faith. All are welcome to these powerful and prayerful celebrations.

The Chrism Mass

One of the most beautiful liturgies of the year, the Chrism Mass, will be celebrated on Thursday, April 10 at 2:00 PM at St. Charles Borromeo.

Presided over by Bishop Brennan, the Chrism Mass is a powerful expression of unity within our Church. During this sacred liturgy, the holy oils used throughout the year—the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Sacred Chrism—will be blessed and consecrated.

It is a moment to reflect on the grace of the sacraments and the presence of the Holy Spirit working through them. We invite all parishioners to witness this moving celebration and experience the richness of our Catholic tradition.

Easter Basket Donations: Spreading Joy to Children in Need

This Easter, our parish family has a chance to bring joy to children from struggling families in our community. We invite you to take part in our Easter Basket Donation drive by providing a filled Easter basket for a child in need.

Suggested items include:

small toys, candy and treats,

stuffed animals, coloring books,

crayons, or bubbles.

These simple gifts can bring smiles and hope to little ones who need it most this season.

Donations may be dropped off at the Parish Office, located at 506 N. Garden Street in Visalia, Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM or from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Let us make this Easter a season of giving, compassion, and renewal. Your generosity will brighten a child’s Easter morning and remind them that they are deeply loved.

High School Confirmation Retreat – A Journey of Encounter

On Saturday, March 15, St. Charles Hall became a place of reflection, dialogue, and spiritual encounter for our high school Confirmation students. With 180 students in attendance, the day was filled with meaningful moments that invited our teens to deepen their relationship with God and reflect on what it means to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

From group sessions to personal reflection, students were encouraged to consider how the Lord is calling them to live out their faith in everyday life. The retreat emphasized community, identity in Christ, and the call to discipleship—key foundations for receiving the sacrament of Confirmation with purpose and conviction.

The retreat’s success was made possible by the commitment and enthusiasm of our catechists and volunteers, who helped create a welcoming and prayerful environment for our young Church. It was a day of grace, growth, and renewed faith.

First Communion Retreat – “Taste and See”

On Saturday, March 22, our Year 2 First Communion students gathered for a special day of reflection, prayer, and spiritual growth. The retreat centered around the theme, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” With the gentle guidance of our dedicated catechists from both Year 1 and Year 2, the students had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Eucharist and prepare their hearts for this sacred sacrament.

The day was filled with joy, learning, and moments of reverence. Students enjoyed a delicious meal of pizza and nachos, while catechists were lovingly served chicken fingers, potato salad, and Mexican rice prepared by the Bethlehem Center—a small but meaningful reminder of the shared support and unity within our parish.

It was a retreat marked by laughter, reflection, and anticipation as our young parishioners continue their journey toward receiving Jesus for the first time. We are so grateful to all who made this day possible.

Share Your Stories: Celebrating Our Parish Community

At Good Shepherd Catholic Parish, every parishioner and ministry plays a vital role in building our vibrant, faith-filled community. Each of you brings unique experiences, talents, and contributions that make our parish a place of worship, service, and fellowship. Now, we invite you to share your stories with us!

Whether you’re part of a ministry, have participated in a parish event, or have a personal story of faith and service, your experiences matter. By sharing them in The Good Shepherd’s Voice, you can inspire others, strengthen our community, and highlight the incredible work happening across our parish.

Ministries, too, are encouraged to submit updates, events, and stories that showcase the positive impact you are making. These stories are a way to recognize the hard work and dedication that often happens behind the scenes and to inspire even greater involvement.

If you have a story or event to share, please submit it using the Communications Request Form. Together, we can continue to celebrate the many ways God is working through each of us in our parish community. Let’s keep building a parish where every voice is heard, and every story of faith is celebrated!