Stemming from St. Francis de Sales in Burnaby, the Good Shepherd Ministry is located at Saint Paul's Catholic Church on Cordova Street in Vancouver, BC. We are a non-profit Catholic outreach and prayer ministry. Every evening, a team of volunteers walks the streets of the Vancouver Downtown Eastside, sharing that "all are welcome to the banquet". Our mission statement "Let Us Be Witnesses" was conceived from the need to bring the good news to all those who are lost and weary, to let them know that if they walk in God's light, they will never be in darkness. Our aim is to introduce them to the beauty and power of prayer, the joy of loving and being loved by Jesus Christ.
To volunteer:
Announcements
God chose David to be king
August 2026
One of the most beautiful ways our parish lives out that anchoring is through the Good Shepherd Ministry, which brings hope and dignity to our hungry and homeless neighbours on the streets of Vancouver. Led with tireless love by our own parishioner Linda Noel and her team, this ministry is a living picture of what it means to build on the Rock together — not alone, but as a Church reaching outward in mission.
If you've ever wondered how your own gifts might be used for God's kingdom, I invite you to consider joining a Good Shepherd team this fall. For more information and to send a note to volunteer, please visit:
Come experience a couple of blessed hours that just might change your week, month, and whole year ... serving Our Lord in the distressing disguise of the poor.
And... If you have one extra minute... I encourage you to read Linda's reflection below on David from the Old Testament... the unlikely shepherd boy God chose to lead a nation — a reminder that He doesn't need polish or perfect credentials, just a willing heart anchored in Him.
God chose David to be king - by Linda Noel
Gratitude Abounds 2024
November 2024
Gratitude Abounds 2023
Dec 2023
To be our brother and sisters’ keepers, drawing close to Jesus on the margins, and serving until it hurts and to serve some more... Bravo, bravo to all those involved in the Good Shepherd Ministry and all those who gave so generously (in our own parish of SFDS and so many other parishes and schools across our Archdiocese), enabling the frontline workers to be so well equipped.
Socks Needed
February 2023
Our Good Shepherd Ministry is still accepting good, clean socks for our brothers and sisters living in the downtown east side. We know it's still winter and there's lots of cold feet out there.
If you have a pair, or two, or 10, please drop your socks off inside the front entrance of our church when you come to Mass on the weekend or during the week. Thank you for your ongoing generosity.
Gratitude Abounds
December 2022
A message from our stalwart sister-in-Christ, Linda Noel (captain of the Good Shepherd Ministry): "The Good Shepherd ministry and many eager elves recently spent an afternoon preparing Christmas gifts for several shelters on the DTES of Vancouver, for men and women alone and frightened, with memories their only possession. And receiving a gift on Christmas morning, asking in disbelief, "is this for me?"
"St. Francis de Sales parishioners, once again and without hesitation, opened their wallets, took out their chequebooks, added extra items to their shopping lists and students in our schools joyfully collecting and donating to this worthy cause, to give to people they do not know and will likely never meet. As we prepare for Christ’s coming, with devout and joyful expectation, all of us at the Good Shepherd ministry wish all of you a blessed Christmas and our heartfelt thanks for your continued support."
Dear friends, since the inauguration of Good Shepherd Ministry back in 2015, there have been:
- approximately 1644 rosaries distributed.
- approximately 91,280 bags of candy handed out.
This winter, 286 loaded gift bags (and counting) have been donated to 7 shelters. And the work continues, folks. If you would like to lend your time and talent as a Good Shepherd Ministry volunteer, please connect with Linda Noel directly by vancouvergoodshepherd@gmail.com
Gifts to those on the margin
October 2022
As the Good Shepherd ministry enters into its seventh year of outreach on the downtown east side of Vancouver, we see more and more people living on the streets, in doorways, alleys, and shelters that are overflowing. It is our hope that our ministry's presence in this neighbourhood of darkness brings a few moments of comfort and joy to those who have known neither.
One of our greatest joys is delivering gifts to the shelters at Christmas time. We could not do this without the generosity of people like you. We are asking for small items of much needed toiletries such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, bars of soap, feminine products, cocks and underwear, and anything you think someone who has nothing would enjoy.
Friends, kindly drop off items in the marked box in the foyer of SFDS church.
