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The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is observed on Sunday, April 26, 2026, which is also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” The purpose of this day is to publicly fulfill the Lord’s instruction to “pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2).
Please pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord’s call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life, or secular institutes. Please also pray for all young people, that they may know the personal love of the Lord for them and respond with open and generous hearts. Find ideas and tools to help promote vocations offered by Serra International.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and links to online resources.
Videos of Sunday’s Gospel
Use these videos as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
• Holy Heroes
• Good Shepherd Parable
• Sunday Setup—Weekly Video and Post (courtesy of the Diocese of Bridgeport)
Other Resources
• Pope Leo XIV and the Papacy
• Special Message from Pope Leo to Young People (NCYC | November 21, 2025)
For Catholic Schools
• Albert’s Expeditions Join Albert, a fierce yet friendly Peregrine Falcon, named after Saint Albert the Great (who even gave the Peregrine Falcon its name 800 years ago!) on scientific expeditions all around the globe. From under the soil to the sky full of stars, discover the stunning natural world full of life that God has created. Meant for children ages 5–10 and all families who want to learn more about their beautiful world around them and the Divine Creator who formed it all.
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our shepherd.
For this lesson, you will need scissors, crayons, tape, pencils, a story coloring page (one per child), large manila envelopes (one per child), and a Church Year calendar.
In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus talks about being our shepherd. A shepherd’s job is to care for his sheep and keep them safe. Seeds helps the children see how their caring for pets, plants, and perhaps siblings are forms of shepherding. It is a good idea to have an aide to help with the cutting activity. This is a wonderful opportunity to invite parents to take part in their child’s faith formation
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
For this lesson, you will need scissors, crayons, pennies, game markers, copies of the story coloring page (one per child), a Church Year calendar, and a children’s story about Noah’s Ark from a picture book or children’s Bible.
For the What the Church Believes and Teaches part of the lesson, we suggest that you share the story of Noah’s Ark from a children’s picture book or children’s Bible. Note that we encourage you to emphasize how God took care of Noah and his family. Steer the children away from focusing on the destruction of the flood. Be especially sensitive if any of the children have experienced the damaging effects of a flood or other natural disaster.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Good News
Lesson Theme: We follow our Good Shepherd.
For this lesson, you will need crayons, pencils, and a Church Year calendar.
In the lead up to the story “The Lost Hamster,” include any children who don’t have a pet by asking what kind of pet they would like to have and the kind of care it would need.
Before doing the cover activity “No Jesus or Know Jesus?” make sure the children know the difference between the homophones no and know. You may wish to invite them to brainstorm other homophones to help ensure that they grasp that some words may sound alike but have different meanings (and may be spelled differently). Some examples are there / their / they’re; here / hear; sea / see; your / you’re; night / knight; be / bee; way / weigh; ate / eight; hole / whole; one / won. A short (under 3 minutes) video reading of Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones by Gene Barretta can be found here.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Venture
Lesson Theme: We follow our Good Shepherd.
For this lesson, you will need pens or pencils, scissors, a globe or world map (optional), and a Liturgical Year calendar. You may wish to cut out the Call Cards (pages 7–8) from the student lessons before your class session. We suggest that you find a recording of “For the Beauty of the Earth” online and have it cued up to play for the class as part of the Closing Prayer. You might consider using this one.
The Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday is from Psalm 23. It ties well with the Gospel image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who protects and cares for his flock. This lesson provides several examples of taking care for God’s people and his Creation. Invite the children to consider the ways that they take care of the earth—from recycling to avoiding waste.
Share with the children and their families that May is “Mary’s Month” in the Church. Encourage them to pray a Marian prayer together as part of their family meal prayer. The Hail Mary; Hail, Holy Queen; and Memorare are all included in their Catechism handbooks. (These should go home with them at the end of this program year.)
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Eucharist 101
• What Are the Parts of the Mass?
• “For the Beauty of the Earth”
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus leads us as a shepherd.
For this lesson, you will need pens or pencils and Bibles (one per student).
The Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday is from Psalm 23. It ties well with the Gospel image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who protects and cares for his flock. This lesson provides several examples of taking care for God’s people and his Creation. Invite the young people to consider the ways that they take care of the earth—from recycling to avoiding waste.
Share with the young people and their families that May is “Mary’s Month” in the Church. Encourage them to pray a Marian prayer together as part of their family meal prayer. The Hail Mary; Hail, Holy Queen; and Memorare are all included in their Catechism handbooks. (These should go home with them at the end of this program year.)
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Recalling the Martyrdom of Father Stanley Rother
• The Farmer
• St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Image credit: Renata Sedmakova/stock.adobe.com
