Welcome to our Lost Sheep Blog. I’m so glad you found us here. I am Fr. Greg, a former lost sheep, who is now the shepherd (pastor) of the flock at Our Lady of the Visitation Parish in Darnestown, MD. This is a site for those who have been away from the Church or our parish, or who just feel lost in the world. It’s good to connect even if it’s just virtually here, and to know you are not alone.

Time to confess
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Time to confess

The priest (who is acting in the person of Christ) can never reveal anything from a confession.

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Advent
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Advent

We know that Advent leads to Christmas which celebrates Christ’s birth.

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Giving thanks
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Giving thanks

Give thanks daily for your food, clothing, home, warmth, health, freedom, family, friends, Church, parishioners, and the love of Jesus Christ.

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Works of mercy
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Works of mercy

We had a great experience with our high school youth group this past Sunday night.

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Adoration chapel
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Adoration chapel

The basis for it all that each of us should consider is what Christ says in Mt 26:40, “could you not keep watch with me for one hour?”

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Confidence in prayer
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Confidence in prayer

Confidence in prayer doesn’t mean cockiness; we don’t expect that God will answer “yes” to all of our prayers like Bruce Almighty.

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Richness of Scripture
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Richness of Scripture

There is so much that the Lord wants to say to us and have us ponder even in just one Scripture verse or passage in order to know Him better.

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"How do I know that God loves me?"
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

"How do I know that God loves me?"

It’s the peace, happiness, and joy that God promised in Christ which is the exact experience that Christ’s closest friends have experienced in their hearts and souls for 2,000 years.

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Whole lot going on
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Whole lot going on

All of the piles of old, broken asphalt represent all of the brokenness that Christ can remove from our lives.

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Free as a bird
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Free as a bird

I’m clearly no St. Francis of Assisi as the bird was not trusting me.

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Psalm 13
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Psalm 13

Psalm 13 is especially helpful because it is honest and direct to God from someone experiencing darkness and torment.

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Honoring a sheep
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Honoring a sheep

I will really miss my friend but will be very happy if we honor her and the Lord in the best way we can.

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Keeping it real
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Keeping it real

It is most enjoyable and most fruitful to be real about our all-important faith in the Son of God.

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Ideas for Lent
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Ideas for Lent

Here are some ideas for the three disciplines of Lent that we gave to our Youth Group via Life Teen.

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Something to think about at Christmas
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Something to think about at Christmas

Those who believe that the baby Jesus is God incarnate (in the flesh) can make an easier leap to believe that the Eucharistic Jesus is God incarnate.

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