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.

Power of prayer
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Power of prayer

I knew that many people at OLVP were praying for me. The thought that I had was that their prayers helped me turn the corner.

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Woman at the well
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Woman at the well

It is love that will always be there for us and never leave us, always affirm and never reject us, and always be true while calling us to be true.

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Saga of the statue
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Saga of the statue

The Lord’s prediction about the saga of the statue has come true: our grief has become joy.

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Our Lady of Lourdes
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Our Lady of Lourdes

Mary is real, and she is a real Mother. She is real caring, loving, and powerful.

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National Prayer Vigil
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

National Prayer Vigil

It was a super serious and scary situation that people everywhere had only place to go: God.

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Hearing God
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Hearing God

It is in silence that God speaks to us the loudest.

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Rectory living
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Rectory living

Priests like me live in a house called a rectory. There is a rectory at or near every Catholic church.

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Thanksgiving
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Thanksgiving

If we are grateful to God habitually, then we appreciate each day and everything good that comes to us each day.

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What is truth? Part 2
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

What is truth? Part 2

The fact that the Church has a long history and tradition with Truth is itself objective evidence that it is the true Church of Christ.

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What is truth? Part 1
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

What is truth? Part 1

The best working definition is that truth is what exists, it's what is real.

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Adoration & youth
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Adoration & youth

It's an awesome thing to see young people showing reverence on their knees in front of Jesus!

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What are you looking for?
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

What are you looking for?

A weekend away with Him tackling the question of what we’re looking for is so beneficial for a few reasons.

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Mercy
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Mercy

"God's greatest attribute is mercy" (St. Faustina)

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Pet Peeves
Fr. Gregory Shaffer Fr. Gregory Shaffer

Pet Peeves

One night at Youth Group last year, the ice breaker was about pet peeves.

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