On 11 May, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB led the Archdiocese of Perth in celebrating Good Shepherd Sunday, a day the Church dedicates to prayer for vocations, especially to the priesthood and religious life. The occasion held added significance this year, coming just days after the election of Pope Leo XIV.
Though the Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral took place thousands of kilometers from Rome, the Archbishop’s reflections closely echoed Pope Leo’s own words, delivered from the Vatican that same day. In his first Sunday address, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the providential grace of beginning his papacy on Good Shepherd Sunday. “I consider it a gift from God,” Pope Leo said, “that the first Sunday of my service as Bishop of Rome is Good Shepherd Sunday… where Jesus reveals himself as the true Shepherd: who knows and loves his sheep and gives his life for them.”
In a deeply thoughtful homily, Archbishop Costelloe reflected on the meaning of vocation and offered heartfelt insight into the qualities needed in the newly elected pope. He wove together the pastoral image of Christ the Good Shepherd with the enduring legacy of Saint Peter, now embodied in the newly elected pontiff.
Speaking to a packed cathedral, Archbishop Costelloe acknowledged the presence of seminarians assisting at the liturgy and took the opportunity to encourage openness to God’s call. He also reminded the congregation that vocations are not about being more holy than others, but about living lives of faithfulness, integrity, service, and “commitment to the well-being and flourishing of every single person.”
He urged those present to pray for an increase in vocations and to remain open to God’s call in their own lives. “There may well be people here this morning whom God is calling,” he said. “If so, may you be brave and generous enough to say yes.”
Turning to the election of the Church’s new Holy Father, Archbishop Costelloe spoke not about political significance or Church governance, but about the pope’s personal relationship with Christ. “Had Pope Leo not said ‘yes’ to God’s call,” he noted, “we would not be celebrating this joyful moment.”
Love, Faith and Unity at the Heart of Leadership
Speaking with clarity and conviction, Archbishop Costelloe pointed not only to the sacred responsibility of the papacy but to the personal heart of the one called to fulfil it. “We hope and pray that he will be wise, courageous, compassionate, large-hearted and full of faith,” the Archbishop said. “But in addition to all this, and underpinning all this, we need to know and see that he, like the Apostle Peter, is in love with the Lord Jesus.”
Referencing the Gospel passage for Good Shepherd Sunday “The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice” , Archbishop Costelloe reminded the faithful that it is the Lord’s voice they follow. He connected the vocation of the papacy to the three-fold dialogue between Jesus and Peter: “Do you love me?” The Lord’s call to “feed my sheep” is not first a charge of governance or power, but a call rooted in personal love, faithfulness, and devotion. “It is the Lord’s Church that Pope Leo is called to lead, the Lord’s sheep he is called to shepherd,” he said. “If we can see that he loves the Lord, we can follow him with confidence.”
The Archbishop also spoke about the imperfections that accompany any vocation, reminding the congregation that even Saint Peter stumbled, yet remained the one Christ chose to lead His Church. “Jesus didn’t walk away from Peter because of his weakness. He stayed close, forgave him, and entrusted him with the care of the Church,” Archbishop Costelloe said. “The same will be true of Pope Leo, and of each one of us.”
Having met Pope Leo previously in his role as Cardinal Prevost, Archbishop Costelloe expressed his intention to offer the pope a message of support on behalf of the Archdiocese. “When I meet him again, I want to assure him of your loyalty and prayers,” he told the faithful. “Help me make that promise real.”
A Prayer for the Shepherd
Archbishop Costelloe concluded his homily with a moving prayer for Pope Leo XIV, uniting the voices of Perth’s faithful with those in Rome and around the world. Together, the Church is invited to walk forward under the guidance of a new shepherd, not in fear, but in faith. “May he continue the mission of the Good Shepherd. May he hold us together in love, preserve the unity of faith, and guide us according to God’s will.”
As the Mass drew to a close, the Archbishop’s message rang clear: in a world full of voices, the Church must listen for the one voice that matters most and follow where it leads.
To watch the full homily delivered by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB on Good Shepherd Sunday, visit: https://youtu.be/LmPxXYk4eGc
