Groundbreaking for Esperanza Academy's new school

On Thursday, May 29 th Carolyn and Andy Platt represented Good Shepherd at the groundbreaking for Esperanza Academy’s new school which is due to open in the Fall 2026. The new building will allow the academy to expand from a middle school for girls to a K-8 school and to move from an old crowded building to a beautiful 21st century school.

In the presentations at the ground breaking ceremony several speakers mentioned the positive impact the new building will have on revitalization of downtown Lawrence. The mayor and many council members were there along with families and other supporters.

The new Esperanza Academy will be the only girls K-8, tuition-free school in the country!

Read about how this new building will reflect the school’s vision to educate and support girls from Lawrence’s low-income communities.

Trip to El Salvador cancelled

We were sad to have to cancel our trip because of concerns for our security and reentry to the U.S.

This is the letter we sent to our friends in El Ocotillo:

Dear Brothers and Sisters of El Ocotillo,

We hope this letter finds you all well! Here in our country, we are living through unique times after our most recent election. You are no doubt aware of the increased pressures and dangers that many Salvadorans in this country are facing with the daily threat of deportation. The current administration is taking steps to limit many civil rights and political opposition which parallels what has happened in El Salvador over the past few years. We are aware that social justice organizations we have worked with such as Cristosal and Fundahmer are increasingly being scrutinized by the Salvadoran government. The current U.S. government is also cutting off funds to many humanitarian organizations in El Salvador and around the world. The dynamic between our presidents and their plans for building prisons in El Salvador that could house U.S. citizens in the future, is particularly frightening.  

Given this new reality, our church group is uncomfortable going to El Salvador this year. Under the Salvadoran “state of exception”, there is no guarantee of due process or judicial review. Sadly, we can no longer count on our own government officials to support us if we find ourselves in conflict with authorities in El Salvador.  For instance, we have publicly supported Cristosal which makes us wonder if we could be a target since it has been repeatedly pressured and criticized by the current Salvadoran government. Two of those who were planning to travel are naturalized (not native-born) citizens and they are concerned about harassment when reentering the U.S.  The current instability has understandably worried family members of the delegates. 

We were very much looking forward to being with you this year. Our past visits have meant so much to us. We were excited to meet the new students and to congratulate the recent graduates in person. Our support for the scholarship program will of course continue uninterrupted.  For the past 24 years, you have taught us  lessons in faith and perseverance. We will not forget those now as we fight for our own democracy.  God willing, we will return to you as soon as possible. We will keep you in our prayers and we ask that you pray for us as well. 

With much affection,

Your brothers and sisters here at Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton, Massachusetts

We did it!

10,000 meals and an abundance of enthusiasm!

Fifty-one pairs of hands did God's work on Sunday packaging 10,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger. Children brought their grandparents; and grandparents brought their grandchildren. Some joined for the first time and other "experts" took their favorite stations for the third year in a row. A hearty crew helped set up, arriving at eight in the morning and more generous souls stayed to clean the parish hall and load the truck. Thank you to all and to the many generous donors! 

Ken's quote from St. Francis says it all: "Preach the Gospel always. When necessary, use words." No words were needed on Sunday.

It's almost here!!!

Our 2025 Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event is Sunday, May 4 12:00-2:00. Once again we will package 10,000 meals to send to a part of the world where food is scarce. This year, with the dismantling of USAID, it is more important than ever! Check out this video of last year’s good work.

We will need 65-75 volunteers to set up, fill the bags, and clean up; and $4100 to fund the ingredients and the shipping costs.

 Sign up to volunteer here. Send donations to our RAH webpage or to the donation page on the church’s website. (Click “Add Gift to another fund.”)  Or, you can write a check to Church of the Good Shepherd with RAH in the memo line. Funds are needed by May 4th.

 It feeds our souls and it’s FUN!

Joint Service with El Ocotillo

Highlights of our joint service with El Ocotillo.

Greetings from El Ocotillo

The students from our sister community El Ocotillo participating in the church’s scholarship program share personal greetings with Good Shepherd. Two experienced chefs share tips on making perfect Salvadoran pupusas.

News from the International Institute of New England (IINE)

As of this date, the International Institute of New England (IINE) has not had to lay off anyone in spite of the loss of all federal funding that supports refugee resettlement. The Institute has enough funds from private and state sources to continue their programming for now. They have many new immigrants who arrived before the January termination of all entrees and need the services necessary to transition to living in the U.S. IINE also manages a state funded shelter in Lowell and some employees have pivoted to provide additional services and support to those residents, including English classes, cultural orientation, employment, legal services and stable housing. 

The staff at IINE is stressed and tired. Many of them are immigrants themselves and are juggling issues in their own extended families such as the pause in expected resettlement of family members and the loss of USAid programs in their home countries. They are also worried about their jobs.

The clients at IINE are amazingly resilient and show up for English classes ready to work hard, to help each other, and to talk and laugh together. One student who arrived in December from Afghanistan, is a father of seven children. He is here with his wife and six of his children, but there was a snag with the passport for his infant daughter, so she has been left behind to be cared for by grandparents. There is no way to know when they will be reunited. But he is grateful to be here and diligently engaged in learning English.

Last week four students in the Level 1 English class received Dunkin Donuts gift cards, donated by Good Shepherd, for perfect attendance at February classes. Remember those very cold mornings!! They showed up three mornings a week at 9:00! In the fall we provided 40 gift cards to DD and Market Basket that have been distributed to students in the in-person classes. We recently purchased 20 more. As you can see in this photo, they are proud to receive acknowledgment for their consistent attendance.

Thank you from Esperanza Academy

In December we ran a drive to support Esperanza Academy, a free-tuition middle school for girls in Lawrence. We collected $880 in donations which has been sent to the school to be used to purchase items on their wish list.

Esperanza Academy was thrilled to receive this gift and sent the following thank you letter to the parish community.

Dear Rev. Eleanor, and Ellen, and Esteemed Parishioners,

On behalf of our students, faculty, and alumni, thank you for your generosity. Your gift of $880 will help purchase school supplies from our Amazon Wishlist through The Esperanza Fund. We are so grateful for Barbara's leadership and support through this year's drive! Because of your partnership, we can continue advancing our mission to provide an urban education built on justice and centered in joy. Your gift helps Esperanza students learn and grow in a space where they can redefine what is expected of them and take on challenges that will positively impact the trajectory of their lives.

Your contribution helps prove that a tuition-free, independent middle school can succeed in moving Lawrence girls out of the generational poverty cycle and into fulfilling futures through education. In addition, your support ensures our girls' success beyond the walls of Esperanza. Our 12-year commitment includes the Graduate Support program providing mentoring and targeted academic, social-emotional, financial, and career support. Since Esperanza's founding in 2006, we have graduated 224 students. We are proud to share that along with 100% of our alumni completing high school in four years, over 75% of our graduates are pursuing higher education at schools across the country.

Your impact is felt at each step of the wrap-around Esperanza experience. As a supporter, you join a community of family members, faculty, volunteers, secondary schools, and colleges committed to helping our students soar. Once again, I deeply appreciate all that you have done and continue to do for our girls by choosing to give to Esperanza Academy. I send you my very best wishes from Lawrence and look forward to having an opportunity to connect with you so that I may express my gratitude personally.

With gratitude,

Pati Fernández

Chief Development Officer
Esperanza Academy

Understand the changing landscape of U.S. immigration, refugee, and migration policy

Immigration lawyers are saying it is hard to know who is and is not at risk in the rapidly moving changes in immigration orders during the last week. We do not know if our Afghan families will be affected. We think, but are not completely certain, that our Rohingya families may be okay. Churches are asking questions about how their on-site food pantries, ELL classes and even Sunday services may be disrupted by ICE and what are their legal rights.

The Episcopal Migration Ministries is actively engaged with the fast moving changes in immigration policies. They are offering an incredibly well-informed webinar series for church members every Tuesday at 1:00 PM EST to keep up with the deluge of questions and information. The first session had 800 participants.

Register for an upcoming online session.

Good Shepherd at Household Goods

In the middle of January, two teams from Good Shepherd, totaling 20 people, brought lots of energy to a variety of tasks at Household Goods. Over two afternoons they created family-size dish sets, sorted bins of donated linens, cleaned rugs and assembled dining tables. Our teams were amazed at the logistics and organization required to have enough goods in ready-to-go condition to completely furnish apartments for 104 households a week! This is something we will definitely do again! But, in the meantime, the next time you clean out your home or the home of a loved one, please bring your furnishings to Household Goods in Acton to help a family. They especially need lamps and twin sheet sets today. And, if you are looking for a regular volunteer commitment, they will put you to good work!

Two teams of shepherds recently volunteered their time and talents at Household Goods.