The Pastor is the shepherd caring for the needs of his flock and in the Gospels, Jesus is described as the ‘Good Shepherd’. So we think of ’pastoral care’ as doing our best to see that the spiritual, physical and mental needs of those around us are met. In day-to-day life this means parents caring for children, children caring for parents, teachers caring for pupils, health professionals caring for patients, police protecting the community and so on….
In the years following the Second Vatican Council the Church developed a whole raft of what became known as its ’social teaching’ focusing on looking after the welfare of the weak, the marginalised, the lonely and dispossessed. Though we do not hear so much today about this social teaching, we are blessed in our parish with people who give their time freely to help others in the community.