Good Shepherd Appeal

Sadly, some children living in our communities simply don’t have the basics that we just take for granted, there is no food in the house, they have no clean clothes and no toys. Whether it’s a family living hand to mouth, struggling to pay the rent, a homeless mother and child fleeing domestic abuse, or a young person struggling with life. We offer the possibility of sanctuary and a safe place to everyone in their time of need.

Over the last 141 years, Nugent has been at the forefront of supporting and campaigning for children and young people living in poverty, in crisis or just struggling with life, restoring their sense of dignity and purpose.

One of the oldest charity appeals in the UK

Traditionally based in schools, our Good Shepherd appeal is one of the oldest charity appeals in the UK. With its origins with our founder Father James Nugent and built around children helping children, the appeal has helped support families struggling to support themselves in difficult times for over 121 years.

The Good Shepherd appeal was an initiative of Bishop Thomas Whiteside who was Bishop of Liverpool and then the first Archbishop of Liverpool until his death on 28 January 1921. Across 121 years, generations of schoolchildren from all over the archdiocese have continued to support Nugent through Good Shepherd, raising millions of pounds and helping thousands of children and young people by taking part.

This amazing support helps us to continue to provide support and care where local government funding and austerity is impacting most and creating hardship. The Good Shepherd appeal has more relevance than ever in helping children and young people in our local communities, right where it’s needed most.

Our 2023 Appeal

Many people we support knock on our door in times of need, sometimes feeling lost and with no one else to turn to. We’ve chosen this year’s Good Shepherd Appeal theme as ‘The Good Samaritan: love thy neighbour’ as we look to extend the message that it is important to love one another as God has taught us to and show care and compassion for others through acts of kindness.

Schools across the archdiocese are invited to take part and raise money for Nugent. Pupils taking part really use their imagination and come up with some amazing ideas that their friends and staff can take part in. The schools then come together in our Good Shepherd Masses to present their fundraising cheques to Nugent as well as take part through singing, reading and helping with communion.

This year our appeal runs from Ash Wednesday, 22 February to Easter Sunday, 9 April.

Good Shepherd Masses:

Wednesday 14 June 2023, 10:30am at St Mary’s Church, Leyland.

Wednesday 28 June 2023, 11.00 am, at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Celebrant: Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP.

To find out more about our Good Shepherd Appeal, visit: wearenugent.org/fundraising. Or you can contact the Fundraising team at fundraising@wearenugent.org