Good Shepherd Parish had a humble beginning in a number of Hope Mills residents' homes. These "pioneers" were mostly members of St. Patrick's Parish and had to travel a long distance to attend religious activities. So, with the permission of Bishop Gossman, and joined by Father Thomas Sanford an Associate Pastor at St. Patrick's, the plans began for a Mission Church in Hope Mills. On January 31, 1981, Father Sanford celebrated the first Mass as a guest in the Hope Mills Presbyterian Church on Main Street. In September of 1981, fifteen acres of land and a small house located at Oak Street and Lake Forest Road had been purchased for $110,000 as the future site of the Church facility. On November 18, 1981, the parish was established by the Most Reverend F. Joseph Gossman, Bishop of Raleigh. Over the next four years the Good Shepherd congregation would celebrate Mass in several locations to include the Reeves-Bulla Funeral Home Chapel on Main Street, the Hope Mills Community Center on Rockfish Road, and the "First Mass" Presbyterian Church. A portable altar, Crucifix, candles, etc., went everywhere, lovingly and dutifully unpacked, set-up, taken down, repacked and transported to the next site.

In 1983, at the request of Bishop Gossman, Father John Carcich was named Pastor and given the charge of building the Church. After finding abundant plans and spirit, Father John also discovered there were no funds available. Therefore, the former Pallotine Father went back to his roots and secured a $200,000 grant. With this money, a $30,000 loan from the Diocese, free labor from the Fayetteville Technical Institute Building Trades Department, and a six-man building committee led by John Hoffman, then an Air Force Major, the Good Shepherd Church facility was built over a ten-month period and formerly dedicated on October 14, 1984. The 9,600 square foot Church cost a total of $281,000 to build, landscape and furnish - a remarkable feat.

In 1987, Father Joseph Bumann became our Pastor. Father Bumann was with us for only twenty-two months until he was tragically killed in an automobile accident near Newton Grove. His gentle spirit is still missed greatly.

Along the way, we were blessed with three wonderful Assistant Pastors, Father Trent Watts, Father John Kelly and Father Mark Betti. They each brought a unique temporary presence, loving service, and formed lasting relationships; and each are dearly missed. In November 2004, we were delighted to add two Deacons to our Parish family, Deacon Juan "Nay" Henriquez and Deacon Patrick Snyder. Each one continues to serve and enrich the parish with dedication and love.

Deacon Nay has become the Pastoral Administrator for our Parish Mission, Saint Isidore, in the Stedman area.The Mission began on January 6, 2002, with the participation of 28 adults and 16 children, which has increased to the current attendance of over 100 people each week.

Finally, this history is about Christ and His boundless impact on the lives of thousands of past and present Catholics of Hope Mills and its surrounding communities. We are most fortunate to be a part of His Blessings and Salvation Plan. Good Shepherd Catholic Church is not a building, but a living community of Christians that will progress into the future, secure in the past, and in the Palm of His Hand.