The Sisters of the Good Shepherd         

Our Mission and Spirit

St Mary Euphrasia Pelletier believed in the Christian Gospel message of Love and Compassion for the most vulnerable.  The innate dignity of each person is at the heart of being Good Shepherd. It is Mary Euphrasia's love, compassion, courage and audacity that is part of the legacy to us, who now walk in her footsteps.

Beginnings...

St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier founded the Congregation in Angers, France in 1835, where the Mother House of the Congregation is still based.  As a young woman she had entered the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity and was asked to found a house of that Order in Angers. The foundation was dedicated to the Good Shepherd because a refuge by that name had existed there some years before. St. Mary Euphrasia had a dream that embraced the whole world. Her deep longing and desire was for a Congregation that would show forth God's merciful love to the world. She said,  "Our zeal must embrace the world". To realise her vision, she sought and was granted permission to found the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (Good Shepherd Sisters). In her lifetime she saw foundations established in all continents.

The Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd is an international congregation.  Today there are Good Shepherd Sisters and collaborators in mission in over 70 countries across the world.

Pitching tents on far shores...

Good Shepherd has been present in Australia since 1863 and in New Zealand since 1886.

Four young Irish women came to Australia from France, landing at Port Melbourne on 24th June 1863. They founded the Good Shepherd Convent at Abbotsford, Victoria. From there, foundations began in New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland. Four sisters from Melbourne went to New Zealand in 1886 and were joined by four others who travelled overland from France, via the USA! These women began a foundation in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Good Shepherd’s presence spread to Auckland, Wellington and other regional centres.  Currently Good Shepherd Sisters in New Zealand are based in Auckland and Taupo.

In Australia and New Zealand, Good Shepherd Sisters and partners are involved in a variety of ministries that express the charism and spirituality in today's context.  The core values of Good Shepherd are:

Compassion      Justice      Reconciliation       Respect       Dignity

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand Board - December 2008

The specific role of the this Board, in partnership with the Sisters, will be:

To ensure the sound governance, management and resourcing of Good Shepherd ministries, within the context of Good Shepherd spirit and mission and steward and manage all Good Shepherd assets for the sale of mission.
Board of Directors:  John Hutchings (Chair), Peter Bearsley, Jo Cavanagh, Janet Clark-Duff, Beverly Connors, John Date. 
Members of the Province Leadership Team (Pamela Molony, Anne Manning, Joan Murphy, Caroline Price and Jan Ryan) will attend all meetings of the Board.

The Board will develop methods of regular communication with the Good Shepherd network.