Story of the Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd

The Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd were formally established in Angers, France in 1831. Their origins are with the Sisters Magdalen established by Sister Mary Euphrasia in 1825. This was an innovative step to establish a contemplative community within the Refuge at Tours. Sister Mary Euphrasia gave the Magdalens a rule of life based on that of Saint Teresa of Avila and the Carmelite Sisters.

In 1964 the Magdalens were renamed Sisters of the Cross. Known in the present era as the Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the sisters offer their prayer and work for the needs of the entire world and in particular way, support the endeavours of the Good Shepherd Congregation. Today there are 697 Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Provinces in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and Australia. The Web Site of the Belle River (Canada) contemplative community http://www.mnsi.net/~goodshep/contemp.htm contains links to Good Shepherd contemplative communities in North America.

Australia and New Zealand

The first community of Sisters Magdalen in the Province of Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand was established in Christchurch, New Zealand in December 1936. This group numbered up to 20 Sisters during the 1940s and 1950s.

In 1961 a community of Sisters Magdalen was established in Melbourne, Victoria. This community, later known as The Sisters of the Cross, was located at the Good Shepherd Convent in Oakleigh. In 1983 the community relocated to Boronia in MelbourneÕs eastern suburbs.

Today a community of Contemplative Sisters is located at 43 Narcissus Avenue, Boronia VIC. The sisters engage in a various activities, including the making of vestments and the decoration of candles. Their life of liturgical prayer and work contributes to the success of the mission of the Good Shepherd Congregation. The contemplative community is sometimes referred to as a "power-house" of prayer.

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