The Good Shepherd Sisters (called also Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd) is a Roman Catholic order of women religious. In addition to the standard vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the Good Shepherd Sisters take the following fourth vow of zeal for souls [to save souls], particularly of women and girls. "I bind myself to the labor for the conversion of fallen women and girls needing refuge from the temptation of the world."
The Institute of the Good Shepherd began as a branch of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge (OLC), founded in 1641 by Saint John Eudes, at Caen, France dedicated to the mission of reconciliation and mercy. The OLC is devoted to the care, rehabilitation, and education of girls and young women of dissolute habits, who wish to do penance for their iniquities and to lead a Christian life. Each convent of the OLC is independently run and operated.
The congregation of the Good Shepherd Sisters was founded by Saint Mary Euphrasia (formerly known as Rose Virginie Pelletier) in Angers, France in 1835 when she broke away from OLC and formed a separate generalate. The reason she founded the separate order was because the OLC was individually run and had no particular supervisory motherhouse. There were no shared resources.
St. Mary Euphrasia formed the Sisters Magdalen for penitent women who wished to live a cloistered life, but were ineligible to become Sisters within the Good Shepherd order.The Sisters Magdalen took three simple vows and spent many hours in prayer. They earned their own way with intricate embroidery and production of altar bread. This category has nothing to do with "Magdalen Laundries."
St. Mary Euphrasia was mother-general of the Good Shepherd for 33 years, and at her death in 1868, she left 2067 professed sisters, 384 novices, 309 Touriere sisters (Outdoor Sisters who were not cloistered), 962 Sisters Magdalen, 6372 penitents, and 8483 children of various preservate classes. In her lifetime 110 Good Shepherd convents were in place all over the world. She never had the opportunity to visit her houses in the United States. The first House of the Good Shepherd in the US was founded in 1843 (Louisville, KY). During the 33 years she saw 16 provinces established, in France, Belgium, Holland, Rome, Italy, Germany, Austria, England, Scotland, Ireland, Asia, Africa, the United States and Chile. Under her successor, Mother Mary St. Peter Coudenhove, in twenty-four years, eighty-five houses were founded, and thirteen new provinces established, making eleven in Europe, two in Africa, nine in North America, five in South America and one in Oceania. As of 2010, the congregation, is an international order of religious women in the Roman Catholic Church with its some 4,000 nuns work in 70 countries across the world.
Angers had seen great changes since 1829, when Mother Euphrasia had come with five sisters to found the first convent. The generalate she formed had jurisdiction over the activities of the sisters separate from the control of the Bishops and Cardinals. The Pope gave his permission over the objection of the other male Catholic leaders. The Good Shepherd Sisters owned their own property.
The Good Shepherd was a cloistered order in the past, but now are mostly apostolic. They follow the Rule of Saint Augustine.
The order was divided into two groups Apostolic and Contemplative sisters, but have merged the two groups into one. The Sisters work within the community they reside, they work in various areas:
The Contemplative Sisters have been merged into the main body of sisters, but continue to be devoted to prayer for the salvation of souls, they support themselves by:
In modern times, Good Shepherd Sisters take active part in religious and social service in different countries of the world. They are active in fighting against prostitution and human trafficking in poor countries of Asia. They also work in an international fair trade partnership with women and those in social and economic distress through Handcrafting Justice.
From 1928 to 1975, they operated Villa Loretto at Peekskill, New York.[2]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). "Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.