B A L I T A A N

GS Asia Pacific Website www.goodshepherd-asiapacific.org.au

Pope Francis addressed the faithful gathered at St. Peter's Square on the occasion of World Day of Vocations, 2013: Look! I would like to ask you: have you sometimes heard the Lord’s voice, in a desire, in a worry, did he invite you to follow him more closely? Have you heard him? ... Have you wanted to be apostles of Jesus? We must bet on youth for the great ideals. Do you think this? Do you agree? Ask Jesus what he wants of you and be brave! Be brave! Ask him this! Behind and before every vocation to the priesthood or to the consecrated life there is always the strong and intense prayer of someone: a grandmother, a grandfather, a mother, a father, a community.... This is why Jesus said: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest”, that is, God the Father, “to send out labourers into his harvest.” (Mt 9:38). Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only through prayer can they persevere and bear fruit.

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About Us

 

The Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (also known as Religious of the Good Shepherd or Good Shepherd Sisters) is an international congregation of religious women in the Roman Catholic Church, numbering more than 3,000 sisters, present in 74 countries in five continents .

As religious we are called to a mission of reconciliation, “we express our charism of merciful love through a contemplative life or an apostolic life.” (Constitutions, Article 1)

More and more people are journeying with us in different ways, for example: “Lay Associates of the Good Shepherd”, Friends of the Good Shepherd”, volunteers, benefactors, etc. and in this way we mutually develop our “Shepherding Gifts”.

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Apostolic Sisters

Contemplative Sisters

Mission Partners

The motivating force in our lives comes from a sense of being loved by God and feeling particularly attracted to Christ in His shepherding expression of this love. This gift or sensitivity is referred to in religious language as the “charism”.

Our service traditionally and currently is particularly with women and children who have been wounded by life’s circumstances and live on the edge of society. We accompany those who are in need and also network with other groups to change unjust structures in society. In religious language, our service is generally referred to as “ministry” or “apostolate”.

Like other religious, we consecrate ourselves publicly to God through vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. As Good Shepherd Sisters, we add an additional fourth vow of zeal. Prayer forms an important part of each day. We live in faith communities of different sizes, related to the needs of the apostolate.