GOOD SHEPHERD, SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF CHARITY OF THE

The Religious of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (RGS, Official Catholic Directory #1830), popularly known as Sisters of the Good Shepherd, traces its origin to a group of women organized by (St.) John eudes at Caen, France, in 1641 to reach out to wayward women and girls. This institute became known as Religious of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge. Seven Houses of Refuge, each an autonomous community, had been established but were dispersed at the time of the French Revolution. The Refuge at Tours was struggling to reestablish itself when Rose-Virginie Pelletier entered the community in 1814. As Sister Maria Euphrasia, she revitalized the community when she became its superior at the age of 29 (see pelletier, maria euphrasia, st.). In 1829 she established a flourishing convent at Angers, followed by four additional foundations within five years. So successful was Mother Euphrasia's work among her charges that a complete transformation of life was effected for many of the girls. For some of these young women who wished to devote themselves to a life of prayer and penance, Mother Euphrasia established the religious community of Sisters Magdalens, which she regarded as the crown of her work.

Through her experience Mother Euphrasia recognized that a central motherhouse and novitiate would ensure unity in religious spirit and a sharing of resources and personnel. Her plans met with bitter opposition because some felt that her efforts were motivated by personal ambition. In 1835 Gregory XVI granted permission for a unified administration; and the convents of Angers, Grenoble, Poitiers, and Metz were united under the title of Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. This new development, alive with the spirit of St. John Eudes and the zeal of Mother Euphrasia, enjoyed a phenomenal growth. In Mother Euphrasia's own lifetime, 110 foundations were made. In December 1842, five sisters, each of a different nationality, arrived from Angers to make the first American foundation at Louisville, Kentucky. Within 25 years convents were established at St. Louis, Missouri; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio; New York and Brooklyn, New York; New Orleans, Louisiana; Chicago, Illlinois; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; and St. Paul, Minnesota.

The apostolate of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd is rooted in the appreciation of the dignity and worth of each individual. Mother Euphrasia taught each of her sisters how to be a true mother to the girls in her charge. Included in the heritage of the foundress is detailed advice regarding the approach to girls of varied emotional needs, in some ways anticipating modern psychotherapeutic techniques. For their specialized work, the sisters are trained as social workers, group mothers, psychologists, guidance counselors, teachers, recreation leaders, nurses, chaplains, and youth ministers.

Bibliography: b. stasiewski, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. j. hofer and k. rahner, 10 v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 1957–65) 5:389. g. bernoville, Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier: Foundress of the Good Shepherd Sisters (Westminster, Maryland 1959).

[m. andreoli/eds.]