Community

Our life together with Christ, the Good Shepherd as our centre, makes us open and ready to seek answers to the many needs of our fellow beings, especially those of women and children.

We live in community as Apostolic - or Contemplative Sisters.


Apostolic Sisters - RGS

Commitment for people with different needs, through:

  • prayer
  • sharing
  • concrete aid for women and children
  • pastoral ministries within the church
  • others

 

Contemplative Sisters - CGS

To support the active commitment of the Apostolic Sisters through:

  • prayer
  • simple living
  • seclusion - silence
  • activities according to their life style

      

Government of the Congregation

1. General Chapter

 The General Chapter is the highest authority in the Congregation and is, at the same time, a sign of unity in diversity. It takes place every six years and is meant to promote enewal and give direction to our future commitment for the poor and exploited.

A permanent feature of every General Chapter is the election of the Congregational Leader and the General Councillors. Members of the General Chapter are the Congregational Leader, the General Councillors, all the Provincials and elected delegates.

2. The Congregational Leadership Team (pictures on the right)   

The General Council led by the Congregational Leader Brigid Lawlor (1. picture on the left) form the Leadership Team of the Congregation.

Each General Councillor has her own area of responsibility and is responsible for several Provinces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Province Leadership 

The Congregation of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd is divided into 45 Provinces (Units), which result from the historical development of the Order and are often identical with language- and national borders.

Each Province is led by a Province Leader/Provincial and the Provincial Council. The Province leader is directly elected by the Sisters of the Province or is appointed by the General Leadership Team.

4. Administration of the houses

The houses of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd are led by the Local Leader together with the Local Council. In smaller convents the Local Leader or a Coordinator, together with the entire community, are responsible.

 

The Beatitudes of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

  • Blessed are you, when you serve the needy with merciful love, for St. Maria Euphrasia's heart is full of joy when you live the charism with faith.

  • Blessed are you who give your live in the service of your neighbour and to prayer; devoting yourselves entirely to the Divine Shepherd, for His Sacred Heart will prepare for you a place in the house of the Father.
  • Blessed are you, when you feel the need for mercy and conversion and live from the unconditional love of God, for then you will understand the poor and the weak and accept them.
  • Blessed are you who realise what hurts and humiliates a woman's dignity; you stand by the women in their difficulties and bear with them; through you true love will transform them.
  • Blessed are you who hear the cry of the exploited, mourn all barriers and oppression and personally do what you can for the cause of justice, freedom and love, for you will make God's Kingdom visible among the people.
  • Blessed are you, when you engage in working for the poor, live with them and seek God's image in every person, for then you will proclaim the very dignity of every person, for then you will proclaim the very dignity of every person and mirror their truth.
  • Blessed are you, when you overcome weariness and obstacles and when you persist in reaching your goal, for sacrifice and suffering create new life.
  • Blessed are you, when you perform your tasks in simplicity and silence, for then you are following in the footsteps of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.