Who we are

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”.

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.

KNOW ABOUT PHILIPPINES-JAPAN

Apostolic Sisters
Contemplative Sisters
Mission Partners

Vision

A society transformed in Jesus Christ where there is fullness of life for all beings.

Mission

Sharing in the church’s mission of reconciliation, we commit ourselves to facilitate the empowerment of children and youth, girls and women Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), families and communities to be life-bearers towards integral transformation.

Strategic Goals

To promote unity of vision and mission of the various ministries of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd towards empowerment of persons/groups/families/communities we serve
To ensure that our ministries are effective and prophetic, our thrust of Women, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation be integrated and actualized in all the programs and services.
To assist the different social services and center of the sisters of the Good Shepherd towards professionalization
To establish a financial system that will ensure the sustainability of different ministries of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and to raise funds, receive grants both local and foreign, bequests, endowment, legacies and donations whether it be in cash, in kind, property or otherwise.
To promote and encourage human resource development, development work and studies, research in the social sciences to respond more effectively in meeting specific human needs
To enhance the capabilities of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and efficiency of the agencies for the delivery of appropriate services towards empowerment.
To facilitate the personal and professional growth of all the staff in mission through s systematic training program.