Items of Interest_February 2014

F E B RUA RY 2 0 1 4
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province of Mid-North America
Maria Droste
Residence to close
in St. Louis
Maria Droste Residence will close
April 30, after 34 years of service
to women recovering from alcohol
and drug addiction.
Many lives have been touched and
transformed by the ministry since
its inception in 1979.
Our Lady of Charity reunites with
Sisters of the Good Shepherd
Our Lady of Charity and Sisters of
the Good Shepherd have reunited.
On January 9 the Congregational
Leadership Team of the
Congregation of Our Lady of
Charity and the Central Team of
the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity
celebrated the decision to join with
the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
The Leadership Team for the
Province of Mid-North America
rejoiced at the news, sending a note
to Our Lady of Charity that stated,
“We sing our welcome and embrace
you with much joy.”
The History
The story of the two Orders begins
in the Middle Ages with St. John
Eudes. Moved by pity for
prostitutes, Father Eudes at first
attempted to unite the penitent
and place them under the care of
good and zealous women. He soon
realized, however, that the best way
to help them was to found a
congregation of holy women who
would bind themselves by vow to
work for their reformation.
Eventually he founded an Order of
Catholic nuns, the Sisters of Our
Lady of Charity of the Refuge, to
carry on this work. In 1644, John
Eudes opened a House at Caen, and
soon the institute began to spread.
At the time of John Eudes’ death in
1680 there were seven Convents of
the Refuge in France, including one
in Tours.
It is in the Convent at Tours where
the story turns to Rose Virginie
Pelletier, a young 18-year-old girl
Cont’d next page
“We have been privileged to
journey with many women,” said
Sr. Olga Cristobal, program
director.
“Their courage and determination
to change their lives have been
great witness for us. We are
grateful to have had the
opportunity to share in their
recovery,” Sr. Olga said.
As one of the few transitional
homes in St. Louis for women in
recovery, Maria Droste Residence
has become a pillar in the
community for helping women
gain control of their lives.
After prayer and discernment,
including the ministry assessment
and recommendation of the
MDR Transition Team, the
Apostolic Council made the
difficult decision in January to
close the program.The women
currently in residence at Maria
Droste will be able to stay until
April 30.
PROVINCE NEWS
Reunification cont’d from p. 1
who in 1814 became a Sister of
Our Lady of the Charity of the
Refuge. She received the name
Mary Euphrasia.
By 1825 the young Sister had
been elected the leader of her
community. Several years later, at
the request of the Bishop and
some townspeople, Mary
Euphrasia opened a convent to
serve women and girls in the city
of Angers, France.
In 1835 Mary Euphrasia formed a
separate institute in Angers -the Sisters of Our Lady of
Charity of the Good Shepherd.
Angers had seen great changes
since 1829, when Mary Euphrasia
had come with five sisters to
found the first convent in
Angers. She had a vision for
spreading the work of the Good
Shepherd all over the world -“wherever there are souls to be
saved.” Eventually she
established the Sisters of Our
Lady of Charity of the Good
Shepherd to carry on a global
ministry. On April 3, 1835 Mary
Euphrasia became the first
Superior General of the
Congregation of the Good
Shepherd of Angers.
From that day forward all
Houses, founded or to be
founded from that of Angers,
were to be under one general
government -- the Motherhouse
of the Good Shepherd at Angers.
Nearly 180 years later, The
Sisters of the Good Shepherd
and Our Lady of Charity have
reunited, bringing with them the
merged vision of Mary Euphrasia
and John Eudes to help our
neighbors and to love them with
the same heart and same love
which we have for God -- a spirit
that has always animated the
Orders.
Mary Euphrasia was beatified on
April 30, 1933 and was made a
saint in 1940. John Eudes was
canonized in 1925.
GSS Board chairman gets ready to walk across America
Items of Interest announced last fall that Frank Ryan, Chairman of the Board
for Good Shepherd Services Baltimore, will walk across America to raise
money for GSS. The time is nearing for Frank to begin his journey. He has
been walking 32 miles a day for nearly a year and spends time each day
preparing himself mentally and spiritually for the 3,200-mile trek. He says
he is just about ready. Frank will begin the walk on March 15, leaving from
San Diego. His plan is to complete the cross-country walk in just 100 days.
Frank is accepting prayer requests and will continue to accept them all
along his route. Prayer requests can be submitted online at
[email protected].
Frank’s goal is to raise $3 million for GSS Baltimore. Contributions are
being accepted through a secure online system at https://
app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/HouseoftheGoodShepherdof/
WalkAcrossAmericaDonations.html
Frank Ryan wears a backpack
each day and walks 32 miles as
he trains for his walk across the
U.S. to raise money for GSS.
Frank has been a member of the Good Shepherd Services Board since 1988
and began his term as Board Chairman in 2008. His passion for the mission
of GSS and love for the children in the care of Good Shepherd are Frank’s
motivating force. “I’m walking for the children,” he said.
When Frank sets out on his route March 15, you can follow him at
www.GSSMaryland.org.
2
PROVINCE HAPPENINGS
Workshop participants represented five continents speaking several languages.
Mission Effectiveness starts off 2014 in Rome
The Mission Effectiveness team held its first session
of 2014 at the Generalate in Rome. Participants
included members of the Generalate staff and Sisters
who wished to attend.
The 2014 Mission Effectiveness theme is Our
Courageous Journey as Good Shepherds: St. John Eudes and
St. Mary Euphrasia and their Co"aborators.
The workshop in Rome began with short
introductions by each participant, followed by a
prayer that engaged participants in placing small
stones on a centerpiece. The stones represented the
Good Shepherd path. The prayer was based on the
duty of a Shepherd as seen by John Eudes and Mary
Euphrasia. Sr. Barbara Beasley shared from the
perspective of John Eudes and Melinda Stricklen of
Mary Euphrasia.
After these activities, participants divided into small
groups to discuss how the four core values of Good
Shepherd affect their lives. Everyone who shared a
personal experience received a simple gift.
“A highlight of the workshop for me was having both
Our Lady Of Charity and Good Shepherd Sisters in
the session along with staff,” Melinda said.
“I was aware of the conversation around merging, but
not that it would be announced while we were in
Rome. To have planned the session to focus on the
courageous journeys of St. John Eudes and St. Mary
Euphrasia prior to the announcement was awesome,”
she said.
Sr. Barbara said that it is important to know our
models, so we can understand who we are and where
we come from. She said, "As I look at the life and
work of St. John Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia, this
is what I see: two simple persons, living about 150
years apart, who could not help loving those most
wounded and abandoned. They had the grace to do
something about this love; they started great works.
We are participants in experiencing our vital place in
these great works."
“Both Our Lady of Charity and Good Shepherd
people spoke of the challenges in the work and how
Cont’d next page
3
PROVINCE HAPPENINGS
Rome cont’d from p. 3
important it is to have times to come together
and talk about our mission and purpose,” Sr.
Barbara said.
Many resources are available to learn more
about our founders. A wide selection of books
and booklets are available on the
Congregational website under the category
labeled Congregational books.
Announcements
New email address for Sr. Renee Scheich
[email protected]
Items of Interest will not be published
in March. The Province Communications
Coordinator Jeanette McDermott
will be on Pilgrimage, followed by two
weeks vacation.
GSS Baltimore
Shepherd of the
Month
Andre Stith has been
working at Good Shepherd
Services for about a year.
He works in the Education
Department, where he is
good at de-escalating
students who may be having
difficulties. Andre is also a
Prayer Leader for one of the
weekly voluntary staff prayer groups.
Andre Stith
Andre was named Shepherd of the Month in January for
his consistent demonstration of the four core values of
the Good Shepherd: Mercy, Reconciliation, Individual
Worth and Zeal.

Good Shepherd news from Singapore
Top: Sr. Jean Marie Fernandez (in black) celebrated her 25th Jubilee with
Good Shepherd Sisters in Singapore during her visit home in January.
Inset: from left: Sr. Margaret Lee, missionary in the Congo, Sr. Jean Marie
Fernandez and Singaporean Delphine Kang visit the construction site of the
new Good Shepherd facility in Singapore.
4
A personal tribute to Maryhurst
By Debbie Lopez-Thorpe
I
am indebted to Maryhurst for
what Maryhurst did for my
Mother.
My Mother was removed from a
very dysfunctional home and
placed in Maryhurst in 1945. She
arrived an angry, unhappy young
girl full of bitterness. She left
Maryhurst two years later a much
different person. The tremendous
love, guidance, understanding and
protection provided by Maryhurst
and the Good Shepherd nuns
helped shape her life in a way she
never thought possible.
I would like to share a couple of
stories to illustrate my point. One
Sunday Morning, Mother
Consalida came to my Mother and
told her that her father was coming
to visit that afternoon. My Mother
did not want to meet with her
father because surely a fight would
break out. However, Mother
Consalida told Mom that she was
to be in the parlor that afternoon.
So, my Mother met with her father
and sure enough, my Grandfather
started yelling at her. Out of
nowhere, Mother Consalida
appeared. She looked at my
Grandfather and said, “Sir, we do
not speak to our girls that way.”
She looked at my Mother and said,
“Anna, you are excused.” That was
the kind of protection Maryhurst
gave my Mother.
On another occasion, all of the girls
including my Mother were outside
in the courtyard. A Sister
approached one of the girls, at
which time a girl looked at the nun
and said, “Ah SHUT UP!”
Debbie Lopez-Thorpe and her mother Annie Thomas (center)
surrounded by family.
My Mother tackled this girl, pulling
her hair because she had
disrespected the Sister. Even
though my Mother was defending
the nun, the sisters did not
condone fighting, so Mom had to
be punished. On movie night, she
sat in the projection room with her
back to the movie screen, along
with the Sister who was running
the projector. The Sister placed a
mirror next to the projector so that
Mom could view the movie from
the mirror. That was the kind of
love Maryhurst gave my Mother.
One year after leaving Maryhurst,
my Mother met the love of her life,
my Father. They had almost 50
wonderful years together and raised
four children in the process. But
my Mother never forgot
Maryhurst. Four or five times a
year, Mom and Dad would load us
kids in the car and we would drive
to Maryhurst on Bank Street to
visit with Mother Loretta, Mother
Divine King, Mother Consalida
and Mother Rose. And when these
nuns passed away, my Mother
attended their funerals. I cannot
count the many times my Mother
told me that Maryhurst saved her.
So in closing, I want to say, God
Bless Maryhurst, God Bless the
current staff of men and women
who continue to make a difference
in the lives of young girls, and God
Bless Mother Loretta, Mother
Divine King, Mother Consalida,
Mother Rose and all of the Sisters
of the Good Shepherd who not
only saved my Mother, but saved
the lives of many girls who walked
through their doors.
5
TRAVEL
LEADERSHIP TEAM SCHEDULE
Jan 31-Feb 9 PLT, Pre- Chapter Assembly, Detroit
Feb 10-12 Sr. Madeleine, DeNeuville Learning
Center, Memphis
Feb 12-15 Sr. Mary Catherine, National Advocacy
Center, Baltimore/Silver Spring
Feb 18 Apostolic Council Meeting
Memory of the heart
Sr. Nancy Pereyra returned home to Peru last month, after spending a year
at the Province Center learning English. She wrote a letter to the Province
Center to express gratitude for what she gained while living there.
“I am deeply grateful for your hospitality and generosity during the time of
my English studies. It is a road that has no end, but I now have the basis for
continuing to work on English in my own country.
During the time that I was with you, I discovered you are great consecrated
women, brave and ready to begin the process of your own transformation
(CARE). You are women with a great sense of belonging to the
Congregation, who work with passion for its mission and future. You are
women with great vitality and endless energy.
You were a continuous support to me and encouraged me to speak a new
language. This has helped me to see and understand the world in a new
manner because, with the knowledge of English, life has another color.
Infinite thanks to the community of Sisters in Saint Louis and to the other
international Sisters who are there. I am going to miss you because you
made me feel at home from the moment I arrived. Since the first day I
entered the house I enjoyed the closeness of every Sister.
I will not say adios. Instead, I will say so long because I am sure we will see
each other again.
Thanks a lot, and a big hug to each one of you.”
Top photo: Terry Wingbermue, a graduate of Maria Droste Residence,
assisted Sr. Nancy weekly with her English studies at the Province Center.
Bottom: Sr. Nancy shared cultural traditions of Peru during a community
activity at the Province Center.
6
OBITUARY
Sr. Louise Cecilia Greenfield, CGS
December 28, 1926 - December 21, 2013
Sister Louise Cecilia was born
and raised in Southwest
Baltimore, a member of St. Peter
the Apostle Parish where she was
baptized and received her first
Sacraments.
Louise had one younger sister,
Mary Agnes, and four brothers,
two of whom joined the armed
forces and fought for our country
in the Second World War and
Korean conflict.
Louise Cecilia entered the
Contemplative Sisters of the
Good Shepherd on July 22, 1946
when they were known as Sisters
of St. Mary Magdalene, a branch
of the Good Shepherd Order. She
made her final vows July 22, 1958
and was named Sr. Magdalen of
Bethany.
Louise loved to read and study.
She completed her high school
education when she joined the
Sisters and continued home study
programs with Loyola University.
She became an expert on the
computer and designed note
cards for all the holidays and
feast days.
Sister devoted her artistic skills
in designing and making
vestments for priests and
seminarians, and liturgical
banners for the altar. In the
various communities where Sister
lived she also worked in the altar
bread department making hosts
for the Eucharistic celebrations.
Sister was a contemplative whose
interest in the problems of the
world encouraged her prayer and
writing involvement. The
defense for pro-life endeavors,
religious freedom, economic
justice for the poor, and women’s
rights, all were issues close to her
heart and her prayer.
The Greenfield family was
dispersed far and wide but Louise
kept up correspondence by
phone and computer. Many of
her cousins called and wrote to
her for prayers and advice.
The communities Sister lived in
were in Norristown, New Jersey,
Germantown, Pennsylvania, Fox
Chase, Pennsylvania, and
Washington D.C. In these
communities Sister served as
local councillor, major councillor
and for six years as local superior.
The staff at St. Joseph Residence
miss her joyful presence even
though her suffering was so
evident.
Submitted by Sr. Nora Pat
O’Flannigan, RGS
7
OTHER NEWS
Closing Ceremony of Diocesan Inquiry on Blessed Maria Droste
By Maria Sowerby, RGS
O
n Thursday, October 31,
2013 Sr. Claude Salama and
I went to Collier Services
in New Jersey to be with New
York Sisters for the closing
session of the diocesan inquiry
into an alleged miracle attributed
to the intercession of Blessed
Maria Droste of the Divine Heart
of Jesus.
We spent a very pleasant evening
with the Sisters, who included
Patricia and Francis from
Baltimore. The hospitality and
interchange with the New York
Sisters was really beautiful.
Early Friday morning we left for
the Diocese of Rockville Centre
in New York, where Mass was
celebrated by Bishop Murphy at
St. Agnes Cathedral. Mass was
attended by many New York
Sisters, the family of Jenny (the
woman who was cured), a relative
of Blessed Maria Droste and
many others, since it was the
Feast of All Saints.
Jenny was present, looking very
serene as she used her walker to
get around. It was nice to see
Brigid and Yvette who came from
Rome and did a nice job of
orchestrating the closing session
along with Tribunal officials.
The officials, a panel of men and
women including the Bishop,
took a personal oath of secrecy.
They swore to fulfill their duties.
As I remember, years ago there
was always someone called the
“devil’s advocate.” This title has
Reliquary of Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart Droste zu Vischering
exposed in the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Ermesinde,
Portugal.
been changed to “Promoter of
Justice of the Tribunal.”
Sr. Marie-Alberte Boursiquot was
the medical expert at the
Tribunal. Dr. Waldery Hillman is
the postulator of the Cause of
Canonization of Blessed Maria
Droste. He and his assistant did a
really good job of getting
everything signed and sealed so
that the carrier could take the
documents to the Holy See for
the next step.
This was followed by the Notary,
Rosemary W. Horgan reading the
Acts of the Closing Session and
establishing it as a public record.
After this we all enjoyed a very
nice luncheon with everyone
present. Sr. Ellen Kelly, Provincial
of New York, did a beautiful job
organizing all of this. It certainly
paid off since it was an incredibly
historic day.
Claude and I agreed that it had
been a truly memorable event and
one in which we were privileged
to attend.
Blessed Maria’s work of getting
LEO XIII to consecrate the
world to the Divine Heart was
needed then and how much more
today? We feel honored that
Blessed Maria Droste is a Good
Shepherd Sister.
We celebrate her with gratitude
and appreciation for her short
but courageous life.
8
Praying in these emerging times
Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) produces a book of reflections each year that is focused on
a topic pertinent to the spiritual journey. This year’s book is titled Praying in These Emergent Times.
According to LCWR, “the cosmology and theologies that
have influenced us for centuries had us reflecting on one
aspect of God – God as eternal, changeless, timeless,
abiding. The new cosmology is helping us comprehend
emerging concepts of God as also unfolding, relational,
and not outside of time and space but within its very
fabric.”
The book explores what it means to understand these two
aspects of God. It provides reflections by LCWR
members where they share the images, stories, symbols,
and questions that are shaping how they encounter God
and how they pray. Artwork by Catholic sisters
accompanies the reflections. The book also includes
questions and suggestions for deepening the reader’s own
prayer.
The book can be purchased online through February 28,
2014 at https://lcwr.org/media/news/order-now-lcwrsreflective-journal-praying-these-emergent-times. The
books will be mailed by April. Cost is $5.00 per copy plus
postage. Proceeds help support the LCWR mission.
Catholic Sisters Strategy aims to ignite a movement
National Catholic Sisters Week
launches on March 7, with the
intent to ignite a movement
around the contributions and
lives of Sisters in ways that
inspire girls and women to
picture themselves among the
ranks of women religious.
The Conrad N. Hilton
Foundation funded the initiative
as part of its Catholic Sisters
Strategy. The strategy seeks to
strengthen congregations of
Sisters to ensure that they are
able to serve their communities
long into the future. The goal is
to strengthen the vitality of
congregations by helping them
attract, form and retain
members; develop and exercise
effective leadership; and cultivate
and steward capital resources.
In addition to National Catholic
Sisters Week, the Foundation has
enabled the National Catholic
Reporter Publishing Co. to build
a network of journalists to write
about Catholic Sisters around the
world.
The strategy also aims to offer
Sisters the opportunity to
develop journalism skills in order
to become professional
columnists and reporters
themselves. These stories will be
housed on a dedicated website.
The Foundation awarded a grant
to A Nun's Life, an internetbased ministry created by two
Sisters that offers a first-hand
view of religious life through
stories, interviews and
conversations with a variety of
Sisters on a variety of topics. The
Foundation also awarded LCWR
a grant to help its elected leaders
address the most pressing
challenges facing their
congregations today.
The final Foundation grant
expands opportunities for Sisters
in seven African countries to
earn post-secondary education
credentials.
9
2014 PILGRIMS
Pilgrimage to the Good Shepherd Motherhouse
Men and women from Good Shepherd ministries
will begin their 9-day Pilgrimage to the
Motherhouse in Angers, France on February 23.
There they will deepen their appreciation for the
Good Shepherd heritage and examine what it means
to be a Good Shepherd. The Pilgrimage to Angers is
a spiritual journey with a focus on the life of St.
Mary Euphrasia, with time for prayer, reflection and
sharing about the Good Shepherd mission. The aim
of the Pilgrimage is to support the development of a
community of Good Shepherd People who, having
come to Angers, return to their program prepared to
lead Good Shepherd into the future. The Pilgrimage
also creates a sense of global unity within Good
Shepherd. Joining the Pilgrimage in 2014 are Good
Shepherd people from the provinces of Canada,
New York, Mid-North America, Australia/New
Zealand and Singapore/Malaysia.
Province Mid-North America
Jeanette McDermott, Province Center
Claudia Mooney, CORA Services
Griselle Morales, CORA Services
Sandra Munoz, Good Shepherd Gracenter
Sue Newell, Shepherds' Pathway
Sr. Annatram Nguyen, Good Shepherd Gracenter
Katie O'Brien, Rose Haven
Amy Scurlock, Vista Maria
Robin Simmons, Good Shepherd Services, Baltimore
Eric Singular, Good Shepherd Services, Baltimore
Lou Smith, Maryhurst
Melinda Stricklen, Planning Team
Angel Todd, Maryhurst
Lamaryah Sutton, Vista Maria
Melissa(Thompson, Good Shepherd Services,
Baltimore
Lizzie Tschida, Planning Team
Rebekah Albert, Rose Haven
Ina Argot, Good Shepherd Shelter
Cristina Franco(, Good Shepherd Shelter
Sr. Barbara Beasley, Planning Team
Jack Bradley, CORA Services
Lori Bramlett, DeNeuville Learning Center
Denise Brew, Good Shepherd Services Atlanta
Will Buttarazzi(, Good Shepherd Services, Baltimore
Larry Couch, National Advocacy Center
Tiffany Farris, Maryhurst
Pattie Griffin, Good Shepherd Mediation
Becky Hermann, Vista Maria
Kay Verella, Vista Maria
Judy Lambeth, Maryhurst
Maria Lensing, DeNeuville Learning Center
Corryn Accrue, Maryhurst
10
2014 PILGRIMS
New York Province
Orlando Abbott, Good Shepherd Services
Celia Ceballos, Good Shepherd Services
John Collins, Maria Droste Counseling
Jose Cordero, Good Shepherd Services
Diane Culligan, Collier Youth Services
Annmarie DeRosa, Collier Youth Services
Sr. Debbie Drago, Collier Youth Services
Nancy Eagan, Good Shepherd Services
Paulette Matter, Community of Jesus, the Living
Mercy
Shelby Geter, Good Shepherd Services
Joy Goldsmith, Good Shepherd Services
Miles Jackson, Good Shepherd Services
Suzanne Johansson, Collier Youth Services
Sr. Ellen Kelly, Planning Team
Sr. Paulette LoMonaco, Good Shepherd Services
Lina Pasquale, Good Shepherd Services
Barb Raffle, Collier Youth Services
Mike Shanahan(, Marie Droste Counseling Services
Joanie Siegel, Good Shepherd Services
Anne Waldfogel, Good Shepherd Services
Kimberly Williams, Good Shepherd Volunteers
Laurie Williams, Planning Team
Miranda Yates, Good Shepherd Services
Canada Province
Michele Campbell, Marymound
Sea Clarke, Chisolm Youth Services
France Guillemette, Logis Rose-Virginie
Bob Interbartolo, Planning Team
Lynette( Koop, Marymound
Jane Litchfield, Marymound
Stacy McRae, Chisolm Youth Services
Anna Pavan, Planning Team
Melene(Popa, Rose of Sharon Services
Mardy( Yager, Marymound
Sue Walker, Marymound
Darla Wegman, Rose of Sharon Services
Nicole Weston, Rose of Sharon Services
International Provinces
Trish Carroll, Good Shepherd Australia/New
Zealand
Susanna Chan, Head of Chaplaincy Team, Singapore/
Malaysia(
Anne Emmanuel, GS Kindergartens and Nurseries,
Singapore/Malaysia(
Augustine Phono eKong, Good Shepherd Services,
Malaysia
Gendrie Klein-Breteler, Good Shepherd Australia/
New Zealand
Sr. Laurina Loh(, Good Shepherd Women's Shelter,
Singapore/Malaysia(
Generalate
Sr. Anne Josephine Carr, Presenter
Cristina Duranti, Presenter(
Sr. Brigid Lawlor, Presenter

Happy those who will have occasion to make this pilgrimage ...
to preserve for posterity the spirit of zeal and unity
which is the life of this Institute.
Their life’s journey will be blessed ...!”
St. Mary Euphrasia
11
Let us love God and our neighbor
more than ourselves.
St. Mary Euphrasia
Sisters of the Good Shepherd
Province of Mid-North America
7654 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63121
314-381-3400 or 1-800-615-5073
314-381-7102 fax
[email protected]
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province of Mid-North America
7654 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63121