The Sisters of the Good Shepherd
"Our commitment to reconciliation demands 
​that we promote justice and peace."
Constitutions of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

The Sisters

Founded in 1835, the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd is an international congregation of Catholic religious sisters with apostolic and contemplative lifestyles that has established social service ministries around the world. Present in 68 countries, it works to empower lives, uphold rights, and restore the dignity of girls, women, and children and is renowned for its work to end human trafficking.

The Sisters are committed to four core values: mercy, reconciliation, individual worth, and zeal for the salvation of souls. Their founders, Saints John Eudes and Mary Euphrasia, recognized in each person the image of God.
The Sisters embrace the laity and build relationships and partnerships creating and passing on ministries and agencies that bring about healing, solidarity, and transformation. The Sisters and lay staff operate a broad base of service, ministry, safe houses, schools and training centers both in this country and overseas.

Read more about the Sisters' ministries and agencies (Partners-in-Mission).
The goals of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd and their Partners-in-Mission are:
  • Ensure economic and social justice for women and children who suffer from violence, abuse, and exploitation worldwide.
  • Eliminate human trafficking, a modern form of slavery.
  • Eradicate poverty through a fair and sustainable development.
  • Build a world of justice and peace.

To learn more about the Congregation's stances on Migration, Economic Justice, Girl Child, Trafficking, Prostitution, and Integral Ecology, read the Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd Position Papers on Mission and Ministry (updated June 2018). 

​Good Shepherd in the U.S.

The Sisters of the Good Shepherd arrived in Louisville, Kentucky from France on December 1, 1842. Today, the Provinces of New York-Toronto, Mid-North America, and Central South have a presence in 19 states plus Ontario.

These women and their lay partners are committed service providers dedicated to assist especially women and children in a variety of nonprofit, non-denominational social service agencies and programs.
Their commitment to one another as a network is based on the unrelenting desire to better serve children, youth and families who are marginalized in society due to poverty, exploitation, addictions and family conflict.

A listing of some of our partner agencies who bring life to policy and advocacy may be found on our GS Agencies webpage.

International Good Shepherds

The Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd is an international order and furthers the social justice and peace movement through the United Nations. As a UN official representative, the Good Shepherd International Justice and Peace Office has special consultative status on the Economic and Social Council. 
GSV places volunteers across the U.S. and around the globe.
With over 300 volunteer alumni, the growing network carries forward the
Good Shepherd mission into our world.

If you want to learn more or you are interested in volunteering, visit www.gsvolunteers.org.​

Good Shepherd Volunteers

Good Shepherd Volunteers collaborates with the Sisters of the Good Shepherd to provide full-time volunteers with the opportunity to work in social service ministries and to use their God-given talents serving women, adolescents, and children affected by poverty, violence, and neglect. The organization was founded, and continues to focus on Four Tenets: Social Justice, Simplicity, Spirituality, and Community.
 
GSV has placements in the United States and internationally in a variety of fields: domestic violence, fair trade, economic justice, youth counseling, foster care, after-school programs, and education.