The Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd is an international Roman Catholic order of nuns based in Rome oriented around serving girls and women in situations involving dire poverty and sexual exploitation. The order’s affiliated nonprofit, which supports the work of its operations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, is the Good Shepherd International Foundation.

Background

In 1641, John Eudes, a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Oratory of Jesus, founded the Order of Our Lady of Charity in response to the needs of girls and women he had met while doing missionary work in France, particularly those who were trying to escape from poverty and prostitution. The nuns of the Order swore, in addition to standard religious vows, a fourth vow of “zeal,” committing them to belief in the dignity and potential of every person. However, during the French Revolution, the Roman Catholic Church and all its orders in France, including the Order of Our Lady of Charity, was suppressed. ¹

After the French Revolution, Mary Euphrasia joined the Order of Our Lady of Charity and at that time received requests for help from the Order from all over the world. She worked to found the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd to work internationally. The Order was formally established in 1835. ²

From 1835 onwards, the Order of Our Lady of Charity and the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd collaborated on common programs and projects. However, in 2006, the two orders began a consultation process to explore merging. This merger was canonically formalized in June 2014. ³

The Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, has two lifestyle tracks for members: apostolic, in which sisters engage in active ministry and outward-facing charitable work; and contemplative, in which sisters devote their time to prayer. ⁴

Good Shepherd International Foundation

In January 2007, the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd created The Mission Development Office to support the organization’s overseas charitable operations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Later, in May 2008, the Congregation resolved to give this office an independent legal and administrative status, incorporating the body as a nonprofit organization in Rome called the Good Shepherd International Foundation. ⁵

Leadership

Joan Marie Lopez, who made her perpetual profession as a Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd in September 28, 1997 in Malaysia, is the order’s Congregational Leader. Previously, Lopez was variously the Congregation’s province leader for its Singapore/Malaysia Chapter, acting province leader, and formation directress for candidates, novices and the temporarily professed. ^{6 7}

1. “Review of child safeguarding practice in the religious congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd.” National Board for Safeguarding Children. January 2016. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.safeguarding.ie/images/Pdfs/Congregations/Congregation_of_Our_Lady_of_Charity_the_Good_Shepherd.pdf
2. “Review of child safeguarding practice in the religious congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd.” National Board for Safeguarding Children. January 2016. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.safeguarding.ie/images/Pdfs/Congregations/Congregation_of_Our_Lady_of_Charity_the_Good_Shepherd.pdf
3. “Review of child safeguarding practice in the religious congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd.” National Board for Safeguarding Children. January 2016. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.safeguarding.ie/images/Pdfs/Congregations/Congregation_of_Our_Lady_of_Charity_the_Good_Shepherd.pdf
4. “Review of child safeguarding practice in the religious congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd.” National Board for Safeguarding Children. January 2016. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.safeguarding.ie/images/Pdfs/Congregations/Congregation_of_Our_Lady_of_Charity_the_Good_Shepherd.pdf
5. “GS International Foundation.” Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://rgs.gssweb.org/en/content/gs-international-fondation
6. “New Province Leader elected for Good Shepherd Sisters.” Catholic News: Singapore. April 18, 2010. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://catholicnews.sg/2010/04/18/new-province-leader-elected-for-good-shepherd-sisters/
7. “Congregational Leadership Team.” Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://rgs.gssweb.org/en/basic-page/congregational-leadership-team