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NORCROSS—Gathering at Simpsonwood Conference Center, 132 Good
Shepherd Sisters met recently for a historic chapter meeting, in which the four
provinces of Cincinnati, St. Louis, St. Paul, Minn., and Washington, D.C.,
merged to form the new Mid-North America Province.
Archbishop John F. Donoghue celebrated the opening liturgy for the
meeting, held Feb. 14-21, where both apostolic and contemplative Good Shepherd
Sisters were represented. Sister Liliane Tauvette, RGS, superior general from
Rome, presided.
Several days were spent assessing and setting directions for the
life of the new province. Areas of focus included ministry, community life,
vocations, formation and finance. The sisters then spent several days in the
process of discerning and electing the leadership team for the new province.
Sister Barbara Beasley, RGS, of St. Paul, Minn., was elected
provincial superior. A provincial council of three apostolic sisters and a
major council of five contemplative sisters will assist her. The new province
will be headquartered in St. Louis, and co-workers, benefactors, associates and
companions celebrated with the sisters on Sunday, Feb. 20.
The congregation seeks to be a presence of the Good Shepherd in
the world today by embracing those in need with understanding, kindness,
compassion and concern. In Atlanta, the Good Shepherd Sisters have served the
refugee community, primarily Vietnamese, at Good Shepherd Services in Chamblee
since 1993. Their services include after-school programs, professional
counseling, services for the elderly and a summer program for children.
Worldwide, the sisters are located in 67 countries. In the
Mid-North America Province, they minister in 30 cities across the United
States, Guam, Saipan and the Virgin Islands. |
