Continuing a tradition

Good Shepherd Sisters Clare Sin (left in photo) and Marietta Yoon pose in the Province Center dining room. The Sisters belong to the Province of Northeast Asia, which is part of the Asia-Pacific Circle represented in purple on the Congregational map behind them.

The two Sisters are continuing a tradition by having arrived in St. Louis to refresh their English speaking and writing skills. The Sisters are enrolled in English Language School courses at the University of Missouri St. Louis near the Province Center.

Sisters Clare and Marietta continue a tradition that began in March 2009 when the Province of Mid-North America received its first international student from Paraguay. Since then PMNA has hosted 33 Sisters from a total of 16 countries. The Province started accepting international students when English became one of the link languages of the Good Shepherd Congregation (French and Spanish are the other link languages). Sisters from countries throughout the world were put into committees to prepare for the Congregational Chapter and needed to know how to speak to one another in English. Sr. Virginia Gordon coordinates the international students at the Province.  She said the average length of stay for the international students is between six and ten months. Sometimes the stay is shorter and sometimes longer, depending on the needs of the Sisters.

The two Sisters are participating in daily American life while living in the convent during their stay at the Province of Mid-North America. They will use their English-speaking skills when serving in leadership positions after returning to their local communities. Sister Clare Sin is from Hong Kong and arrived at the Province Center on January 27. Sr. Marietta is from South Korea and arrived in St. Louis on February 2.

To learn more about what’s happening in the Province of Mid-North America, please read our monthly newsletter Items of Interest.

Jeanette McDermott

Jeanette McDermott

Jeanette is the Communications Coordinator for Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province of Mid-North America. She is a career photojournalist who has served in various capacities of print, broadcast, and corporate communications. Jeanette is devoted to creation and is particularly focused on saving pollinators and other wildlife species and their habitat. She is an ethical vegan and created the website veganstoryteller.com