Earlier this year, more than 70 sisters and partners-in-mission traveled to Angers, France, for a pilgrimage through the roots of Good Shepherd spirituality and mission. Months later, the experience still resonates with those who made the journey.
One of those pilgrims was JJ Sorensen, director of engagement at Maria Droste Counseling Services (MDCS), an affiliated ministry of the U.S. | Toronto Region. Founded in 1992 by Sr. Joanne Westwater, MDCS began in Quincy, Massachusetts, providing mental health counseling to people who could not otherwise afford it. Today, the ministry also offers holistic therapies as part of its services through Sr. Elish McPartland, who has been with MDCS since 1995.
The pilgrimage gave JJ more than he expected. “It all came together perfectly for our group,” JJ says. “We had an amazing group of pilgrims and an incredible Mission and Values Team who put together a truly life-changing experience for us.” The relationships JJ formed during the experience were especially meaningful. He met many new friends during the pilgrimage, several with whom he remains connected today.
Walking through History
Walking through the Motherhouse was particularly meaningful. The history and heritage of the grounds, JJ says, were palpable, creating a grounding, humbling and deeply spiritual experience. The history became especially real while visiting St. Mary Euphrasia’s bedroom and office. “To be in the same room where she worked tirelessly and to see it so well preserved from her time really brought the history of the Motherhouse to life for me,” he says.
One pilgrimage experience, however, stands out above the rest: the ritual in the tunnel that St. Mary Euphrasia and her sisters helped construct to connect two areas of the Motherhouse property. Reserved for those who make the journey to Angers, the ritual is a special experience that pilgrims carry with them beyond the pilgrimage itself. For JJ, it became the most meaningful and impactful moment of the week, offering a powerful connection to St. Mary Euphrasia and the generations who have carried the Good Shepherd mission forward.
Carrying it Forward
The pilgrimage deepened JJ’s understanding of the people who have always been part of that mission. He was struck by the important role of partners from the earliest days, from Madame Lamy’s contributions during the Our Lady of Charity years to the many lay partners who supported St. Mary Euphrasia’s vision. “Collaboration is not a new idea or a necessity of today’s circumstances,” he says. “It really is a core value foundational to the Good Shepherd mission.”
After returning to MDCS, JJ brought that sense of mission and connection home. Together with MDCS Executive Director Michael Shanahan, M.Div., LMFT, he helped form an internal mission and values team to deepen the ministry’s connection to Good Shepherd history and values. The team is working to introduce new employees to the ministry’s Good Shepherd roots and create regular opportunities for staff to reflect, learn and stay connected to that mission. U.S. | Toronto Region representatives Lizzie Cody and Angela Pancella from the Mission Effectiveness office have met with the MDCS team, sharing guidance and resources as the ministry continues to build on this work. In that way, the experience of Angers is already reaching beyond the pilgrimage itself and becoming part of how MDCS carries its mission forward.
Months later, the pilgrimage still stays with JJ. “My experience will stay with me forever,” he says. “The pilgrimage truly was life-changing, and I genuinely feel like I am a more spiritually connected person from the experience.”
