Become a Sister

Called to Compassion

Every vocation begins with a question whispered in the heart: “How is God calling me to love?”

Our congregation, Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, welcomes women who feel drawn to follow Christ, the Good Shepherd, in a life of prayer, community, and mission. We believe that God continues to call women to a life rooted in compassion, reconciliation, justice, and merciful love.

A Divine Invitation

In the Catholic tradition, a vocation is more than a role or a profession. It is a divine invitation to shape one’s life around God’s love for the world.

A vocation to consecrated life includes:

• A deepening relationship with Jesus
• A desire to give one’s life for others
• A commitment to the Gospel and the mission of the Church
• Living in community and embracing a spirituality that transforms

Every call is personal and unique but always rooted in the love of the One who calls.

A Charism of Merciful Love

Our foundress, Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, believed profoundly that “One person is of more value than a world.”

A charism is a God-given gift –a unique mission, spirit, and way of life of a religious order. The Sisters of the Good Shepherd’s charism is merciful love, a love that embraces each person with dignity and lifts them up to who God calls them to be.

Inspired by St. Mary Euphrasia’s conviction:

• We embody the merciful heart of Jesus the Good Shepherd
• We accompany women, children, and families experiencing vulnerability, exclusion, or injustice
• We stand in solidarity with those longing for healing, dignity, and new beginnings
• We commit ourselves to reconciliation, helping mend what is broken in hearts, families, and society

The charism is alive today across more than 67 countries, carried forward by sisters, lay mission partners, volunteers, and benefactors.

Two Lifestyles, One Mission

Our congregation includes two interconnected lifestyles, both rooted in our charism. Together, apostolic and contemplative sisters witness to the fullness of God’s shepherding love.

Apostolic Sisters

Apostolic sisters live in active community life. They are called to bring compassion into the world through direct ministry and service in areas including anti-trafficking advocacy, social services for women and children, community development, spiritual formation and retreat work, intercultural and intercongregational collaboration, and leadership development and education. The work centers on relationships that support and empower those on the margins of society, particularly vulnerable girls and women.  

Contemplative Sisters

Contemplative sisters are called to live a monastic lifestyle within the heart of the congregation. They center their lives in prayer, adoration, simplicity, and spiritual presence. The contemplatives are an inner well of compassion for the sisters, partners-in-mission and for all those we serve. They are the heart of the congregation, sustaining our mission of reconciliation.

Is God Calling You?

You may be experiencing a call if:

• You feel drawn to a life of deep prayer and compassionate action
• You desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others
• You are moved by issues of justice, dignity, and reconciliation
• You are open to community life and spiritual growth
• You long for a life centered in Christ

Discerning Your Call

We accompany women through a gentle, personal, and respectful discernment process. Each step unfolds at your pace. Discernment is a journey, not a deadline.

Your journey may include:

Begin the Conversation

If you feel a gentle stirring within you, an invitation to explore more, we would love to walk with you.