About Us
A woman’s recovery begins with Grace
A woman’s recovery begins with Grace. Good Shepherd Gracenter helps women break free from drug and alcohol addiction by providing long-term transitional housing with an individualized 12-Step Recovery plan. Many women graduate from Gracenter and lead healthy and meaningful lives. Regina “Gina” Duncan, a graduate of Gracenter, was recently hired as the ministry’s Resident Assistant. This…
Yikes! It must begin with me, this thing called change
Yikes! It must begin with me. The thought of it can become a bit overwhelming! But now I must get down to business and think about this seriously. After reading Sister Virginia’s article last month in the Items of Interest Green Corner, I was prompted to read a bit about the Pope’s most recent encyclical…
Maisha: A New Life Outside the Mines
Maisha: A New Life Outside the Mines is a new short documentary that shows the fascinating work of three Good Shepherd Sisters. The Sisters used community-based participatory decision making models in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to create a sense of right, dignity and voice. Their efforts resulted in education, economic opportunity and food sovereignty for…
HandCrafting Justice now winding down
HandCrafting Justice is now winding down. It was with bittersweet emotion that HandCrafting Justice, Inc. (HCJ) Board of Directors announced that HCJ would be closing on January 31, 2016. The fair trade ministry of Sisters of the Good Shepherd in the USA announced the news on January 14. HandCrafting Justice began marketing women’s handmade crafts in…
Justice and peace shape our priorities
Justice and peace shape our priorities and form the backbone of Sisters of the Good Shepherd. The Constitution of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd states that “Our commitment to reconciliation demands that we promote justice and peace.” The National Advocacy Center, therefore, sets priorities each January that guide our actions throughout the year. With your active participation,…
My reflection on being a pilgrimage site
My reflection on being a pilgrimage site for the Holy Year of Mercy deepened after Bishop Edward M. Rice blessed our community in December. The Archdiocese of St. Louis invited its six contemplative communities to each “open wide our doors” as a pilgrimage site during the Year of Mercy. It is a grace and gift to…
Ecological Conversion and Spirituality
Ecological Conversion and Spirituality are concepts Pope Francis speaks about in his encyclical Laudato Si. As Sister Virginia Gordon read the Encyclical she said that she began reflecting on these two concepts and what they mean in today’s society. She said, “These reflections on Ecological Conversion and Spirituality caused me to think of my own foundation…
Hunter Unit at GSS Baltimore gets a makeover
Take a look at the snappy renovations in the Hunter Unit at Good Shepherd Services (GSS) Baltimore! The Hunter Unit is a 13-bedroom residential facility for boys ranging in age from 13-18 years old. GSS raised $255,500 to overhaul the unit. The design is state of the art to provide a therapeutic environment for teens…
NAC has expanded its online presence
NAC (the Good Shepherd National Advocacy Center) has expanded its online presence with a new mobile-based website, facebook page and twitter feed. Director Larry Couch said, “As Pope Francis has said, ‘We are not in an era of change but a change of era.’ As such, we need to communicate with young people and those…