Good Shepherd Sisters Restore Dignity to Women and Children in Europe
Across parts of southern Europe, religious sisters are quietly responding to domestic violence and social marginalization through long-term accompaniment rather than short-term relief. Members of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd continue a mission shaped by the legacy of their foundress, Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, offering protection and care to women, children, and families harmed by abuse and poverty. Their work reflects a pastoral approach rooted in presence, listening, and restoration of personal dignity. Rather than operating as detached service providers, the sisters live alongside those they serve, sharing daily routines and emotional burdens. This model, sustained through prayer and community trust, positions the congregation as a stabilizing presence in environments where victims often arrive displaced, traumatized, and socially isolated. The sisters’ ministries have evolved in response to contemporary realities while remaining anchored in a charism centered on mercy, patience, and hope.
In Malta, the congregation operates a long-standing shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence, many of whom arrive through referrals from police or social services. The shelter offers immediate safety as well as structured support over several months, including psychological counseling, legal assistance, and help with employment and housing. The sisters emphasize creating an atmosphere of calm and trust before addressing practical needs, recognizing that emotional stabilization is often the first step toward recovery. Collaboration with state institutions allows the shelter to function sustainably, though much of its operation depends on donations from local communities. The sisters describe their role less in terms of administration and more as ministry through presence, listening, prayer, and accompaniment. Former residents often maintain contact long after leaving, a sign of the lasting bonds formed during moments of crisis and renewal.
A parallel ministry unfolds in Portugal, where the sisters care for children and young mothers removed from unsafe living conditions marked by neglect, violence, or extreme deprivation. Children placed in the sisters’ care often arrive with disrupted schooling and deep emotional wounds, requiring stability as much as material support. The community provides a structured environment where education, emotional development, and personal confidence can gradually be rebuilt. Many children remain under the sisters’ care until early adulthood, preparing them for independent life through education and social integration. The sisters work closely with educators, psychologists, and social workers while maintaining a family-like atmosphere grounded in affection and routine. Beyond their residential programs, they also extend assistance to struggling families in surrounding neighborhoods, reflecting a broader commitment to social solidarity.
Together, the ministries in Malta and Portugal reflect a consistent approach shaped by adaptability and fidelity to mission. The sisters describe their work as responsive to changing social needs, moving from earlier focuses such as unwed motherhood to present-day challenges including domestic violence, migration, and social fragmentation. Cooperation with diocesan structures, lay partners, and civil authorities is central to this model, which aligns pastoral care with professional support systems. The communities themselves function collaboratively, with sisters of different ages contributing according to their abilities. At its core, the ministry seeks to embody compassionate accompaniment rather than institutional distance. By remaining close to those on the margins, the sisters continue to translate the Gospel into lived practice, offering stability, dignity, and hope in situations where both are often scarce.
