GSN239 December2010

Good Shepherd News Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd

GSN 239 December 2010

55thICMCCouncilMeeting 17th–19November2010-Rome

MissionandvisionICMC (International Catholic Migration Commission) serves and protects up-rooted people: refugees, internallydis-placedpersons and migrants regardless of faith, race, ethnicity or nationality. We respond to the challenges of people on the move and their communities, im-plementing and advocating for rights-based policies and durable solutions through our worldwide membership of Catholic Bishops Conferences, and alongside government and non-governmental partners.

55th ICMC Council Meeting Ms Poh Choo Chin - Malaysia Marau Community - Indonesia

Page1-2GS and OLC Sisters Meet for Sharing - Italy /Malta Contemplative Corner Page3–4 Province of India Nepal Page5-6 A little seed, many shoots to weave Ireland Local food cookery Class - Indonesia Page7-9

News from Merapi Marau Community - Indonesia Page10Economic Justice for single mothers A very valuable experience - Indonesia Page11 My pathway to the Good Shepherd Elizabeth Hanna - Great Britain Page12

With deepest thanks and appreciation Page13

What is inside Ms Poh Choo Chin Lay associate Malaysia MsPohChooChin,oneofourlaypartners inMalaysiawas arep-resentativeinvitedbytheBishop’sconference to attend the 55thICMC CouncilMeeting.Shedeliv-eredatalkentitled“AntiTraf ick-ing, a call for further effort.”MsPoh Choo Chin is theDirector ofPusat Kebajikan Good Sherpherd(PKGS) inMalaysia. Below is anadaptationofthepaperpresentedbyMrs Poh Choo Chin at themeeting.105 Participants from 53 coun-tries were present for this meet-ing which was held in Rome from 17th to 20th November 2010. PKGS was founded by the Good Shepherd Sisters in November 1956. The mission of PKGS is to make visible the mercy and for-giving love of God, believing in the dignity and value of every person and the individual’s po-tential for growth and integral

development, and reaching out and welcoming each person with respect and love, accompanying each one with care and compas-sion. In the beginning of her speech, Poh Choo said that the main thrust of the Congregation’s work is with women and chil-dren who are wounded by life’s circumstances and live on the margin of society. Taking into cognizance the global trend of people on the move, the Congre-gation during its recent Congre-gational Chapter in 2009, has adopted as one of its key priori-ties to work zealously with wom-en and children, especially those who are traf icked, forced to mi-grate and oppressed by abject poverty.” Continuedonpage2

GSN239 2 December2010

Marie Françoise MESTRY, Communications Coordinator

Casa Generalizia, Suore del Buon Pastore, Via Raffaello Sardiello 20- 00165 Roma, Italia

Email: com@gssweb.org fran.mestry@gssweb.org Good Shepherd News

Continuedfrompage1After this introduction Poh Choo shared about the different pro-jects in Malaysia and the ones that respond to issues of human traf icking and migration. She added that in 2009, PKGS was successful in its application to ICMC to fund the writing of a standard operating procedure for use of our shelter for survivors of human traf icking. This manual is now used by the other shelters in Kualalampur and Ipoh. The involvement in anti-traf icking has also led to oppor-tunities for collaboration at Good Shepherd inter provincial level. GS Sisters in Indonesia are work-ing towards jointly conducting preventive programmes in the plantations and Nunukan, target-ed at Indonesian women and children. Nunukan is the gateway for traf icking of Indonesians into Sabah (Malaysia) ProvinceofIndonesia

MarauCommunityBySr.M.GorettiSamosir

Marau is situated in West Kali-mantan or Borneo, the largest island in Indonesia bordered by Malaysia in the north. We are four in the community. We have several network links with the government and other institutions, locally and interna-tionally. Networking with other Congre-gations we strive to prevent the traf icking of undocumented im-migrants and refugees. In this connection several awareness-raising programs are made avail-able to teenagers, women’s groups and couples. Sr. Lucia is involved in working for teenag-

ers, and also teaching in the pri-mary school. Sr. Gaby, who is part of our team, conducts courses in English and computer literacy. Together with Sr. Irmi-na we serve the girls in our boarding school and support the kindergarten owned by the par-ish. Our Province Mission Statement guides us in our living in a spirit of reconciliation and compas-sion, shepherding the world and all of creation. This year is one of special bless-ings for our community… the silver jubilee of Sr. Lucia Nur, the opening of our Service Cen-tre, and the beginning of English and Computer courses for chil-dren and teenagers. Contd.Onpage10

Englishandcomputercourses

55thICMCCouncilMeeting-Roma For Poh Choo, networking is very important, she hopes to link through the Justice and Peace Of ices in Batam, Jakarta, for joint programs on anti-traf icking and do the same with the Good- Shepherd in the Philippines. We shall continue to work with the Philippines Embassy and the In-donesian Consulate to assist sur-vivors of traf icking, she said. Finally, she announced that the next steps for the Good Shepherd in Malaysia would be to use in-formation gained through the direct services to advocate for systemic change in government policies. The organization is now looking at how to build proce-dures and structures that would enable data gathering and analy-sis for upward reporting. The Congregation will be holding a capacity building training work-shop for Good Shepherd staff

from Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia in Feb-ruary 2011 to develop an effec-tive collaborative response to issues of human traf icking and for us to take a corporate stance in the region. Poh Choo said that this session of the ICMC was a good exposure for the work of the Good Shepherd regarding Migration and Traf icking. Many participants realized that the Good Shepherd has a good po-tential to become more effective. Some of them expressed their willingness to work with us. She proudly added that Bishops from different places expressed their appreciation, thanks and congratulations to the Good Shepherd Sisters around the world.

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ProvinceofItalyMaltaSistersoftheGoodShepherdandOurLadyofCharityMeettoShare

It was a very nice experience for the OLC and GS to work together es-pecially for myself and the sisters in Malta, since we do not have OLC present in Malta. Stefania, OLC, and I met in Rome in September and spent two very nice days working together at their beautiful house in Rome. Then we worked independently for another 3 days. When we were satis ied with our presentations we set out to begin our house visits. We began in Genova and the sisters from Milan joined us. Then we went to Reggio Emilia and the sisters from Bologna joined us. From there we went to Loreto, the OLC Community. The community is very near the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Loreto and I was very fortunate to be able to attend Mass at this Sanctuary. After Loreto we went to Rome for a night and the next morning we left for Palermo. Here we met some of our friends and lay associates. It was so nice to see them together as one big family. We would arrive in the afternoon, spend two nights while giving input during the day, and leave again, by train, right after lunch for the next house. It was very tiring but it was a won-derful experience. After Palermo, Stefania went back to Rome and I to Malta. A week after Stefania came to Malta with her two aunties, who are also OLC sisters, a Eudist Father, Fr. Gustavo, who was just assigned Pro-vincial for Colombia also came. While Stefania and I gave input to the sisters and lay associates, the two sisters with Father Gustavo toured Malta. All the sisters were very happy to hear about our experience at the Motherhouse. We also man-aged to show them some photos which both Stefania and I took. We showed them each sister with her boat and they really enjoyed seeing all the sisters from all over the world. They all asked us when we were going back to give them more information and formation. We could see how anxious the sisters are to know more about what is happen-ing in the Congregation.

TheCommunityoftheGoodShepherdSistersinGenova

With this we inished the irst part of our journey. In January, after the Christmas festivities we will meet again to continue the journey to the rest of the houses :- Quinto di Treviso, Naples, Viterbo and Rome where we will have the presence of the two Congregations and two sisters Pilar and Anna Maria from the Generalate. Sr.RosalindaProvinceofItaly/Malta

SistersofOLCLORETO

GSSistersPALERMO

GsSistersatReggioEmilia

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Contemplative Corner OLC/CGS Experience of Journey of Enrichment It was a great joy for us Con-templatives in Vill, Innsbruck, Austria to welcome Sr. Berna-dette Nevin, OLC from the Province of England in our community. Sr. Bernadette came from Ireland and entered the convent of the OLC in Eng-land. She spent part of her Sa-battical year with us last Sep-tember 2009. It was the irst time for us to be with an OLC Sister under one roof. We were excited with the possibility of coming to know an OLC sister more. Sr. Bernadette joins us for prayer, recreation and meals. She was praying with her Eng-lish Breviary and we with our German Breviary. Our Mass was always in German but she managed to join in the Liturgy. She also joins our common recreation with our favorite Skip-Bo card game. We gave her Skip Bo game cards as a gift when she returned to Eng-land so that she can play with her community. For me it was really a beautiful experience of being with Sr. Bernadette. I did not feel any difference. We all loved St. John Eudes and we were grate-ful for his inspiration to found the OLC in 1641 and the Eudist in 1643. I discovered during our Histo-ry session in Angers that most of what St. Mary Euphrasia said in her conferences came originally from St. John Eudes. St. Mary Euphrasia spent much time reading the books written

by St. John Eudes during her Novitiate and she had inter-nalized them so that they came out automatically in her conferences to the sisters. The desire of Sr. Bernadette to come to know us Contempla-tives better touches me. She was planning to spend part of her Sabbatical in a Contempla-tive convent and then she met Sr. Mary James Wilson, RGS from the Philippines during a Eucharistic celebration in Lon-don. This is not a coincidence that Sr. Mary James was visiting her niece in London. They talked after Mass and Sr. Mary James, RGS informed Sr. Ber-nadette, OLC of the presence of Contemplatives in Austria. I am sure St. John Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia were very happy looking at us, their daughters, spending time to-gether and getting to know each other. I am reminded of the sharing of Sr. Mary Wright, a Loreto

sister and a canon lawyer who replaced Sr. Sharon Holland, at the Institute of Consecrated Life in Rome. She shared with us during our PPC meeting in Rome last March 2010 what she personally experienced in her own congregation of this Journey. She spoke about a river which comes from the same source and then branched out. On its journey it was being enriched as it lows along its banks and unites it-self towards the Sea. This is a powerful image of what we are experiencing in the Journey of Enrichment. We don’t know what will be the end result of this Journey but we are sure that God, St. John Eudes and St. Mary Eu-phrasia are watching us from above. Sr.ElenaJalopProvince of Austria/Switzerland/CzechRepublic

Contemplative community in Vill with Sister Bernadette Nevin OLC*

in the centre. *

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ProvinceofIndiaNepalGOODSHEPHERDCONVENT,MECOSABAGH,NAGPUR,INDIA

REPORTOFACTIVITIES1April2009–31March2010We begin by thanking God for His blessings, love, care and protec-tion over us. He has also been good enough to help us accom-plish a lot during the past year. Through Chalice we have helped 53 children and their siblings, and we have had improved results at the end of the academic year. Fif-ty-two out of ifty-three children passed their annual examinations.

Some of the older students are pursuing the Teachers’ Training and Polytechnic course and regu-lar college studies. Towards the end of the year we received spon-sorships for 6 new children. We are lucky to have good staff and volunteers to help us. We owe our gratitude to Mrs. Pratiksha Meshram, our Social Worker, for her untiring zeal and enthusiasm in helping the less fortunate. She goes out of her way to cater to the needs of the children and the demands of Chalice. Mrs. Mary Machado, a retired teacher, gives of herself and her expertise in teaching the children during the free tuition classes held everyday. The Mumbai Domestic Workers Movement is doing well. We have so far about 1000 women regis-tered with us. We give them train-ing at every meeting besides the training programmes arranged for them in Mumbai. Last year we cel-ebrated the completion of 25 years of this movement which be-gan in Tamil Nadu. Celebrations were held in Chennai and here in Nagpur, too. About 500 women

joined in the celebrations in De-cember in Nagpur. They themselves put on skits, did dances and sang songs. It was a huge success as they do not oth-erwise get an opportunity to dis-play their talents.

Visits to the prison continue throughout the year. This year under the auspices of Prison Min-isty India, a Pencil Drawing Com-petition was held in the Womens’ Section of the Nagpur Prison. One of the women won a consola-tion prize and other participants received Certi icates of Commen-dation. The Superintendent and other staff members of the prison are co-operative and encouraging which gives us a boost to contin-ue to help the women. Family visits and distribution of lea lets and prayers to students, alcoholics, drug addicts and oth-ers are well received and appreci-ated. Some people have been helped to change and to bring happiness to their families and to the society in which they work and live by choosing a better life-style. At Balaghat we successfully com-pleted the project of Community Development in the villages we had adopted. Through Chalice we continue to help 45 children with their education and to provide necessary educational, health and other services.

We have started a small skill de-velopment training programme at the house itself. Sixteen young ladies learn sewing and tailoring at this facility. Garratola has helped 15 villages and has completed its project. A new project entitled Child Fo-cused Community Development has started in 16 villages. The children are helped to go to school, and regular coaching clas-ses are conducted in each of these villages. The women and men are formed into self-help groups. They are given training on legal aid, personality development and farming methods. The dispensary caters to about 100 people daily besides conducting health camps twice a year.

In the boarding school there are 42 girls studying from VI to XII Standard. This year we had the joy of having all the girls who took the X and XII pass with lying colours. ProvinceofIndiaNepal

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Province of India Nepal 60 YEARS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE OF SR. JOHN DORAICHETTY

on the piano in its pure system. Now Sr. John spends her time in prayer and helping out with whatever she can. She is cheerful and contented, always available for any help asked of her. Let all of us in the Congregation join with her in singing the MAG-NIFICAT in praise of God who has worked marvels in her life.

and was professed on 20th October, 1950. Soon after her profession Sister was sent to our convent in Chennai to take charge of the Mu-sic Department. In 1967 together with Sr. Rita Rosario she went to Andhra Pradesh to begin a new foundation. In 1970 she was sent to London for a refresher course in Music. On her return she was sent to My-sore and given charge of the Music Department. Her favorite instru-ment is the piano. While in Mysore Sister started experimenting Indi-an classical music on the piano. She mastered the experiment and was awarded many trophies, the main being the Karnataka Government Rajyotsava Award. Sr. John has giv-en performances in Bangalore, My-sore, Chennai, London and Singa-pore. She secured a total of 8 awards from different Associa-tions. Sr. John is the only person in the world to play Carnatic Music

Sr. John hails from the well known Thambuchetty family, the youngest of the three children. After her education she took up Music as her career and complet-ed her Fellowship at the Trinity College of Music, London. She joined the Good Shepherd Congregation in February 1948 Sr. John D

oraichetty

Sisters of the Good Shepherd, India/Nepal Province began their mission in the remote villages of Karjat in Raigad District in 1992. We continue to work with the socially and economically de-prived Katharis and Takurs tribes in 18 villages. Our main focus is to tackle the root causes of pov-erty, deprivation and exploitation and to empower the people to raise their voices to promote their rights to obtain land and food and to make a livelihood. Taking into consideration the alarming socio-economic, educa-tional and health needs of the

people, appropriate programmes have been established to meet the needs of the community. We have organised speci ic groups of wom-en and youth to facilitate them to build a social and economic base. We strive to provide awareness through formal and non-formal literacy and health education and other related capacity building and leadership training pro-grammes. We train the women for various income generation activi-ties to improve and sustain their socio economic status of life in the society. Our main focus is to re-duce school dropouts, to encour-

age children to enter into the main stream of education and to work towards the eradication of season-al migration of Katkaris to the brick- kilns. We aim to empower the women and children who are marginalized through institutions such as the Home for tribal girls, the school for tribal members as well as to main stream children. We have worked in the past years with women, and we have seen growth. We also realise that the empowerment of women will bring about positive change in society. Sr.TaskilaandSistersGoodShepherdConventKarjat

GOODSHEPHERDPRESENCEINKARJAT

Goat rearing by women’s group Annual medical check-up for home girls Boarding children GS School Annual day Programme Group activity with women.

Left:Sr.MariaRose,ProvincialCenterSrJohnandrightSrPrameela

GSN239 7 December2010

ProvinceofIreland

ALittleSeed–ManyShootstoWeave

Over twenty ive years ago Sister Anna Landy began a ministry with housewives in a socially de-prived housing estate. She orga-nized cookery classes for these women and was disappointed when the numbers attending fell. What she discovered was that the women did not have the utensils at home to practice their cookery skills. However, Anna knew there was a need to continue to help these women provide economic meals for their young families. She be-gan visiting their homes and giv-

ing cooking lessons in each house and providing utensils which the women paid for on a weekly basis. These women eventually learned new skills and in the words of one husband ‘his marriage was saved’. Anna produced a cookery book with basic easy –to –follow reci-pes. This book became very popular and is now in its 9th edi-tion. It has recipes for Healthy Every Day Living, for people with Coeliac Disease or on a Glu-ten Free Diet, and Immune

Compromise/ - HIV + and Hepa-titis A B and C+. She says: “The book has come about be-causeofmy interest indoing fur-therresearch inrelationtodiet/nutrition and discovering that ahealthy diet not only keeps onewell, but also improves thewell-beingofthechronicallyillpatientgivingoneanewleaseoflife.”The Province supported Anna’s efforts by freeing her to use the funds from the sale of her cook-book to support missionary work. Her mission call began in January 2003 when she read about volunteering with Volun-tary Service International (VSI). She joined VSI and began a mis-sionary journey with a differ-ence. VSI is the Irish branch of Service Civil International (SCI). S.C.I. is a worldwide movement founded in 1920, working for peace and international under-standing through the medium of voluntary work, international exchange, education and aware-ness programmes.

SisterAnnaLandy

The following is an overview of all the projectswhich Anna has been involvedwith during herSummerholidays.

Volunteers had the opportunity to teach children Religion and English. They also dug the foundations and laid 6,000 bricks. As funding was lim-ited this project was left un inished. Anna observed the need and importance of having extra money so that projects like this one could be helped and local people could rejoice at the end of the project.. When she returned from Kenya she realized that raising more money from her book sales would be very bene icial to her missionary effort. She then began to promote and sell more cook books to raise money for this ministry which she saw as part of her Good Shepherd Mission to help women and families most in need. As well as money, Anna collected books and donations of every kind to further support this mission.

VSI V

olunteers Kenya

Kenya2003- The project in Kenya covered the con-struction of a library at SANGO Rural Primary School.

Kenya

GSN239 8 December2010

A Little Seed – Many Shoots to Weave

Continuedfrompage7

Uganda2004- In July 2004 Anna joined 15 volunteers in Kam-pala Uganda. Their task was to complete the construction of a new health clinic. In addition they donated generous supplies for the clinic. SouthAfricaandLesotho,2005– In 2005 Anna went to the Good Shepherd Ministry in Hebron, South Africa. She shared in the ministry in Hebron where the Sisters ministered to chil-dren in their own Pre-school and to families suffering due to HIV/AIDS in an outstation clinic and in their homes. She donat-ed wheelbarrows, sand and cement to help in the building of new homes. The people were happy to do the work them-selves using the supplies which they could not afford to buy .

South Africa

Zambia, 2006, 2007 and 2009. The task was to con-struct apartments for YOUTH ALIVE programs in Solwzi North Western Zambia. Two hand water pumps were in-stalled in the local rural community. The prison was visit-ed and gifts given to the prisoners. She donated 60 blan-kets and bags of charcoal to help the women prisoners keep themselves warm and make an extra cup of tea. In 2007 the inal phase of the primary school was com-pleted. Uniforms were made by local tailors and donated to 60 of the poorer children. Local families received sand, cement and galvanized sheets to help improve their living conditions. By the end of the project in 2009 the school was painted inside and out, more uniforms were donated to the poorer children and another new water pump was installed.

VSI Volunteers, 2009

“You have visited us, helped us and our families. We thank each of you.”

SriLankaJuly2008 -Anna was privileged to join a VSI group to Sri Lanka. They worked at the Blue Rose School and Training Centre in Kandy for young people with disa-bilities. Their ministry was teaching English, Painting and Landscaping with the Children. Donations included a fridge freezer, craft and painting materials, paper and pens etc and fencing wire to keep out the wild pigs from destroying the school grounds. At a second project at Johnston Refugee Camp they do-nated materials to help them build outdoor toilets - the people in this camp said “Youhavegivenusdignityandhope”. Hand pumps were installed in this refugee camp. Anna was privileged to visit the home where her Aunty Brigid lived all her religious life (60 Years) in Nayakakanda Good Shepherd Con-vent. The opportunity to visit her aunt’s grave was a very special moment. Bamboo shutters were donated to the Good Shepherd School in Kandy to prevent tropical storms from destroying the school. Contd.Onpage9

ConstructionofahealthClinicUganda

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ProvinceofirelandALittleSeed–ManyShootstoWeave Contd.Frompage8Malawi - Anna’s most recent project was in Malawi. 15 volun-teers met at Bangwe to embark on a construction for Kachere Primary School. Donations to additional projects included drilling of 2 bore holes and in-stalling 2 hand pumps in two very poor rural communities. A inancial donation was made to pay for maize meal grinding ma-chines and to build stores with the clay bricks they received.

and love, enriching the lives of many people.” Anna is employed in Limerick, active in a hostel for homeless men and also in a hostel for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Anna’s zeal is untiring and no doubt she is planning another venture for next year. Anna’s email addressrgsanna02@eircom.net

A food clinic was launched and opened – it will support 6,000 people in the Namiyango area. Anna appreciates and is grateful to all those who bought and sold her cookbooks and all who gen-erously donated inancially by supporting Anna’s mission. “Your contributions made thiswork possible. Yourmoney hastouched the lives ofmany poorpeople. We are happy to share this good news story of how one simple idea has woven a path of hope

PROVINCEOFINDONESIA

LocalFoodCookingClassWhat would you think or how would you feel if you saw people live in poverty, eating the same food everyday even though they live in fertile land that produces tubers, fruits, beans, etc.? Sponsored by Canada’s Outreach Ministry Program, Sr. Gertru-dis, who is in charge of the Good Shepherd project in the parish of Langa, asked Sr. Lucy Ong from Jakarta to provide local food cooking classes for mothers and young women. The classes took place in Wolokoro, a small, economically chal-lenged village. People of this village on average earn a meager living from gardening and street cleaning. This village produces tubers such as cassava, yams, taro and local fruits such as bana-nas, avocados and coffee, chili, scallions and celery. 22 mothers and women attended the classes. Recipes taught were: cassava leaf curry, baked leaf-wrapped ish, cassava ‘eye glass’ cake, cassava pie, jam doughnuts and cassava doughnuts. Everything is made from locally grown produce. The participants will hopefully have learned to cook local foods differently so that their food is varied and they could perhaps sell the food they make as an income-generating option. I am glad to help those who live in simplicity and poverty. And I am grateful also to be allowed to stay with them and enjoy the beautiful nature and fresh air that still has not been affected by pollution. When the course was completed, I returned to Jakarta to my community where I continued my duties with renewed spirit. ProvinceofIndonesia

Preparation

Bakingtheleaf-wrapped ish

Cassava Pie

GSN239 10 December2010

ProvinceofIndonesiaNEWSFROMMERAPIThe eruption of Merapi began on October 26th, 2010 causing great suffering for the people living on its slopes and in the surrounding areas. Refugee numbers multi-plied after a large explosion on November, 3rd, 2010. This situation moved us, the sis-ters from Jakarta and Bogor, to do something in solidarity. On the morning of November 11th, 2010, Sr. Theresia Tjan and Sr. Nia went to Yogya to deliver goods needed by the refugees. In Yogyakarta, Sr. Fransisca and Sr. Rina visited the refugees at the parish centers of Medari, Boyo-lali, Muntilan and the Suburb of Yogyakarta. We visited the sister’s family too. Houses within 5-10 Km radius of the volcano were ruined by mol-ten lava, in that area around 75 people died, and lots of cattle perished. Seminaries and con-vents in safe areas, besides bar-racks provided by the govern-ment provided refuge to many

people. Thousands of packets of cooked rice with side dishes were prepared every day for refugees. Signs of love and community soli-darity were abundant among people experi-encing dif iculties because of the disaster, and from unaffected people towards the suf-fering. SrAnastasiajoinswiththevolunteersgroupinthekitchenpreparingpackedriceforthevolcanoeruptionrefugee. Residents, who made a living through farming and livestock breeding, lost their livelihoods due to this disaster. The “Salak” fruit crop which was ready for harvest was destroyed. Not many words were spoken but the eyes of the people said much about the wait to be able to return home and start all over again.

TheresiaAnitawiththechildrenfoldingthepapertocreatevariousformsoftoys.

EmergencytentsinChurchcompound

MarauCommunityBySr.M.GorettiSamosir

We also introduced the mak-ing of handicrafts to women through which they recog-nized their talents, appreciat-ed local culture and art. Budgeting and wise spending has helped them in their economy. In our Service Centre as well as in the surrounding villages meetings and times of recol-lection were held for couples. We count as many blessings the visits made by our Good Shepherd sisters to be with us. Visit of Sister Susan Chia from the Congregational Leadership Team

Recollections for couples in the centre and in the villages around. SisterM.GorettiSamosirProvinceofIndonesia

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The Provincialate Community in Jakarta operates a special apos-tolate in the form of crisis centre for unmarried mothers "VillaShalom." There are always wom-en from various religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Activi-ties that empower the women who live temporarily in the shel-ter, besides the spiritual and guidance counseling, are sewing skills, making accessories, greet-ing cards, rosaries, etc. Many women discover their talents and capabilities through these activi-ties. Many of the girls who have re-cently given birth are taught to be responsible in nurturing and caring for their babies in order to make the transition to family life

more easily for all involved. But for women whose families are unaccepting or economically una-ble to support them, they then entrust their babies to the or-phanage for several years and they try to ind work again. In the current climate it is not easy to get a job, and even more so for those who have not had adequate education or training. Seeing this situation, for two years we have been running pro-grams to help some of these sin-gle mothers who had dif iculty inding a job. They learn to pro-duce new things, besides making rosaries and accessories and in anticipation of Christmas they learn to make Christmas decora-tions, cards, table cloths, etc.

EconomicJusticeforSingleMothersProvincialateCommunityIndonesia

Some of the single mothers work-ing on these skills in their own house but others work as well as learn to create new skills at the Convent. This training experience eventually helps them in income generation and self-dependence. God is so kind to the single moth-ers. He sends many generous peo-ple to help market their products. One of the volunteers who assists in the marketing department tried to market the products in "Smesco" a place for marketing goods from small and medium sized entrepreneurs. The single mothers and the mar-keting department work to gener-ate income to help them meet their basic needs. ProvincialateCommunity

ExpositionofthebeautifulChristmasitems

Atalentedparticipantproudlyshowingherwork

SisterJustinatrainingtheparticipants

the province of Singapore – Malay-sia. The theme of which was "Good Shepherd Heritage and Mission Ex-perience for the Older Sisters of the Province”. As Indonesia was formerly one prov-ince with Singapore - Malaysia, I was invited and was delighted to partici-pate as I was able to meet with a lot of sisters I know like Sr Therese Tang, former province leader of In-donesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, and Sr. Mary Hayden in Nongkhai, 90 yr old, still active in her of ice. It was great to have met with Sr. Joan Gormley and Sr. Louis Hogan who I admire greatly as they are still active and very zealous.

I was delighted to see the Sisters works in Bangkok, Nongkhai, Pat-taya. This gave a broad insight into their life experiences. I would like to take this opportuni-ty to thank our sisters in Singapore, Bangkok, Nongkhai and Pattaya. May God’s blessings be always with you. This all happened because of cooperation of Sr. Therese Tjan, Sr. Joan Lopez and Sr. Michelle Lopez. I would like to thank them very much. MarthaTukinah,Bantul,Indonesia

A VERY VALUABLE EXPERIENCE

I am so grateful to God for the op-portunity to go to Singapore, Bang-kok, Nongkhai, and Pattaya, in Octo-ber 2010 for a project sponsored by

VisitingtheborderofThailandMyanmar

GSN239 12 December2010

ProvinceofGreatBritain MYPATHWAYTOTHEGOODSHEPHERD ByElizabeth Hanna

I was in Thailand to visit my eldest son, who had been in the country for just over a year; he had been in-volved in an accident and was s ll in hospital. I am grateful to this beau -ful country for giving Robert a fresh start in life and enabling him to re-turn to the person his family knew when he was growing up. But Thai-land is not somewhere I would have chosen to visit, I really would have preferred to fulfill my dream of going to Australia. But here I was, not only visi ng my son but also visi ng an educa on project for young women run by the Good Shepherd Sisters whom I had barely registered in my mind un l I received an invita on from Margaret Mary McAuley to go to a mee ng of the Associates of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Blackley, England. I a ended this first mee ng and was not even sure if I would return for the follow-up mee ng as I am a very reserved, private type of person and really did not think this was for me; I was, as I thought, much too busy anyway-working full me, volunteer counseling with Age Concern and being accepted as a Prison Visitor. Not much me for a social life or an-other set of mee ngs yet I duly turned up for the next mee ng and through the year became more im-pressed with the ‘zeal’ of the Sisters

and the Associates. The North West Associates hosted a general mee ng of all the English Associates in April 2009 and this was very successful and a number of members made their commitment to uphold the charism and values of the Order; this very much fi ed in with my own way of thinking-to do as much as possible as quietly as possible in the me given. I have a piece of wri ng which I am sure many of you have read before: ‘People come into your life for a cer-tain length of me, some may stay a few hours, a few days or a few years, others may stay for many years but for as long as they stay, do the best that you can with them and for them and cherish every moment for it may be the only one you have with that person.’

A more recent piece I read says ‘We all leave footprints.’ The foot-prints being le in me by the GS Sis-ters and Associates were gentle and persuasive, to keep making a differ-ence through developing a deeper spirituality through losing oneself in prayer and zeal to be a ‘Good Shep-herd’ in all areas of life. By July, I was on my way to Chaing Rai to visit my son, and had made arrangements to visit the Chaing Rai project where Sisters Lena and Anu-rak lived and worked with young girls from many of the hill tribes and from around the capital city of Bang-kok. These were very vulnerable young girls who had been or could be exploited in many different ways and the GS project was providing an alterna ve to that exploita on through educa on and example. I could go on to tell you of the warm welcome, generous hospitality and

me given to me by the Sisters, but what impacted the most for me was to actually see everything I had heard about at the mee ngs being put into prac ce-what I have come

to call ‘Love in Ac on’- a simple ges-ture made with such love and gen-tleness to console one of the girls, the feeling that each of these young people was so important and so loved and valued that each was the centre and core of every breath that the Sisters took. I am trying to con-vey the depth of what took place within me and yet I don’t have the words but I came away with a reso-lu on in my heart that the Associ-ates could ‘leave a footprint’ here in Chaing Rai through suppor ng the project in some small way. It was agreed that the Associates would try to raise some funds and this is one of the areas we have de-veloped in the past year; the gener-osity of people is amazing and as a result the NW Associates have sup-ported a number of projects at home and here in Chaing Rai; as I write these words, I am again with Sister Lena and Anurak looking at how the Centre has developed in the past year, the extension is complet-ed and par ally built; a younger age group has been accepted at the Cen-tre and the work con nues though the teaching and example set by the Sisters and their staff and the volun-teers who turn up each year to teach English to the girls. The dona on made to this GS Pro-ject by the NW Associates, collec-

vely and privately, has been far beyond anything I had ever envis-aged, but much more importantly, it is the spirit in which it was given that once again enables me to see ‘Love in Ac on.’ To have been a witness to the love of Christ has le a foot-print within me and given me zeal to try to be a Good Shepherd and ‘do well all that I do.’ Elizabeth Hanna Good Shepherd Associate Province of Great Britain

From left to right: Elizabeth, Fr. A. Bul in, Shirley and Bernadette on the day of their committment as Good Shepherd associates

GSN239 13 December2010

Good Shepherd News While each unit is encouraged to send articles anytime during the year, we have planned that there are specific editions when each unit is asked to sub-mit an article so that at the end of the year all the units have been part of Good Shepherd News.

Please send articles on or

before the 5th of each month. Here is the suggested schedule:

January Commissions, CLT, Bogota, Bolivia/Chile, South Africa

February Argentina/Uruguay, Lebanon/

Syria,Mexico March

Belgium/France/Magyarorszag, Mid-North America, Egypt/Sudan

April Philippines, Portugal, Peru, Australia/

Aoteraoa/New Zealand May

Spain, The Isles, Angola/ Mozambique, Medellin

June Centro America, Northeast

Asia July

East Asìa, Senegal August

Italia/Malta , Singapore/ Malaysia, Deutschland

September Nederland, New York, Canada,

Ecuador October

Sudeste de America Latina,Sri Lanka/ Pakistan, Venezuela

November

Japan, Kenya, Great Britain,

Österreich/Schweiz/Czech Rep

December

India/Nepal, Indonesia, Ireland/

Ethiopia

Calendar 2011

Good Shepherd News Special thanks to the following for the translations and proofreading

Delia Rodriguez, Karla Bernabe, Peru; Yolanda Sanchez, Colombia; Graciela Men-dez, Argentina; Angelica Guzman, Chile; Marie Helene Halligon , Helen Anne sand, BFM Rosario Ortiz, Spain Maria Janina M. Ponte, Venezuela; Pilar Martınez, Marta Ceballos, Yvette Arnold, Claire Alessandri, Elaine Raher, valentina Galluzi; Generalate; Michel Ferrer, France; Leila Hurgobin, Mauritius

With Deepest Thanks and appreciation

Joytotheworld,TheLordhascome!

MaytheLovethatcamewiththebirthofourLord,

thejoysthatwereheraldedandtheblessingsthatwerebestowed

inusshineuponyouatChristmasand

always...

MerryChristmasandHappyNewYear2011toeveryone.

FromMarieFrançoiseMestry Communicationscoordinator

SincereThankstothetranslatorsandproofreadersofGoodShepherdNews,FlashNewsandthewebsitefortheyear2010 GoodShepherdSistersAdriana Perez, Mexico; Yolanda Sanchez, Colombia; Ana Lucia Sanabria, Cen-tral America; Marie Helene Halligon, Helen Anne Sand, Marie Establier, Gilma Munoz, BFM; Mary James Wilson, Philippines; Rosario Ortiz, Spain; Karla Bernabe, Delia Rodriguez, Peru; Narcissa Vivanco, Ecuador; Marianne Juliette, Ile Maurice; Maria Janina M. Ponte, Venezuela; Graciela Mendez, Argentina; Angelica Guzman, Chile; Armelle Dehennault, Marta Ceballos, Pilar Martinez, Yvette Arnold Generalate. LaySecretariesElaine Raher, Valentina Galluzzi and Claire Allesandri. Generalate, Mimi Geoffrion, Canada. FriendsJean Yip Tong, Ednro Astruc, Leila Hurgobin, Joyce Pierrot, Stephanie Buchoo, Alain Jeannot, Mauritius; Marlene Etienne Coret, Michel Ferrer, France. Giany Lutchmiah, Bernie Howes Great Britain;Lynda Mestry, Germany. Thanks to the Communications Persons in the Units and the Unit Leaders who are also responsible for Communications. Lastbutnot least sincere thanks toall thewritersand readersof theGoodShepherdNewsfortheyear2010