Our Founders
St.John Eudes - Our Spiritual Father - (November 14, 1601 – August 19, 1680)
John Eudes was born on November 14, 1601, in Ri, Normandy, France. Raised on a farm in northern France, he grew in faith and love for God, eventually discerning a call to religious life. Desiring to serve suffering humanity, he joined the Congregation of the Oratory and was ordained a priest at the age of 24. During the devastating plagues of 1627 and 1631, he selflessly volunteered to care for the sick in his diocese. By the age of 32, John began serving as a parish missionary.
His gifts as a preacher and confessor earned him widespread admiration – he preached over 100 parish missions, some lasting weeks or even months. John was deeply concerned with the spiritual formation of priests. Realizing the urgent need for proper training, he sought and received approval from his general superior, the local bishop, and Cardinal Richelieu to begin founding seminaries. Despite resistance, John established several seminaries across Normandy, though he was never able to gain full approval from Rome, partly due to his lack of political diplomacy.
His ministry also reached out to women in vulnerable situations, particularly prostitutes who wished to leave their lives behind. One day, Madeleine Lamy, a woman who had been helping such women challenged John Eudes with words that pierced his heart:
“Where are you off to now? To some church, I suppose, where you’ll gaze at the images and think yourself pious. And all the time what is really wanted of you is a decent house for these poor creatures.”
That moment inspired him to found another religious community: the Sisters of Charity of the Refuge, dedicated to caring for women in need. St. Mary Euphrasia, inspired by his vision and zeal, joined the congregation at the age of 16 despite the opposition from her family. St. John Eudes is perhaps best remembered for his profound devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He emphasized Jesus as the source of holiness and Mary as the model of Christian life. For this, Pope Pius XI later honored him as the “father of the liturgical devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary”. St. John Eudes died on August 19, 1680, at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy of deep compassion, courage, and commitment to spiritual renewal.
St.Mary Euphrasia Pelletier - Our Foundress - (July 31, 1796 - April 24, 1868)
St. Mary Euphrasia was born as Rose Virginie Pelletier on July 31, 1796, on the island of Noirmoutier, France, during the turbulent times of the French Revolution.
Drawn to the love of Christ and the needs of the abandoned, she entered the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity in Tours at the age of 18. In 1817, she made her final vows and took the name Mary Euphrasia. Endowed with deep faith, vision, and leadership, she became Superior of the Tours convent at age 29. She worked tirelessly to care for women and girls who were abused, abandoned, or imprisoned, offering them shelter, education, and spiritual guidance.
Her mission centered on the belief that “One person is of more value than a world”. With unwavering zeal, she expanded the work beyond Tours, driven by the desire to reach more women and girls in need. She emphasized mercy, reconciliation, and respect for human dignity. Her ministry focused on transforming lives through love, trust, and structured care.
To support the growing number of requests for foundations, she established a new congregation in 1835 – the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, with a centralized structure based in Angers, France. This allowed for quicker response and shared resources across the globe.
She founded over 110 convents in 35 countries during her lifetime. She also established the Contemplative Sisters (Magdalen Sisters) to spiritually support the mission through prayer and penance, forming a unique blend of active and contemplative life in the same congregation. St. Mary Euphrasia died on April 24, 1868, in Angers. Her passion for souls, her courage, and her vision continue to inspire the global mission of the Good Shepherd Sisters, present today across 67 countries, serving the most vulnerable with compassion and love.