Sisters of the Good Shepherd
Since 1911, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd have been dedicating their lives to assisting the youth in need at Marymound. They used to run the school themselves, but as they grew closer to the years of retirement, staff began to take over.
In this weeks' CityHeroes, Jenna Khan introduces us to the five remaining Sisters who continue to devote themselves to the community and to Marymound each and every day.
While they now have more time on ther hands to sing and enjoy each other's company, the Sisters of the Good Shepard are still an essential part of Marymound.
Ian Hughs, CEO of Marymound, says, "They establish, and expect us to establish a presence that makes everyone feel welcome. Makes everybody feel important, and needed, and cared for."
Sister Thomasita Antiqua does not take credit forthe work thet they do at Marymound, instead attibuting it to a higher power. "As Good Shepherd Sisters we have a special spirituality of compassion, of mercy, and healing through God. And we are just instruments used in the process."
The sisters are always willing to pitch in and lend a helping hand wherever it's needed, whether it's in the kitchen preparing meals or helping students with their reading skills.
Their motto - One Person is Worth the Whole World - is a message they hope their students have taken to heart. For these Sisters of the Good Shepard -- the most rewarding part of their work, is seeing students reach for success.
Sister Lorraine Perrault says, "We try to teach the kids their worth and finding the good in them."
Sister Brigid Hussey adds, "Some of them make it and some of them don't once they leave, but most of them really make a stab at it, they really TRY to do better. They really do."
Sister Lorraine used to teach girls how to cook for themselves and says that she would love it when her students would really show an interest in cooking. "If somebody phoned me in the evening or on the weekend and said, 'you know that recipe we made, how do you do this?'"
For the staff at Marymound, the Sisters are irreplaceable. Linda Lemire, a cook at the school says, "They make you feel like you're a part of their family. It doesn't matter if you just need to talk about something, or whatever, they make everyone feel the same."
Ian Hughes says that the Sisters have a presence that makes everyone they meet feel at ease, "They've created a place that has that feeling in the very bricks and mortar of the building. That's just who they are and that's the legacy they've left for us."
For creating an atmosphere of love, safety, and compassion; the Sisters of the Good Shepard at Marymound are this week's CityHeroes.
