The contemplative life within the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd is unique. Though it is a silent vocation, removed from direct interaction with the world, it is deeply rooted in the pursuit of justice, peace, solidarity, reconciliation, and mercy. This way of life is sustained by a profound awareness of being intimately united with the Creator—through the cosmos, which reveals the harmony of a world made by love, and for love.
To understand the contemplative life is to recognize it as a daily journey—a continuous search for the Face of our Good Shepherd. This Face is hidden in simplicity, revealed in the ordinary moments and small acts of daily life. Along this path, God offers us silence as a means of sanctification—a silence that is not empty, but filled with the presence of our sisters in community and of all those for whom we pray. In them, too, we discover the Face of our Beloved.
God invites us again and again: “Seek my Face.” And in response, we are granted glimpses of heaven—in praise, in the listening of the Word, and in the joyful companionship of our sisters in community.
Our Congregation is marked by a unique charism and spirituality expressed through two distinct yet unified ways of life. These differences do not divide us; rather, they highlight a shared vocation centered around a common Mission.
The Sisters of the Good Shepherd Contemplative Life are wholly dedicated to prayer and contemplation. Through this deep spiritual commitment, they come to live fully in God, becoming a living sign of mercy and reconciliation in a world in need—especially for women who long for the tender care of the Good Shepherd.
Contemplative life, rooted in the call to witness God and serve as instruments of reconciliation, is expressed through prayer, evangelical simplicity, solitude, and silence. For the Contemplative Sisters, enclosure is not a withdrawal from the world, but a profound way of embracing it—through prayer and union with God, seen in the light of the Gospel.
In this way, their life is one of ongoing renewal, bringing vocal prayer into present reality. They respond to the needs of humanity by lifting up the intentions of all who seek their prayers, embracing the joys and sorrows of the world in their sacred silence.
Contemplation is a way of being, a fundamental attraction to the Mystery of God, a call to mindful living. Contemplation and action are two sides of the same coin – both are needed if we are to be effective and truly present to ourselves and others.
This shift is a movement from an intellectual knowing of God to the experience of the God of Mystery, an engagement of the heart rather than the mind. We are being invited by our Creator to give great emphasis on setting aflame the creative spirit within each person, giving more time and space for experiencing the beauty of creation and exploring one’s talents and creativity.
We seek to develop a contemplative attitude that can listen to God’s voice in our lives, and discover the human face of Jesus in each person, particularly in those who are most vulnerable. It is imperative that we create a sacred space of dialogue with all, enabling attitudes of listening, respect, truthfulness, compassion, confidence, and growth to happen through healing and reconciling relationships.
Kenya, Congo, South Sudan, Uganda
Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion
Senegal, Burkina Faso
Belgium, France, Hungary, Netherlands
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Honduras
Brazil, Paraguay