By Sr. Joan of Arc, Communications Coordinator, Korea (Province of Northeast Asia)
The Province of Northeast Asia held its Province Assembly from September 16 to 17, 2025, at the Chuncheon Catholic Center in Korea, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of the Good Shepherd mission in the region.
This Assembly represented far more than reflection. As we examined our 18-year journey, received reports on the implementation of our 2019 Province Assembly resolutions, and engaged with the ongoing restructuring process, we witnessed a powerful response to the Congregational Call to Action for a New Governance Structure as we expressed our unanimous consent for forming a new Region, opening doors to a new future alongside our partners-in-mission.
A Legacy of Transformative Impact
The Northeast Asia Province, which encompasses Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, China, and Korea, has walked together since our first Provincial Assembly in 2007. Over the past 18 years, our mission has created a profound and lasting impact across these regions.
In Hong Kong, Marycove Centre and School, Our Lady’s Hostel, and Choi Wan Hostel have provided residential and educational services for girls facing behavioral challenges and family difficulties.
In Macau, the Good Shepherd Centre has sheltered women in crisis, while the Mutual Help Centre has supported single-parent families and tackled human trafficking.
In Taiwan, with 39 Service Centers nationwide, we have expanded from addressing teenage prostitution to offering comprehensive services for children, youth, women in crisis, single parents, new immigrant families, Aboriginal families, and anti-human trafficking efforts.
Meanwhile, in Korea, our network has included emergency hotlines, shelters for trafficked women, residential services for teenagers and single mothers, and innovative programs like Teen STAR sexuality education.
This extensive reach demonstrates how our zeal has consistently called us to respond to the most vulnerable in our communities.
Answering the Call for New Governance
Sr. Marie Stella Rhee, Province Leader of Northeast Asia, captured the spirit of our transformation in her words: “The regions of Korea and China have worked together as one Province, building a community in cooperation for 18 years. This Assembly is a time to give thanks, not only for the past six years, but also for the 18 years of our shared journey and growth. If there have been any pains, misunderstandings, or wounds during this time, may this gathering be a place of reconciliation. With gratitude for the past, may we open a new beginning toward the Region with hope.”
The Vital Role of Partners-in-Mission Moving Forward
Sr. Anya Borbon, our Assembly facilitator, highlighted what makes this transformation particularly promising, noting her inspiration from Korea’s Good Shepherd Mission Partner Formation Program, which is well-structured in terms of education and training, and offers real hope for the formation of partners-in-mission.
She expressed deep admiration for the vibrant mission unfolding in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, and shared her anticipation for us as we carry this mission forward with renewed joy and passion in the new Region.
Our partners-in-mission are not merely supporters but co-responsible collaborators who ensure mission continuity and expansion. In Taiwan, for example, 280 partners, including 39 center directors and supervisors, demonstrate the full engagement of partnership envisioned by Zeal Calls Us to Respond. This model of shared leadership, rooted in mission and values, provides a strong foundation for sustainable growth.
Opening Doors to Hope
As we transition from Province to Region, we embrace the principles that have guided the Good Shepherd mission since its founding: dignity, compassion and mercy, zeal and responsiveness, reconciliation, and justice and inclusion. This new regional structure will enhance these values through expanded partnerships that go beyond traditional charity models, focusing instead on inclusive, rights-based approaches.
A Blessing for the Future
We concluded our Assembly by blessing one another, recognizing that the blessings we have received over the past 18 years will extend into our new Region and the global Congregation. This blessing carries forward our commitment to being bearers of hope and life for women, girls, and children who face exploitation, abuse, and dehumanization.
The door we have opened leads not to an uncertain future but to expanded possibilities for living our mission with greater vitality, deeper collaboration, and renewed zeal.
As we step across this threshold, we carry the wisdom of our shared journey and the excitement of what lies ahead. Our 18-year journey has prepared us for this moment. Now, Zeal Calls Us to Respond to the opportunities that await us in our new regional structure, where we will continue building communities of hope, justice, and transformative love.
