Edited from a submission by Sr. Beena Jose, Communication Coordinator, India (Province of Southwest India – Bangalore)
On July 31, 2026, Good Shepherd Convent High School in Mysuru celebrated one hundred years of service to generations of girls and young women. The centenary recalled not only the development of the school, but also the courage and conviction of the sisters who had first arrived in India in 1854.
When the school was founded in 1926, Mysore was a princely state under the Wodeyar dynasty, whose rulers invested in universities, industry, and public health. However, formal education remained beyond the reach of much of the population, particularly girls and children from families experiencing poverty.
In this context, education was more than academic instruction. It expressed the Good Shepherd conviction that “one person is of more value than a world” and that every girl possesses a dignity worthy of recognition. Opening the classroom to girls whose opportunities were limited was an investment in their abilities and their future.
Over the following century, the school continued to develop. A high school was established in 1943, followed later by a Kannada-medium middle school for girls at the parish’s request. Today, the institution educates more than 2,000 students, many from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities and families facing significant hardship.
This commitment reflects the wider development of the Good Shepherd mission in India. From its early work in education, health, and residential care, the mission expanded into rural areas to promote the rights and development of Dalit and tribal communities.
The school’s approach to education extends beyond examinations. It seeks to help students become intellectually alert, emotionally balanced, morally sound, spiritually grounded, physically fit, culturally enriched, and socially committed. Academic study is complemented by the National Cadet Corps, the Interact Club, and cultural and environmental activities that encourage students to take responsibility within their communities. Girls who might have left school early are supported to consider higher education, vocational training, and futures previously closed to them.
Around 830 students, parents, alumni, and friends joined the recent centenary celebration. Her Highness Mrs. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, the Maharani of Mysuru, recalled the longstanding relationship between the Royal Family and the Good Shepherd sisters, including the sisters’ former role in teaching music to members of the royal household. Rev. Dr. Francis Saravo, Bishop of Mysore, served as chief guest, joined by Sr. Lissy Chacko, Province Leader of the South West India Province, and alumnus Dr. Javeed Nayeem.
Prayer, culture, and gratitude shaped the celebration. Students presented a prayer dance, a mosaic of Indian dance traditions, and “The Shepherdess’ Heart for the World,” a dramatization of the life and vision of St. Mary Euphrasia.
The centenary followed another important milestone. In April 2026, following an eight-year process interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the community blessed and opened new pre-university and administration buildings. The pre-university block provides girls with a stronger bridge to further study at a decisive stage in their education.
The buildings may be newer and the classrooms fuller, but the conviction at the heart of the school remains unchanged: education can transform unjust systems, and every girl deserves the opportunity to recognize her worth, develop her strengths, and shape a better future for herself, her family, and her community.
