By Good Shepherd International Foundation

After years of remote collaboration, Cristina Duranti, Director of Good Shepherd International Foundation (GSIF), and Bianca Rizzo, GSIF Fundraising Manager, recently visited Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd communities in Asia Pacific. From February 13 to 24, 2025, they traveled through Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei, and Singapore, meeting sisters and partners-in-mission to express gratitude for their generosity and to witness firsthand the transformative impact of Good Shepherd ministries.

Inspired by Saint Mary Euphrasia’s words — “If we uphold one another, we can work wonders” — this journey was a celebration of unity and shared mission.

Hong Kong: A Community Rooted in Service

The journey began at the Good Shepherd Convent in Aberdeen, Hong Kong, home to Marycove School and various residential services for vulnerable girls. These ministries, following a holistic, trauma-informed approach, provide education, psychosocial support, and family reintegration programs rooted in the Good Shepherd values of dignity and respect. Strengthening local connections, the sisters facilitated a visit to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church where Parish Priest Fr. Thomas Law invited Sr. Clare Sin and Cristina to share about the Good Shepherd mission.

Macau: Offering Shelter and Hope

In culturally diverse Macau, the team visited Good Shepherd ministries dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and abuse. The shelter and day center run by the sisters provide safety, support, and empowerment to women and children, fostering healing and raising awareness. During the visit Sr. Rosanna Hung shared her dream of establishing a comprehensive program consolidating the different Good Shepherd activities in the Greater China Bay Area and Cristina assured her of GSIF’s commitment to supporting this mission.

Taipei: A Model of Compassion and Innovation

In Taipei, the GSIF team was warmly welcomed by sisters, partners-in-mission, including the leadership team of the Good Shepherd Social Welfare Foundation. A leading service provider in Taiwan, the foundation operates centers across the island, offering state-of-the-art care for vulnerable children, youth, and women. Cristina and Bianca were particularly moved by the stories of the social workers who accompany the children who have found refuge and security in the safe houses.

A visit to the sisters’ convent allowed them to meet the pioneers of the Good Shepherd mission in Taiwan, Sr. Therese Thong and Sr. Fidelma Haverty. Bianca shared a heartfelt message from a family in the USA whose adoption Sr. Fidelma had facilitated many years ago, leaving her deeply touched. GSIF also expressed gratitude for Taiwan’s generous support of Good Shepherd missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Kenya, Madagascar, and Burkina Faso through GSIF, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Singapore: A Future-Focused Mission

The final stop in Singapore brought together sisters from Malaysia and Singapore, with partners-in-mission from Marymount Convent School, and Restful Waters. Joined by Onalie Da Silva, GSIF Asia Pacific Manager, Stella Avramopoulos, CEO of Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand and Theresa Symons, long-term mission partner of the Good Shepherd Sisters and former GSIF Asia Pacific Manager, the team engaged in valuable exchanges with school and facilities staff serving women and children. The GSIF team was inspired by the passionate commitment of the school’s leadership in upholding and interpreting the Good Shepherd values of zeal and compassion which, combined with robust professionalism, effectively communicate the Congregation’s mission to students and families from diverse cultural backgrounds.

A major highlight was the incredible support and generosity for GSIF’s new Children, Not Workers campaign, which aims to eradicate child labor, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking in Congo (DRC), Nepal, and Ecuador. Whether in Hong Kong or Singapore, the response to this campaign was deeply moving, with many attendees eager to contribute, learn more, and even take part in advocacy initiatives.

Province Leader Sr. Helena Vyatialingam expressed her gratitude and repeatedly remarked how impressed she has been to see how far “GSIF has been able to stretch the Singapore dollars donated over many years, to reach out to so many countries and support so many people in need”. Such donations have significantly contributed to support GSIF emergency appeals in Nepal or Lebanon and funded the start-up of new ministries in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A Journey of Gratitude and Renewal

 This visit reaffirmed the strength of the Good Shepherd global network and the profound generosity of sisters and partners-in-mission who extend compassion beyond borders. It was a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships and explore new pathways for global networking, reinforcing a shared sense of belonging to a mission of justice, love and compassion.

Across each community — from Hong Kong to Macau, Taipei, and Singapore — Cristina and Bianca encountered the same spirit, a shared heartbeat of zeal, compassion, generosity and commitment. Saint Mary Euphrasia’s legacy echoed powerfully: “One person is of more value than the whole world.” This spirit of global sisterhood continues to inspire, connect communities, and strengthen a mission that knows no boundaries.

Together, we connect, engage, and celebrate—united in our commitment to justice, love, and compassion!