Edited from an article by Sr. Jennifer Kay Thi Kyaw, Myanmar (Province of East Asia)
On March 12, 2026, sisters and partners-in-mission gathered in Yangon to celebrate 160 years of the Good Shepherd mission in Myanmar.
The history of this enduring presence began on February 8, 1866, when the first pioneering sisters from Angers, France, arrived in what was then known as Burma. Answering a request for help from Bishop Paul Ambrose Bigandet, the sisters encountered a country facing complex and deeply rooted challenges. Many communities lived in poverty, with limited access to education and basic services. Ongoing ethnic tensions, weak infrastructure, and recurring natural disasters made daily life especially difficult for the local population.
The mission faced significant hurdles in the 1960s when the government introduced a socialist system. The state nationalized Church-run schools, hospitals, and social services, ultimately forcing most missionaries to leave the country and weakening fragile systems of care. A decade later, in 1973, a small group of Good Shepherd sisters returned. Their re-entry was careful and modest, focusing primarily on supporting local Church life through catechesis and educational work.
Over the decades, the apostolic work of our sisters has continually evolved to meet the emerging needs of the most marginalized. Through a trinitarian blend of spirituality, advocacy, and action, our sisters and partners-in-mission have worked tirelessly to support vulnerable girls, women, and children.
Today, the impact of the Good Shepherd mission is carried forward by 48 sisters and hundreds of partners-in-mission. Our ministries provide basic healthcare services, residential programs for girls from low-income backgrounds, and day-care initiatives for children affected by HIV, including families struggling with substance dependency.
The scope of our Good Shepherd mission reaches deep into the community, offering a lifeline to women caught in exploitative circumstances, individuals vulnerable to la trata de personas, and children living on the streets. We maintain an active presence in prisons and engage in broader community programs, advocating for the respect of human dignity, equal rights for women, environmental responsibility, and peacebuilding. We also actively foster dialogue across religious traditions, particularly with the country’s Buddhist majority, helping to build essential understanding and cooperation in a diverse society.
Guided by the core values of justice, mercy, and human dignity, we zealously continue the work of these 160 years to bring healing and reconciliation to countless lives.
The recent jubilee gathering served not only as a reflection on this vast impact but also as a momentous occasion to look toward the future. The event was highlighted by the installation of Sister Assumpta Shwe as the new Local Leader of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Myanmar, serving as a symbol of spiritual continuity and community renewal.
With this 160-year milestone, the mission is stepping boldly into a new chapter as Myanmar moves forward as an integral part of an emerging new region in the Asia-Pacific. This regional integration will enhance our collaborative efforts and amplify the global impact of the Good Shepherd mission. Rooted in a rich heritage and united in faith, our sisters and partners-in-mission advance together with renewed zeal, remaining ever committed to being a reconciling presence for those who need it most.
Discover more about the Good Shepherd mission in Myanmar here
