“What are we doing in this world, and why are we here, if not to contribute to the well-being of our neighbors?” ~ Saint Mary Euphrasia

More than 300 supporters gathered in Massachusetts, USA, on May 19, 2026, for Fashion for Compassion, the annual fundraising gala benefiting Maria Droste Counseling Services (MDCS).

Founded in 1992 by Good Shepherd Sister Joanne Westwater, MDCS continues a mission first inspired by St. Mary Euphrasia, one of the founders of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (OLCGS). Guided by the belief that “a person is of more value than a world,” the organization provides professional mental health counseling and holistic therapies to all who seek care, regardless of their ability to pay.

The evening reflected the living spirit of the Good Shepherd mission; a mission carried forward today throughout the U.S. | Toronto Region, and around the world through over 400 ministries which serve girls, women, children, and their families experiencing vulnerability, trauma, poverty, and injustice.

Events like Fashion for Compassion are more than celebrations or fundraisers. They are vital opportunities to sustain our Good Shepherd ministries. Through the generosity of donors, sponsors, volunteers, and partners-in-mission, organizations like MDCS can continue to remove barriers to mental health care and offer hope to those who need it most.

In 2025 alone, MDCS provided more than 7,000 counseling sessions and waived over $350,000 in client fees. More than 85 percent of clients received services at a reduced rate — ensuring compassionate care remains accessible.

Executive Director Michael Shanahan (pictured), the organization’s first lay leader, welcomed guests and reflected on the community that continues to sustain the mission. Throughout the evening, speakers shared deeply personal stories that highlighted the urgent need for accessible mental health services and the life-changing impact that our ministry has on those we serve.

Board member Karen Donnellan offered a moving reflection on her 400-mile pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in memory of her brother Robert (both pictured), whose life was lost to suicide in 2023.

«Robert was not a broken man,” Karen shared. “He was a brilliant, funny, fiercely loved human being who simply could not find his way to the help he needed. »

Former WBZ-TV and WCVB-TV news anchor Liam Martin (pictured) delivered the evening’s keynote address, speaking candidly about his own mental health journey and his decision to leave broadcasting in order to seek treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

«The strongest thing a person can do is ask for help,” Martin recalled his wife telling him during one of the most difficult moments in his life.

His testimony reflected the very heart of MDCS’s mission: acceptance, respect, compassion, and healing. These values, cultivated by OLCGS for generations, remain central to the organization’s work today.

That spirit was tangible throughout the evening as sisters, partners-in-mission, staff, volunteers, and supporters came together to celebrate their shared mission.

Sr. Elish McPartland, who has been providing holistic therapies, including massage therapy, craniosacral therapy, polarity, and reiki, at MDCS since 1994 said: “As I listened to the speakers and looked at the number of partners-in-mission and their zealous spirit, so tangible in the room, I was filled with hope and joy knowing that the mission of MDCS will go forward into the future. »

The evening concluded with a colorful fashion show as nearly 30 volunteer models took to the catwalk wearing designs from George & Dino, Pattee Silver Designs, and Lululemon.

Yet at its heart, Fashion for Compassion was a reflection of something much deeper: a living mission sustained by zeal, strengthened through partnership, and carried forward by people committed to bringing hope to life.

Through gatherings like this, the ministries of the U.S. | Toronto Region continue the legacy of St. Mary Euphrasia and St. John Eudes — ensuring that those seeking healing are met not with judgment or barriers, but with dignity, zeal, and love.

Since its founding in 1992, Maria Droste has been “bringing hope to life,” guided by its mission statement: “to provide professional mental-health counseling and holistic therapies that are compassion-based and affordable to ALL in need.” Learn more about the ministry here: www.mariadrostecounseling.com