By Good Shepherd Asia Pacific Educators (GSAP EDU) Committee

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

(John 15:11)

With great stirs within and ‘disturbed hearts,’ energized by the soft whispers and conversations in the Spirit,  challenged to make the inner shift, joyfully connected as one Good Shepherd family, we are part of a new movement rising, birthing new ways to respond to the mission!

A sight to behold when we – 46 of us, leaders and educators across Good Shepherd Asia-Pacific schools and colleges from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore gathered together from January 19 to 24, 2025, at the Fr Ray Redemptorist Centre in Pattaya, Thailand for the first part of a year-long journey of co-learning.

This transformative experience offered a platform to enhance leadership, network with fellow educators, and work towards creating “One Education Community that embodies the Good Shepherd charism and identity with Justice at the core of education.”

We are grateful to Paula Sgherza for her able facilitation and Jamie Sgherza for his invaluable technical support. The presence of Congregational Leader Sr. Joan Marie Lopez and Congregational Councilor Sr. Josita Corera, together with Sisters Alfonsa Sudaryanti, Susan Montano, and Pushpa Louis, has been indeed very supportive and enriching for the participants.

Listening to the voices of the edges, the educators were awakened to the realities that call for a shift in the educational landscape, starting from individual to collective.

“See me, not my grades!”                                “Embrace and celebrate diversity!”

“We want to be listened to!”                          “Our wellbeing matters!”

“I want to feel safe and welcome!”

Theresa Symons challenged the group to recognize our mindsets and examine whether we were operating from a fixed, growth, or benefit mindset as educational leaders in our system. The sessions with Sr. Michelle Lopez opened our eyes, minds, and hearts to dare to be vulnerable and shift from solo leadership to a collaborative model in the spirit of synodality.

The group was led to discover their personality type and this awareness was further deepened by Dr. Jo Tondo who unraveled an understanding of power and hierarchy and its impact on how we wear the garment of justice… joyfully,  in our schools and system.  Steve Rocha’s session ‘adJUSTed’ offered an opportunity to check the human rights temperature in our school system and the journey towards embedding justice in the curriculum.

The participants will continue to remain connected with their trust buddies, their monthly coaching circles as well as the Zoominars on the last Wednesday of every month, starting from February 26 (2-4 pm IST).

The Good Shepherd Asia Pacific Educators  (GSAP EDU)  Committee will hold the space and provide mentorship support since the program calls for deeper engagement in the fields of conversation to bridge the knowing-doing-being gap at the local and systemic level.

SOMETHING HAS SHIFTED!

Some reflections from the participants:

“I recognize where I am on the Fields of Conversation and where I need to be”

“The seeds of change and life are to be cultivated continuously with our giftedness and vulnerabilities so that together we form one school community with justice at the core”

“Effective leadership is not about managing others, but about cultivating joy, purpose and meaning in both the leader as well as the team”

“Empowerment through the journey of self-awareness!”

“I start with myself, I am ready for the shift, I am the change maker!”

“I need to use my power consciously, to listen with my heart, dare to be vulnerable

and simply love – this is justice in education”

“It’s not about ME as a leader, it’s about WE as catalysts of change!”

”Joy of Educational Leadership, a great beginning to powerful transformation

in Good Shepherd Education.“

GSAP Educators Committee

Amor Borbon (Philippines),  Geraldine Roberts (Singapore),

Sr. Arabella (Philippines /Japan),  Onalie De Silva (GSIF – AP),

Sr. Alexandra (Sri Lanka/ Pakistan),  Sr. Pushpa Louis (CEIN – APC Link person),

Sr. Beena (SW India),  Sashi Natarajan (CEIN – Chairperson),

Sr. Dilrukshika (Sri Lanka/ Pakistan),  Sushma Stevens (SW India),

Sr. Fransiska (Indonesia),  Theresa Symons (Malaysia)

“Justice is the Garment we wear.”

Read more about the event here: https://goodshepherdsisters.info/index.php/2025/01/27/justice-is-the-garment-we-wear-ap-educators-gathering