Edited from submissions by Sr. Julia Mary, Congregational Formation Office, Rome (Generalate)
The Transformational Leadership Program held at the Motherhouse brought together 53 sisters from across the world for a time of reflection, formation, spiritual growth, and renewed commitment to the Good Shepherd mission. Held from April 21 to May 4, 2026, the program was not simply a leadership course but a sacred and life-giving journey: an invitation to listen more deeply to God, to one another, and to the unfolding call of leadership in this time of transition within the Congregation.
The gathering opened with a welcome from Congregational Leader Sr. Joan Marie López, who thanked everyone for their generous “yes” to this journey of transformational leadership, especially during this important time of regionalization. She also expressed gratitude to Sr. Linda Buck, CSJ and Sr. Mumbi Kigutha, CPPS, and the facilitators for guiding this challenging and enriching formation process. Acknowledging the suffering of our world—war, displacement, fear, and brokenness—she invited all to listen to the cry of those who are vulnerable and ask themselves, “whose pain do I carry?”
Each day began with a grounding ritual, offering the sisters a moment to become still, reconnect with themselves and with God, and prepare their hearts for the work of the day. These moments reminded participants that transformational leadership is not only about developing capacities, but also about deepening one’s inner life, listening with the heart, and learning to lead from a place of rootedness and peace.
For many participants, the call to attend was rooted in a longing to serve with greater authenticity, wisdom, and love. Sr. Bernadetta from Burkina Faso expressed this clearly: “What inspired me to participate in this transformational leadership training is the joy of encounter, the joy of being with my sisters, and the desire to develop my leadership so that I can truly be myself, serve better, and respond more effectively to the needs of my brothers and sisters in my community, in my Congregation, and in the mission.” She added that she felt the need “to develop attentive listening before responding, to grow in self-awareness, and to build trust in myself and in others.”
This intercultural dimension of the gathering meant sisters from different regions and backgrounds came together with their own histories, struggles, and hopes, and, in doing so, experienced the shared journey of the Congregation more profoundly. Sr. Jossie Sili from Malaysia reflected, “Learning alongside participants from diverse regions and backgrounds has been a deeply enriching experience. Despite the diversity of our contexts, I have come to see that our experiences, like our struggles, challenges, and desire for growth, are quite similar.”
She added that the openness and sincerity of the sharing created “a space of trust and mutual enrichment, where each story carried meaning and depth.” Listening to others helped her see her own journey within a wider context and internalize more fully “the call to leadership during this time of transition toward regionalization within the Congregation.”
The universality of the Good Shepherd mission and the beauty of a Congregation rooted in many cultures yet united by one charism became perhaps most apparent on the Feast of St. Mary Euphrasia as the sisters gathered for a cultural evening, sharing the richness of their different countries, traditions, and languages through songs, stories, and dance.
The pilgrimage experiences to Noirmoutier and Caen connected the participants with the living history and spirituality of the Congregation. Sr. Sobia from Pakistan described the visits as “especially enriching, as it renewed my spirit through the zeal and vision of St. Mary Euphrasia and St. John Eudes. Their lives continue to offer a rich and inspiring spirituality for our mission today.” She described the experience of journeying with participants and facilitators as one in which “I truly felt the Holy Spirit moving among us.”
Another recurring theme was communication. Leadership in the Good Shepherd mission is always relational, and many sisters named listening as a central area of transformation. Sr. Nancy Wanjiru Kamande from the Eastern Central Africa Province reflected honestly on how the program helped her become more aware of her communication style. “The training has influenced the way I listen to others,” she shared. “At the soft skills level, I am able to listen more attentively. To be present to the other as the person speaks, to be non-judgmental.” Through the program, she learned to “navigate differences,” to remain calm, to use “I” statements, and to build trust in conversation.
The fruits of the program are already being translated into concrete commitments for the future. Sr. Rosary Perera from Sri Lanka said, “I have come to understand that leadership is not merely about leading people, but about nurturing relationships. As I am called to be a prophetic leader, I am invited to be a living witness to this call—to truly ‘walk the talk.’” For her, this will require openness to the perspectives of others, attentive listening, and the daily practice of nonviolent communication.
What emerged most powerfully from the sisters’ reflections was that this journey was not primarily about leadership as a role, function, or office. It was about inner transformation. Again and again, participants spoke of leadership as something rooted in prayer, presence, relationship, discernment, and integrity. Sr. Alfonsa from Indonesia described the experience as far more than training: “For me, this experience has been much more than leadership training. It has been an inner journey. It has invited me not only to think about what I do as a leader, but to reflect more deeply on who I am becoming as a leader.”
This same insight was echoed by Sr. Juana Julia Plascencia from Mexico, in the new Northern Latin America Region, who reflected on leadership as something inseparable from personal growth and spiritual depth. “It is clear to me that I live my leadership from who I am, with my strengths and my shadows, and that I cannot lead beyond my own development,” she said. “I have felt how God calls me ‘to be the leader I am meant to be,’ and this gives me security, brings me joy, and encourages me.”
Personal transformation was also named by Sr. Apinya from Thailand. She described the program as a shift in the way she sees herself, relates to others, and understands leadership. “I have learned that leadership is not about being perfect but about being more aware, grounded, and connected with others,” she said. The program also changed her understanding of leadership as stewardship. “I now see it as a way of leading that is grounded in awareness, responsibility, and care for others rather than control or authority.” This shift from control to care, from reaction to response, and from authority to responsibility became one of the strongest fruits of the program.
The program culminated on May 4 with a closing ritual, a final moment of gratitude, blessing, and sending forth. It marked not an ending, but a beginning. As the sisters prepared to return to their communities, provinces, regions, and ministries, they carried with them not only new concepts, but a renewed way of being: more prayerful, more grounded, more courageous, more collaborative, and more open to the transforming work of God.
For Contemplative Sr. Manel from Kenya, the most helpful aspect of the program was “the invitation, as a leader, to become more fully human by integrating the values of the Gospel and the life of Jesus.” She added that the session called her “to lead by example, following the spirit of St. Mary Euphrasia.”
Sr. Alfonsa expressed this hope with particular clarity: “What I hope to put into practice is to bring this learning into wherever my mission will be through deeper communal discernment, shared responsibility, and responsible stewardship rooted in our charism. I want to lead in a way that creates space for others to contribute, grow, and flourish.” She continued, “And perhaps most importantly, I want to practice leading from presence rather than urgency, from trust rather than control, and from hope rather than fear.”
In this sense, the Transformational Leadership Program in Angers has planted seeds that will continue to grow far beyond the gathering itself. As Sr. Alfonsa concluded, “I leave this experience encouraged and renewed, with a deeper conviction that when we allow ourselves to be transformed, our leadership can become more life-giving for others.”
