By Jenny Beatrice, Director of Region Communications, US / Toronto Region
“We are committed to promoting equity, healing, and reconciliation within ourselves, our region, the world, and all creation to foster a universal culture of justice.” U.S | Toronto Vision Statement
The United States / Toronto Region marked an important moment in its shared journey on February 8, 2026, as the new Regional Leadership Team (RLT) officially began its leadership term.
The team members are Sister Maureen McGowan (regional leader), Sister Jude Ellen Golumbieski (contemplative councilor), and Sisters Gayle Lwanga Crumbley, Martha Patricia Escobar, and Mary Carol McClennon (regional councilors).
This “yes” called the leaders, along with the sisters, and the partners-in-mission to commit to carrying out, supporting, and promoting the Region’s Vision Statement and Call to Action to transform our structures to respond to the urgent needs of our world in service of the mission.
A Guiding Vision
The Vision Statement expresses the “why” of becoming a region. It goes beyond organizing structures and crunching numbers. It is about furthering the Good Shepherd mission from a place of abundance, with a zeal and collaboration to be witnesses of the great love of God.
As the region came together, the vision statement was developed early on to serve as a guide, an inspiration, and an aspiration for navigating a way forward. Common themes emerged, such as equity, belonging, justice, transformation, and collaboration. These themes were incorporated into the statement, making it a reflection of who we are and who we want to be.
The statement is more than a document. Sisters and partners-in-mission are continuing to pray with it, share it, and discuss it, gradually transforming our thinking, decisions, and behaviors.
Values in Action
As the leadership team begins its work, it carries this vision with intention in its planning and decision-making. But it was a casual interaction that presented an opportunity to put the vision and values into action. That opportunity arose during their first week in office in an unusual way.
During their first week in office, the team met, strategized, and planned their way forward. During their lunch break, the team sat with some members of the staff, discussing their recent projects and chatting about current events.
As staff members talked about securing a contract with a car rental company that allows sisters and staff to rent cars easily and economically on the region’s account, Sister Maureen shared her experiences at an educational event on the actions of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), the agency that is taking the lead in carrying out the Trump administration’s mass deportation initiative marked by unjust arrests, deportations and violence.
The conversations converged when Sister Maureen noted that the car rental company selected is the same car company that provided cars to ICE. The words of the vision came off the paper and into real-world application. With competing values at play, how will the team make such decisions?
The team decided that using the region’s financial resources for a corporation that supports ICE goes against the region’s Good Shepherd values, and that more research and a process for vetting companies the region works with are needed.
From Words to Witness
Moments like these remind us that a vision statement is not meant to remain on paper. It is meant to guide choices, shape priorities, and call us to integrity when decisions are complex.
As the United States / Toronto Region moves forward under new leadership, the commitment to equity, justice, and collaboration will continue to be tested and strengthened in real-world situations. By holding one another accountable to our shared values and allowing our mission to inform even practical decisions, we embody what it means to be drawn by love and impelled by zeal for the Good Shepherd mission.
