History

Marymound and the Sisters of the Good Shepherd History

The Sisters of the Good Shepherd first came to Winnipeg in 1911 at the invitation of Judge Thomas Daly, who was seeking an alternative to prison for young women and girls he encountered in his court. Many of these young women were not “bad,” but were unwed mothers or women living in poverty. Knowing of the Sisters’ work in Montreal, where they had been established since 1844, he recognized their zeal for helping the unfortunate and the commitment and skill he knew was needed.

In April 1911, five Sisters of the Good Shepherd came from Montreal to Winnipeg. Marymound was established in its present location on the west bank of the Red River in West Kildonan that fall.

In the early to mid-20th century, up to 100 girls lived on Scotia Street, in St. Agnes Priory or Marymound, two halves of the current administrative building. Today, Marymound has facilities throughout Winnipeg and in Thompson, Manitoba and serves 3,000 young people (male and female) and their families annually.

Although the Sisters returned to their home back east in June 2014, Marymound strives to remain true to the values and standards of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and follow the example they set for compassion, zeal and reconciliation.

They have shown us that “one person is of more value than a world.”

The Sisters of the Good Shepherd

The Sisters of the Good Shepherd form one international congregation ministering in 71 countries on five continents. In the United States, the Sisters are spread from east to west in 23 states and also are in Canada. Founded over two hundred years ago in Angers, France, by St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier who believed that God is like a compassionate Shepherd whose love for all is boundless, Good Shepherd Sisters respond to a call to reach out to everyone and help awaken in all peoples a sense of each one’s unique worth and inestimable value.

For more information about the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, click here.

HandCrafting Justice

HandCrafting Justice is a nonprofit sponsored by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd that works internationally to promote economic justice through marketing Fair Trade crafts made by women in the developing world. They work in over 20 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, but with a mission to advocate for the dignity and right to succeed for struggling communities.

For more information on HandCrafting Justice, click here.