Rose Virginia Pelletier, born July 31, 1796 in
Noirmoutier, a remote island off the coast of France,
knew very early that life was difficult. Because her
parents practiced their faith, the family suffered exile
and agony during the French Revolution. Rose was
orphaned early. She had a difficult adolescence. But
even as grief was an early companion, Rose Virginie
also learned quickly that countless obstacles can
propel the human spirit to cling to the Divine enabling it to go through the doors of death to rise to new life

By 1868, Rose Virginia, now Sister Mary Euphrasia, re-organized a women's religious congregation
dedicated to assisting women and girls. She founded
another community for women who wanted to have a
loving relationship with God in a contemplative life-
style and would support by their ministry of prayer the
different works of the Congregation. Several lay
groups were formed to push forward the many projects aimed at helping girls and women better their
condition. Given a universal thrust, her congregation of
the Good Shepherd established centers of
compassion through 110 communities in 35 countries.

Today. Saint Mary Euphrasia's sisters and associates
carry on her work in 68 countries, a work that
continues because it is fuelled from a life of prayer.

I did not possess riches, talents or any
exterior attraction, but I always
loved...and I loved with all the strength
of my soul."

St. M. Euphrasia Pelletier