The Good Shepherd Sisters of Québec
Welcome to the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary also know as The Good Shepherd Sisters of Québec!
General House in the city of Québec, with Maison Bon-Pasteur in the background
Employed by the Congregation since 2009, coordinator of the Good Shepherd Affiliation and head of the Marie-Fitzbach Heritage Committee for several years, it is in this role that I am pleased to share with all readers of Living with Christ the history of this community. The Congregation of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, also known as the Good Shepherd Sisters of Québec, is the first religious community founded in Québec by a Québécoise: Marie-Josephte Fitzbach. From the beginning, the sisters focused their social and educational mission on marginalized women. Early on, they became involved in what would later become the field of social work, providing protection, guidance, and social rehabilitation to women and girls who were excluded from the social norms of the time. Over time, their mission diversified into a series of complementary initiatives and services, always focused on improving the living conditions of women. Inspired by their faith and desire to serve, they adapted their practices to compensate for the shortcomings of the public system, while integrating scientific advances in the fields of perinatal care and rehabilitation.
Nancy Fournier, M.A., C.Tr..
Community Assistant
Marie-Josephte Fitzbach, a woman of faith and compassion
Marie-Josephte Fitzbach
Marie-Josephte Fitzbach was born in Saint-Vallier de Bellechasse on October 16, 1806. She came from a modest family, lost her father in early childhood, and left home at age 13 to work as a domestic servant. From this early experience of work and poverty, she developed a profound sensibility to social inequality. Widowed at age 26 and mother of three daughters, she found herself in a precarious situation. Far from defeating her, widowhood became a decisive step that strengthened her faith and awakened her social vocation. At age 43, she founded the Good Shepherd Ministry and, a few years later, the Congregation of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She died in 1885, leaving behind a profound spiritual legacy. Throughout her life, she embodied compassion and determination. In 2012, she was declared venerable by the Catholic Church, and her work continues to shine as a living testimony to the Gospel.
Sisters in prayer at the chapel of Résidence St-Charles in Cap-Rouge (Québec)
A Congregation at the heart of the world for the past 175 years
On December 31, 1849, at the request of the Archbishop of Québec, Pierre Flavien Turgeon, and at the initiative of lawyer George Manly Muir, Marie Fitzbach answered God’s call and agreed to open a refuge for destitute women upon their release from prison. On January 12, 1850, she founded the social arm of the community, the Good Shepherd Ministry. On January 7, 1851, the educational arm took shape with the opening of two classrooms aimed at protecting children by providing them with a good education, both academic and spiritual. On February 2, 1856, Marie-Josephte Fitzbach and her first companions officially formed a religious community. As the first superior of this community, she took the name Mother Mary of the Sacred Heart when she took her vows. Over the decades, the community has expanded its work throughout Québec, Canada, the United States, Haiti, Brazil, Lesotho, and Rwanda. It has always sought to respond to the pressing needs of each era, particularly among women and young people in difficulty.
Today, although fewer, the Good Shepherd Sisters of Québec still carry on their work in these different countries, showing their love for the most vulnerable through their lives and actions. Their spiritual and human legacy lives on, driven by their faithfulness to the Gospel and a deep desire to serve.
Distribution of food and other products in Haiti.
Training session at the CIAME-Brazil Center (Integrated Center for Assistance to Women)
School for young shepherds, Lesotho
The charism of the Good Shepherd Sisters of Québec
The charism of the community finds its source in a deep compassion for women and young people in vulnerable situations. Inspired by the figure of the Good Shepherd, the sisters are called to communicate love and goodness as God wills.
Their mission is also rooted in the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a model of attentive listening and acceptance. This dual spiritual foundation inspires them to live a life of service marked by gentleness, patience, and respect for human dignity.
The charism of the Good Shepherd is therefore both spiritual and concrete: it is expressed in very human actions but deeply inspired by the Gospel. It continues to inspire those who collaborate with the community today, in a spirit of social justice, solidarity, and hope.
Presentation by Parks Canada of a plaque recognizing the national historic significance of the Good Shepherd Sisters of Québec, December 2, 2017
Contact Information
Address : 2550, rue Marie-Fitzbach, Québec (Québec) G1V 2J2
Website : https://sdbp.ca/accueil
Visits to the exhibition spaces are by appointment only: please contact us at 418-656-0650, ext. 2106