Province Leader
Sr. Lissy Chacko, RGS
Guides the Good Shepherd Sisters South West India Province from Shanthi Nilaya in Bengaluru, ensuring that every ministry reflects merciful love and reconciliation.
About Us
About Good Shepherd Sisters - South West India Province
Meet the South West India Province of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (RGS), an international community of Catholic women religious present in 72 countries.
The Good Shepherd Sisters South West India Province belongs to a global, UN-recognized congregation of Catholic women religious whose charism is merciful love and whose mission is reconciliation.
Saint Mary Euphrasia sent five Sisters to Bengaluru in 1854; today fifteen communities across Karnataka, Kerala, and New Delhi continue that heritage by upholding the dignity and human rights of women, girls, and families living on the margins.
Drawn by Love, Passionate for Justice, we partner through education, health care, residential care, social action, safeguarding, and formation so that every person may have life to the full.
Who We Are
Centuries of merciful love and reconciliation.
The Good Shepherd Sisters South West India Province is part of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (RGS), a community of more than 3,300 sisters serving in 72 countries. Our spiritual heritage began in seventeenth-century France and took root in India in 1854 when the first sisters arrived in Bengaluru.
Across Karnataka, Kerala, and New Delhi, we live the chapter invitation Drawn by Love, Passionate for Justice by collaborating with mission partners, benefactors, and families so that every person may experience safety, inclusion, and a future filled with hope.
Charism of merciful love
We follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by welcoming those who have been excluded and by becoming a reconciling presence in every community we serve.
Mission of reconciliation
We promote the dignity and human rights of women, girls, and children, working with partners to transform unjust systems across society.
Apostolic and contemplative life
Apostolic sisters accompany communities in ministries while contemplative sisters sustain the mission through prayer, intercession, and gospel simplicity.
Global advocacy and accountability
The congregation has special consultative status with the United Nations (ECOSOC), ensuring that voices from the margins inform global policy conversations.
1641
Roots in 17th-century France
St. John Eudes (1601-1680) founded the Order of Our Lady of Charity in Caen, France to accompany women and girls seeking refuge and new beginnings.
1829
Saint Mary Euphrasia expands the mission
Mary Euphrasia Pelletier founded the Good Shepherd community in Angers, France, igniting a global missionary spirit rooted in merciful love.
1835
Generalate approved
Pope Gregory XVI approved the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd with a central generalate so that missions could respond quickly to new appeals.
1854
Mission reaches India
Saint Mary Euphrasia sent five Sisters to Bengaluru at the request of Bishop Charbonneau, planting the roots of the Good Shepherd mission in India.
1866
Congregation goes global
By the late nineteenth century, Good Shepherd foundations spanned Europe, the Americas, and Asia, each shaped by the needs of local communities.
1940
Canonization of St. Mary Euphrasia
Pope Pius XII canonized St. Mary Euphrasia, honoring her leadership in founding 110 houses by the time of her death in 1868.
1969
One international congregation
The congregation embraced the official name 'Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd', expressing a unified, international identity.
2014
Family reunited
The remaining communities of the Order of Our Lady of Charity reunited with the Good Shepherd Sisters, weaving together two branches of the same spiritual heritage.
Looking for more? Visit the Founders & Heritage page to explore the stories of St. John Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia in depth.
Mission Footprint
Ministries of the Good Shepherd Sisters South West India Province.
The province accompanies women, girls, and families across Karnataka, Kerala, and New Delhi through education, health care, residential care, social action, and ongoing formation. Every programme is rooted in the charism of merciful love and the mandate to uphold human rights.
Education and formation
Good Shepherd School Bengaluru, Sacred Heart Girls' High School, St. Philomena's in Ballari, and our Premanjali and Jeevan Jyothi formation houses nurture girls, young women, and future sisters with holistic education.
Healing and protective care
St. Martha's Hospital, Respect for Life initiatives, hostels for students and working women, homes for unwed mothers, and crisis response shelters ensure that safety, dignity, and healing are within reach.
Justice, partnerships, and safeguarding
Social Action Ministry groups accompany self-help collectives, anti-trafficking networks, and rural development programmes, while the CHALICE Sponsorship serves 1,500+ families and safeguarding focal persons remain on call.
Since 1854
Fifteen communities accompany survivors of trafficking, students, migrants, and rural families so that each person may have life to the full.
Safeguarding focal team: goodshepheredswisafe@gmail.com | +91 94498 65413
Our Presence in South West India
Grounded in Karnataka, Kerala, and New Delhi.
From the first foundation in Bengaluru in 1854, the Good Shepherd Sisters South West India Province has grown into a network of 15 communities and ministries serving urban and rural neighborhoods alike. Apostolic sisters animate education, health, residential care, and social action, while contemplative sisters support the mission with prayer and hospitality.
In 2013 the India-Nepal unit was restructured into two provinces--South West India and Central East India/Nepal--to respond more closely to local realities. The Provincialate is located at Shanthi Nilaya, 12 Cornwell Road, Bengaluru 560025 (Phone: 080-2214131 | Email: rgsindia1854@gmail.com).
15
Communities in SWI
134 (116/18)
Sisters (apostolic/contemplative)
1500+
Families reached via CHALICE
Safeguarding focal persons can be reached at goodshepheredswisafe@gmail.com for immediate assistance regarding children and adults at risk.
Map placeholder showing Karnataka, Kerala, and New Delhi pins.
Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Good Shepherd Provincialate, Shanthi Nilaya
- Museum Road, Priyadarshini, and St. Martha's Hospital communities
- St. Michael's Convent and allied outreach
Rest of Karnataka
- Ballari
- Mysuru
- Manvi (Raichur District)
- Madalur Mission
- Sandanapalya (Chamarajanagar)
- Moodbidri (D.K.)
Kerala
- Thaikkattussery (Thrissur)
- Wayanad (Vaduvanchal)
- Vizhinjam Mission
National Outreach
- Good Shepherd presence in New Delhi (Safdarjung Enclave)
- Collaborations with CEIN Province for shared missions
Looking for a specific location or ministry contact- Visit the Contact page for province and community details.
Leadership
Co-responsible leadership rooted in the Good Shepherd charism.
The Good Shepherd Sisters are governed at multiple levels. Internationally, the Congregational Leadership Team offers direction from Rome. Locally, the South West India Province is led by a Province Leadership Team (PLT) that brings together apostolic and contemplative sisters to animate mission, formation, finance, partnerships, and safeguarding priorities.
Each community has a local leader who collaborates with mission partners, benefactors, and civic networks so that the charism is lived faithfully in urban centers, rural missions, hospitals, schools, and social action hubs.
Council and Commissions
Province Leadership Team
Apostolic and contemplative sisters steward province commissions for Education, Health, Residential Care, Social Action, Justice and Peace, Finance, Communications, Formation, and Safeguarding.
Community Leadership
Local Coordinators and Partners-in-Mission
Local leaders such as Sr. Shiny Joseph (Provincialate), Sr. Hilda John (Mysuru), Sr. Sunitha Jaikar (Moodbidri), Sr. Kalia Selvi (Manvi), and Sr. Premila Danappa (Madalur) collaborate with lay partners to animate ministries on the ground.
Provincialate contact
- Address: Good Shepherd Provincialate, Shanthi Nilaya, 12 Cornwell Road, Bengaluru 560025, Karnataka
- Phone: +91 80 2214 131
- Fax: +91 80 2221 4832
- Email: rgsindia1854@gmail.com
Province Leadership Team
The PLT convenes commissions for Education, Health, Residential Care, Social Action Ministry, Justice and Peace, Finance and Administration, Communications, Formation, Mission Development, and Safeguarding so that every apostolate is accountable and future ready.
Partners-in-Mission receive formation and support to share co-responsibility for these ministries alongside the sisters.
View community contactsFor safeguarding concerns, please write to goodshepheredswisafe@gmail.com or reach the focal team listed on the Contact page.
Go Deeper
Continue your journey.
History & Timeline
Explore key milestones from 1641 to today, including the sisters' arrival in India in 1854.
Visit page ->Leadership Team
Meet the Province Leader, Leadership Team, commissions, and safeguarding contacts for South West India.
Visit page ->Founders & Heritage
Meet St. John Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia and discover the charism they entrusted to us.
Visit page ->Stay Connected
We invite you to explore our mission, history, and the ways we strive to make a difference.
Looking to collaborate or discern a vocation? Reach the Provincialate via the Contact page or visit Formation & Vocations to take the next step.