Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand today launched a prestigious annual award which will honour a worker, or associate, who best emulates the work of the Good Shepherd foundress St Mary Euphrasia. The announcement of the award comes on Good Shepherd Day (June 24), when four Good Shepherd Sisters first arrived in Australia in 1863.
The 2010 Spirit of St Mary Euphrasia Award will recognize a person or project that is working for a just and fair world and that seeks to create harmony through reconciliation. The award will celebrate and shine a light on the work of Good Shepherd in Australia and New Zealand 2010.
Mr Michael Yore, Director of Good Shepherd’s Mission & Justice Office in Melbourne said that although the number of Good Shepherd Sisters in Australia was decreasing, the organization was growing and attracting people who had a passion to work for justice.
Good Shepherd has agencies or offices in most states of Australia and New Zealand and is strengthening the social justice networks that link these organizations. Some of the most well known Good Shepherd initiatives include:
- Rosemount Good Shepherd Youth & family Services in Sydney.
- Good Shepherd Youth & family Services in Melbourne.
- The Trading Circle stores in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and New Zealand.
- St Clare’s School in Perth.
- NILS (No Interest Loans Scheme).
- Good Shepherd Aged Services.
“Good Shepherd Sisters first came to Australia in 1863 and since that time the Sisters and lay people have established important justice-centred organizations which provide services and advocate for those who are marginalized. This work will continue into the future because of the influence of the Sisters and the commitment of the hundreds of lay people employed by Good Shepherd and the many volunteers involved,” Mr Yore said.
The inaugural winner of the Spirit of St Mary Euphrasia Award will be announced at a national gathering of Good Shepherd people in Melbourne on September 28. Nominations opened today – June 24 and will close on July 29 2010. The award is open to any person who works for, or is associated with, Good Shepherd.
The winner of the Spirit of St Mary Euphrasia Award will be flown to the Good Shepherd Gathering Day on September 28 for the announcement.
For information contact: Michael Yore 03 9205 4120 or Rosie Hoban on 03 9205 4130 or 0431 471 046.
