The ministry continues

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From 1850, Marie-Josephte Fitzbach and her Collaborators showed love and goodness by receiving women known at the time as “lost sheep.” That is why, even before being established as a religious community, the devoted Foundress and her first companions were called “Good Shepherd Sisters” by the people of Quebec City.

As soon as they became a religious community in 1856, the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, also known as the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec, saw their ranks increase gradually and the effects of their goodness spread. And so, whether in Quebec, the USA, Africa, Haiti or Brazil, the Congregation assists women in difficulty and their children through its social works.

The Good Shepherd Sisters likewise became known for their teaching. As of 1851, they opened classes to admit little girls from poor families. Their educational work spread rapidly. Teaching arts and music has also been part of the excellent reputation of the Good Shepherd Sisters in the field of education.

Today, the Congregation continues to communicate her charism of love and goodness through its involvement in various organizations in Quebec and in other countries where the sisters are present.
 

Founded in 1984, Maison Zoé-Blais was born from the urgency of meeting the needs of families in difficulty, particularly in Vanier — at the time Quebec-West. Zoé Blais, who became Mother Saint-Joseph, was one of the first collaborators of Marie-Josephte Fitzbach and devoted herself to women in difficulty from the earliest days of the community. In 1984, Sister Liliane Delisle, in collaboration with the congregation, worked to establish a day center for single-parent or low-income women. In 1997, the house welcomed a growing number of immigrants who came to settle in the region. The organization has diversified its mandate to help women in recent years in order to adapt to this new reality.

To support women in difficulty, Maison Zoé-Blais offers a food counter and locker room service. To be eligible, beneficiaries must register and participate in one of the house's free activities. Sewing, knitting, weaving, DIY and cooking workshops are, for example, organized every week. The organization also offers a French workshop as well as a citizenship exam preparation workshop, training that appeared following the increase in the ratio of immigrants benefiting from the activities. A daycare service is also offered, with women having the option of leaving their children there during the workshops. Having registered and participating in the classes, women can take advantage of the food assistance service and the locker room every Wednesday. Accompanied by volunteers, they choose fruits, vegetables, food and clothing. Activities such as a corn roast, parties for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Carnival, a craft show, a volunteer dinner and an outing to the sugar shack are organized occasionally during the year.

Finally, it is important that each woman requesting the services of Maison Zoé-Blais can be warmly welcomed. The staff at the house have been working for several years to provide a place of healing and a better, more promising future for these women. Their daily actions often appear decisive for the families supported by the organization. Some who have benefited from the good services of Maison Zoé-Blais return to thank the employees and volunteers and share their journey. Activities and workshops are not only ideal means of promoting the talent and creativity of each person, but also present themselves as vectors of integration, exchanges and meetings.

Aware of the lack of succession, the high average age of their members and the possible slowing down of their practices and social works, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd of Quebec work in close collaboration with a team of volunteers. Their dedication is essential to the survival of a work such as Maison Zoé-Blais. Although most of the volunteers are retired, the congregation hopes that their work can ensure the continuity of the work and transmit its values. The acquisition of greater autonomy among the women who came to seek help, their progress and the satisfaction brought by human contact are all factors which allow the volunteers involved to flourish while helping others.

 Education was added to the initial ministry. On January 7, 1851, Marie-Josephte Fitzbach opened two classes, one in French, the other in English.
Encouraged by Msgr. Charles-Félix Cazeau, chaplain at the Good Shepherd Mother House, many pastors in the countryside asked to have teaching sisters in their parishes. That is how, in 1860, a group of sisters left for Fraserville (Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec). The era of the “missions” had just begun.
The Congregation opened its first Teacher Training School in Chicoutimi in 1907 because teachers were very much needed in that region. 

 In the mid-1900s, three schools of Home Economics, acknowledged for their specialty programs, became homemaking institutions (Instituts familiaux) where young women were prepared for their future role as wives and mothers.

About 1950, pastors and school boards in the Abitibi Region, the Lac St-Jean Region and the city of Matane and surrounding areas in Quebec, and even in the Province of British Columbia, likewise asked the Congregation for teachers in elementary schools and high schools in their parishes. But in 1964, a newly-formed education department (ministère de l’Édication) changed the entire school system. The sisters continued to teach in elementary schools in villages and many helped with the pastoral ministry as resident priests left the parishes. Some sisters were mandated by the diocese as pastoral ministers. Others adapted to the new polyvalente high schools, the Cégeps junior colleges, and the universities, and served as principals, teachers, and pastoral leaders.
 

Far from extinguishing their lamp, the sisters today kindle many fires of faith education through parish ministries such as preparation for the sacraments, the Lambs of Jesus Movement, youth accompaniment, and faith reflection groups.

The teaching sisters have left elementary and high schools, but they continue their outreach to individuals and groups by teaching French and English to immigrants and giving Tai-Ji courses.