October 7, 2026 Happy Birthday, Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd (Pastorelle), on your
88 years of life spent in pastoral service to the Church and the world!
Friends, relatives, and representatives of the Pauline Family joined us to celebrate this special occasion—marking both a congregational feast and religious profession anniversaries (the 25th, 60th, and 70th). These milestones were echoed in the words of our beloved Founder, who, as early as the 1950s, urged his spiritual sons and daughters to encapsulate their lives thus: “The past in a Deo Gratias; the future in an in te Domine speravi; and... always reaching forward.”
The Eucharistic Celebration began at the parish church of Maria Immacolata (Verona) with the singing of Veniamo da te, chiamati per nome (“We come to You, called by name...”). The Mass was presided over by Fr. Roberto Campostrini, joined by the parish priest, Fr. Giuseppe Lonardi, and our friend Fr. Umberto Benini, a Salesian. In his homily, Father Roberto—referring to the passage from the Acts of the Apostles presented by the liturgy for the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary—notes that the text describes the early Christian community living in a spirit of communion and prayer with the Mother of Jesus while awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit; yet, it also serves as a description of what the community of the Risen Lord’s disciples would eventually become.
"In this description," Father Roberto says, "we find a light to guide our path... [as seen in the] Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd, a congregation that embodies the characteristics of the early Christian community: the upper room—the Cenacle—which is the place of community, of the broken Bread, and of sharing. One might even say it is the parish in its embryonic stage—the place where the parish is born, nourished, finds its identity, and is formed. Furthermore, the text from Acts tells us that, together with Mary—the Mother of Jesus—the disciples persevered in prayer and lived in harmony. Father Roberto reflects on the nature of this perseverance... and recalls the single commandment given by Jesus: 'Love one another as I have loved you!' Just as the style of the believing community was one of fraternity, so the style of the religious community is one of sorority—of sisters sharing the same vocation and safeguarding a charism of gift and pastoral care. This fraternity is the first element Jesus entrusts to the community of disciples, and today, too, it defines the style of a community of sisters who together experience the joy of bearing witness to the Gospel of Christ..."
Then, addressing the sisters celebrating their jubilee, he invited them to recall the allure of that first gaze from the Good Shepherd of the sheep, to renew their "Here I am" with joy and gratitude, and—like Mary—to continue giving their lives completely to the One who first gave His life for all.
This was followed by a prayer of thanksgiving shared between the celebrant and the jubilarians for the gift of Consecrated Life, with the singing of the Magnificat marking the various stages of the service. The offertory hymn was particularly moving, affirming the sisters' "Here I am" and their vow to become "bread and wine"—offering their lives into His hands.
Finally, we gathered back at the house around the table of fellowship to offer refreshments to those who could stay with us, continuing the celebration of our 88 years!
Thank you, Father, for Your patient and merciful goodness as we prepare to continue our journey...
Sr Dina Ranzato
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