During the week of May 27th, 2024, Good Shepherd Ministries was honoured to welcome Brother Joseph Smith, OH, General Councillor. During Br. Joseph’s multi-day visit he met with many of our coworkers, volunteers and clients and was given extensive tours of the many facilities and programs that we have available for the homeless community. He was briefed on our strategic plan and the important projects we look forward to undertaking in the coming months and years to address the needs of the most vulnerable in our society.
We are thankful for the opportunity to showcase how we provide hospitality to the vulnerable members of our community in the manner of St John of God.
What is a Canonical Visitation?
A Canonical Visit is a visitation by a Religious Brother representing the International Leadership of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God to the local provinces of the Order and their missions. Its main purpose is to shepherd the flock through dialogue, fellowship, and solidarity. The visitation serves as an invitation for both the Local Hospitaller Brothers and the Co-workers of the Brothers to renew their commitment to the mission, while also encouraging and inviting them to safeguard and cultivate the values of Hospitality, Quality, Respect, Responsibility, and Spirituality.
Brother Joseph Smith
Born at Newcastle (Australia), 5th September 1954. Temporary profession 31st August 1975 and solemn profession 6th September 1981. Provincial of the Australian Province from 1992 to 1998. Appointed as Regional Delegate for Asia-Pacific and North America from 2012 to 2019. Elected Councillor General on 29th January 2019 at the General Chapter held in Rome, Italy.
Feastday: 19th March
Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God
Our Hospitaller Order is present day in 50 countries in all five continents, with about 400 Apostolic Centres.
We have received as our legacy the Charism of Hospitality, we devote ourselves as our mission, following the example of our Founder, to the sick and to those who are suffering. In the way we live and act we manifest our spirituality.
In addition to the Brothers, we have 63.076 professional co-workers incorporated to our mission with an employment contract, and another 23.049 volunteers as well as an army of benefactors who have faith in a project, and support us by providing us with resources.
With our personnel and volunteers, we endeavoured to share the criteria according to which we strive to perform our mission, and our values and institutional project, respecting the identity of every individual.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ORDER HERE
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