Loving, loyal and hardworking
Buen Pastor consists of many people from different walks of life coming together to support women and girls in need. First and foremost are the nuns, or "madres", who in the footsteps of their founder, Santa Maria Eufrasia Pelletier, tirelessly shepherd their flock. Next are the staff who commit their hearts and minds to serve the women and girls living at Buen Pastor. Finally, volunteers round out the Buen Pastor family by bringing enthusiasm, time, and energy to share.
Madres
M A D R E L O U R D E S
Madre Lourdes was 17 years old when she took her vows. Nearly 50 years later, she serves as the Mother Superior at Buen Pastor. Madre Lourdes is a tireless advocate for the women and girls she serves. She works 90 hours a week as administrator, secretary, mother, father, fund-raiser, communication specialist, volunteer coordinator, program coordinator, banker, and feminist. Her superpower is finding time to make each girl in the foster home feel loved and special.
M A D R E E L V I R A
For over 50 years, Madre Elvira has served as a nun for the betterment of single mothers, girls, adolescents, and indigenous groups. She has worked all over Mexico and in El Paso, Texas. At Buen Pastor, she serves as accountant and book keeper. Madre Elvira's recent success was upgrading from the print world to the digital world with amazing alacrity and grace.
M A D R E J U L I E T A
Even though Madre Julieta has been serving as a nun for over 49 years, she says it feels like it was just yesterday that she took her vows. As a psychologist, she has helped many people through crises. Madre Julieta serves as the school director at Buen Pastor.
M A D R E B E R T A
Madre Berta has dedicated 50 years for underprivileged children in El Paso, Texas. She joined Buen Pastor in 2006 and works directly with the girls in the foster care which means her days are filled with mothering up to 30 girls, ages 3-18, at a time.
M A D R E A N G E L I T A
Madre Angelita took her vows at 19 years of age. For over 51 years, she has committed her life to serving God by helping the poor. She makes herself indispensable at Buen Pastor by working magic in the kitchen and cooking for everyone. She also runs the food dispensary which provides meals for the elderly poor.
M A D R E P A T R I C I A
Madre Patricia has served as Mother Superior for various convents: Guadalajara, Tepic, and twice at Buen Pastor in Guanajuato. She has dedicated 27 years towards serving adolescents and girls. At Buen Pastor, she directs the program that houses University students from rural communities so that they are able to attend University. She also has the huge responsibility of administering finances.
M A D R E P I E D A D
Madre Piedad joined the madres in at Buen Pastor Guanajuato in 2011. Before that, she spent over twenty years in Mexico City and in Guadalajara working with girls and women. She also spent twelve years as a contemplative sister. Contemplatives are the backbone of the church and support Buen Pastor chapters throughout the world through their prayers. Now in Guanajuato, Madre Piedad helps Madre Bertita with the girls in the internado.
Staff
T E R E
Social worker Tere bridges the worlds between Buen Pastor and the families the girls return to on the weekends. She makes home visits to assess the girls in their familial context. She walks with them to school and accompanies them home when the school day ends. She came to Buen Pastor to work on her thesis in 2007. Even though the madres couldn't pay her a full-time salary, she remained, holding down another job so she can continue being there for the girls. She is an inspiration to anyone who meets her. Her super power is modesty.
M A E S T R O C H U E Y
Maestro Chuey does a little bit of everything at Buen Pastor. He's our Mister-Fix-It Jack-of-all-Trades with the million dollar smile and can do attitude. He's usually up to his neck on a number of projects like painting, gardening, surveying, repairing, building, restoring, plumbing, and mechanics. He marvels us all by running around all day, year in year out, with a perpetual grin on his face.
D O N R A M O N
Don Ramon has been driving the Madres around town, to conferences, and to the airport for over 15 years. He is the only person who can drive Buen Pastor's ancient VW bus, and for this, he is invaluable. Don Ramon has the curious ability of sleeping while standing at the airport while patiently waiting for delayed flight arrivals.
Volunteers
J U A N I T A
Juanita has provided massage to the sheltered women and to the madres. She built and maintains this website. She developed a learning lab with computers connected to the Internet, over 100 children's books and educational games. She fundraised for a number of projects and helped to coordinate volunteers.
F E R N A N D O
Fernando was instrumental in restoring computers to build a learning lab for the girls. He's wired many of the spaces at Buen Pastor and occasionally visits to fix computers, install software, and help Madre Elvira open email attachments.
K A T I E
Katie of eStudio473 began teaching art classes at Buen Pastor in Janauary of 2010. Her art curriculum includes visual storytelling, exploring identity and relationships, and surrealism & storytelling. Katie demonstrates that anything is possible when delving into play. Katie’s goal is to bring a network of artists under the umbrella of storytelling, to help the girls create their own empowering tools of play and limitless possibilities. She provides an overview of 2010 and a preview of 2011, as well as instructions on how you can sponsor a girl at her letter linked to from here.
