Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier was born in France to a devout Catholic family during the French Revolution. After her father died, she was placed in Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge convent as a boarder, taking the vows of a religious at 21 years old and elected superior at 29. She formed a contemplative cloister order, the Magdalens, for penitent women and at the request of Bishop of Anger, established a community of sisters to minister and catechize women and girls in tough situations, called the congregation of Our Lady of Charity Of the Good Shepherd. When Mother Mary Euphrasia Pelletier died of cancer in 1868 she left 110 Good Shepherd convents in 5 continents.
