In the Netherlands, elderly sisters have started a new mission
They worked in line with the values of the congregation,
creating an excellent team of neighbours, politicians, architects, teachers,
mission partners and consultants to make life flourish again.
It was a choral and generative work that began in 2014, fostered by a months-long process of discernment and dialogue: after 90 years of presence in Bloemendaal, almost all the sisters left the last Good Shepherd convent in the Netherlands to move to a home for the elderly.
Together with the management team of Europe BFMN and the Dutch staff, the four remaining sisters (see picture on the home page) initiated a networked redevelopment plan for the property, from which a community service was born.
Photo: https://rgs.gssweb.org
The old convent was donated to the city of Bloemendaal and the sisters opened it to migrants mainly from Syria, Ethiopia and other war zones.
Later on, women and their children, victims of domestic violence, homeless people and young people were provided with accommodation. In return, they helped the migrants to adapt to life in the Netherlands and to learn the difficult Dutch language.
Today, the convent houses refugees from Ukraine.
“Next year, in 2023, the old buildings will be demolished and a new 78-unit square complex will be built. There will be houses and flats for sale and rent, social housing, L’Arche community facilities and community spaces for all residents, such as a restaurant, multifunctional meeting rooms and work spaces. And everyone will be able to enjoy the surrounding landscape, playground, park, forest and vegetable garden.”