About Us
Historical Perspective
“What are we doing in this world, and why are we here, if not to contribute to the well-being of our neighbors?”
- St. Mary Euphrasia
Although Madonna Hall closed in June of 1985, Marlboro became the central location for the Sisters in the Boston area and is in use to this day as a retirement home. In 1982, the first Maria Droste Services, sponsored by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd was established in New York City. Realizing the same need for the Greater Boston area, Sr. Joanne Westwater, opened the second Maria Droste Services to provide mental health counseling in Quincy in 1992. Shortly thereafter, Maria Droste Services expanded by adding a holistic therapy component to the agency.
In 2013, Michael Shanahan was appointed Executive Director and the first lay person to lead the agency after the sudden death of Sr. Lorraine Bernier. Working with colleagues Sr. Elish McPartland and Stacey Campbell as the agency’s leadership team, together they strongly resonate with the values that the Sisters live to this day around the world. To this day, the Sisters run missions in 72 countries, always going to places where people, especially women and children, are suffering.