Celebrating 177 Years of the RSHM

In Béziers, France, Fr. Gailhac saw women and children living in vulnerable circumstances and chose to act. What began as Good Shepherd Shelter was rooted in a simple but radical belief: every person deserves dignity, opportunity, and the chance to live life fully. Recognizing he could not do this work alone, he partnered with Apollonie Cure, who would become Mère St. Jean. Together, they founded the RSHM, building a community committed to reading the signs of the times and responding with courage and faith. 

Nearly two centuries later, that same spirit extends far beyond one city in France. The RSHM mission now lives in a global network of 20 schools across nine countries—including Marymount Los Angeles—all united by the mission that all may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). 

On February 24, RSHM schools around the world celebrate Founder’s Day, honoring both the humble beginnings of the Good Shepherd Shelter and the global movement it has become. 

At Marymount Los Angeles, now 103 years into our own history, Founder’s Day is more than a history lesson. Each year, Director of Campus Ministry Micaela Plummer invites students to revisit the foundations of the Institute, not simply to recall what happened in 1849, but to consider why it still matters today.

This year, that reflection took on a new depth. 

Rather than only hearing about the mission, our community witnessed it through the voices of two students, Tallulah F. ’27 and Leila J. ’27, who shared how the RSHM charism has shaped their own lives. 

They began with the words students first encounter freshman year: “That all may have life and have it to the full.” Coming to Marymount, both Tallulah and Leila believed they understood what it meant to “live the mission,” but their understanding was still forming. It was not until their first and second years that the mission moved from something they learned to something they began to fully embrace—a call to make a difference not only within their own community, but across the world. 

For Leila, that clarity came during a cultural immersion and service trip offered to Cuernavaca, Mexico. Alongside their classmates and students from Marymount New York and Cuernavaca, she experienced firsthand the power of our shared mission. Despite language and cultural differences, the same qualities surfaced everywhere: openness, determination, and a deep desire to serve. Whether assisting at an elderly home or playing with children at an orphanage, Leila saw the dignity of each person honored in action. 

Tallulah encountered that same universality of mission while attending the Senior Cup in Mexico. Competing and connecting with Marymount students from around the world, she quickly recognized something familiar in each of them: respect, motivation, positivity, motivation, and a deep sense of purpose. One of her most meaningful memories was participating in an Ash Wednesday Mass alongside all the teams, united not just by sport, but by faith and by a mission that transcends borders. 

For both students, these experiences made something clear: the RSHM mission is not confined to one campus. It shapes Marymount communities everywhere. It shapes how we treat one another, how we lead, and how we respond to the needs of our world. 

“To us,” Tallulah shared, “‘that all may have life and have it to the full’ means recognizing the God-given potential in every person…ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.” 

They encouraged our community to continue seeing the best in everyone, to be brightly optimistic, and to live lives full of hope, reminding us that while the history of the RSHM is  remarkable, just as remarkable is the mission still unfolding: through our students every single day.