I’ve been with Good Shepherd Services (GSS) for quite some time now and have had the opportunity to be involved in most of the areas GSS is working on whether it’s residential care, projects, programmes, or more. However, there was one area I had yet to experience: the Community Service Centre (CSC) in Buntong, Ipoh. This year, I finally had the chance to be part of the core team and witness firsthand the work being done at CSC.

Though it has only been a short period, the engagement I’ve had with the community there has been deeply meaningful. Everywhere I go to build connections with people, I often receive something small, be it a kind word, a gesture, or a story that reignites my passion to serve. I remember visiting a priest at one of the churches, and he said, “This centre has my support.” That simple sentence felt like music to my ears. It affirmed that the mission of the Good Shepherd, started by St. Mary Euphrasia, is seen and valued by many.

I also had the opportunity to conduct home visits to several children’s homes around the area, where the recipients of our Good Shepherd Education Fund live. The way the children interacted with me, and how eager they were to keep the conversation going, made me feel like I could be one of their good friends, someone they can talk to and feel heard by. One moment that truly touched me was when we visited a grandmother who proudly showed us her grandchild’s collection of achievement certificates. I was beyond happy to be one of the people who could say to her and her grandchild, “You did great!”

Through my time here, I’ve developed a deep desire to help make CSC more known and appreciated by the wider community. I want people to smile when they hear its name, knowing it’s a place of peace and comfort. I believe this is possible especially because I walk alongside other mission partners who share this vision with me.

As I write this reflection, I’ve included some spoken dialogues from the people I’ve met, as well as my own words, because I believe positive language can be incredibly impactful. As St. Mary Euphrasia once said, “Just love.” Such simple words, yet they continue to resonate powerfully to this day. I hope to live by the values she taught us, and to bring even more joy to the centre and the people it serves.