As presented by Sr. Rose Marie Jasinski, Country Leader of the Sisters of Bon Secours, US:
Let us continue our prayers for each other in this Lenten season with the following passage.

Peace,

Rosie

In Lent, we are laid bare.  As we remember our pain, as we touch our woundedness, we journey toward the terror of the cross, we may find ourselves feeling vulnerable, sore, exposed.  We may struggle against the way Lent strips us of pretense and beckons us to see what is basic to us.  Yet the ashes of the first day of Lent affirm that we are elemental people.  We who are fashioned of earth are also touched by fire, brought to life by the breath of God, and blessed by the birthing waters.  Here, in the middle of the Lenten journey, we pause to reflect on the elements of which we are made, to consider not only the wounds that they sometimes harbor but also the possibilities they hold for blessing.

            God of fire, earth, wind, and water, embrace the elemental
            wounds we … continue reading…

Here are some pictures from Sister Elaine Davia’s mission trip to Limpopo, South Africa:

Here are pictures from Sr. Vicky’s visit to Limpopo, South Africa:

Contemplative, Cloistered, Semi-Cloistered, Apostolic, Nun, Sister…

These are all terms that I  find myself talking about daily.  They are also terms that many young Catholics cannot define or differentiate.

I am asked frequently, “What is the difference between a nun and a sister?”

Traditionally, there   is a clear difference, but nowadays, the lines have become a bit blurry.  Both nuns and sisters are women who have dedicated themselves to live vowed religious lives (of chastity, poverty and obedience) within the Catholic Church, following in the footsteps of Jesus in ministry.  Both have dedicated themselves to God. 

So, the difference, then, to put it simply, and traditionally, is that a nun lives her life within the walls of a monastery cloister,  serving others through contemplative prayer, while a sister shares her gifts out in the world, directly impacting those in need. 

Nuns live a cloistered life within their own community/monastery, rarely going outside of their monastery.  That is where they live, pray, work and recreate. 

Sisters, however, are never called “nuns”.  They are vowed religious sisters and are considered apostolic, or active.  Some sisters live, pray and work both within their own community and its … continue reading…

Sr. Pat Eck’s recently visited Peru to participate as a representative of the Sisters of Bon Secours in the Dedication Ceremony for the Infant Mortality Program in Trujillo, Peru.

Click on a photo to enter the photo gallery.

Third Week of Lent

The nurturing hand of God is held out to us.  The gardener in Sunday’s gospel pleads to save the fig tree.  With care it could bloom. 

In whatever place we find ourselves, however cut off from family and friends, however burdened by sin or fear, we are surrounded by the love and concern of our God. 

Still able to bloom, we stand on holy ground.

Where have I most experienced God’s presence creating holy ground, a holy place or situation in my life this Lent?

By the God of journeys, of healing, of mystery, of hope may we continually be blessed into new life!

Lenten Blessings,

Rosie

International Women’s Day

 Look! We are all around you:
Woman of courage, compassionate, patience.
Our number is legion, our gifts diverse,
our goal one and the same:
that history hear, that history is cognizant of,
that history will one day recall our names.

We honor the women of the scriptures,
especially Mary, the Mother of Jesus,
whose courage, persistence, love, and fidelity
kept the lineage of faith alive.

We honor the women of Jesus’ time

Who cared for the community of believers;
Who followed Jesus to Calvary;
Who buried Him;
Who proclaimed Jesus’ resurrection;
Who passed the Gospel to their families, friends and strangers.

We honor the valiant women of our own time

Who nudge us back on track;
Who remind us of the promises of Christ;
Who claim the Gospel for women too;
Who preach the reality of wholeness;
Who strain against a patriarchal church;
Who challenge us to grow!

- Adapted from Miriam Therese Winter’s “Valiant Women”

If I were not a Sister of Bon Secours, I would certainly still want to work here.  Although I work at the Provincial House, I have the privilege of being able to visit the Hospital in Baltimore and other ministries like the Women’s Resource Center and the Volunteer House.  I see our employees in action and I am so happy to see how happy they are.

So, in a way, I was not amazed when I attended the 2010 Annual Employee Service Awards for the Baltimore Hospital in February.  I was not completely amazed to watch 10 people receive awards for 30 to 40 years of service with Bon Secours Hospital.  I was not amazed to see that 35 people were honored for 20-25 years of service.  That is a long time.  It is longer than many of our Sisters have been … continue reading…

Read this wonderful article published in Catholic Health World about Sr. Kaye (Katherine Anne) and a local Virginia food pantry that had to close its doors after Hurricane Ida.

CLICK HERE to read the full article.

Salt + Light TV is generously airing our full-length DVD special “A Tradition of Good Help” this Sunday, March 7th at 8:30 pm EST, throughout Canada and live on their website.  For those of you in the northern US, you may be able to view it on TV (See schedule of stations below). 

Otherwise, go online for live streaming on Sunday.  Just click “View Live” on the homepage under the Salt + Light banner in the top left corner of the page. 

Here‘s the list of service providers that carry Salt + Light TV:

Bell TV – Serving all of Canada on Satellite Channel 654

Shaw Digital Cable – Serving Western Canada on Digital Channel 160

Rogers Digital Cable – Serving most of Ontario – Toronto (GTA), … continue reading…