Little Girl Arise ~ A Farewell to our Volunteers!

Thursday, July 12th, 2012

It is the time of year that we have to allow our Volunteers (from the Volunteer Ministry) to fly back out into the world, hopefully carrying with them the charism (Compassion, Healing, and Liberation) and love of the Sisters of Bon Secours. These four women, Sarah, Brittney, Maureen, and Katie, have given nearly a year of their lives to serve God’s people in Baltimore.

There is a piece of hand-stitched artwork hanging in our Provincial Office in Marriottsville, MD. It is woven in every color imaginable, and the patterns and designs of the piece are indescribable. It portrays the moment in time when Jesus spoke to a young girl, who was in bed and no longer alive. He told her to arise, and He took her hand. She arose.

So, it only seemed fitting, when planning our goodbyes to this years Volunteers in the Volunteer Ministry, that we ask them to ARISE. Arise to Christ and share His love and compassion to His people. Arise to the challenge of facing our worlds injustices. Arise to help those most in need!

Katie, Maureen, Brittney, and Sarah each stood at the podium and offered their stories, heartwarming and sincerely honest. Their stories were amazing, bringing both tears and laughter! They told of personal challenges, adapting their own viewpoints, helping others in need, and forming relationships not only with their patients and those they served, but also with the Sisters and their co-workers. The volunteers selected the word, “TRANSFORMATION” to describe their year. Indeed, these four young women have been through an incredible transformation, and are prepared to take the message of Christ’s love out into the world.

May God bless Katie, Maureen, Brittney, Sarah and all peoples they serve!

Click on any photo below to enter the Bon Secours gallery:

: Sister Rose Marie with a guest speaker.

: Sister Nancy Glynn (r) and 2006/2007 Volunteer Beth Wood.

: Father Joe Lacey

: Maureen does a reading for the ceremony.

: Choir (from left): Sister Rose Marie Jasinski, Katie (volunteer), Sister Pat Dowling, and Sister Alice Talone.

: Sister Rose Marie Jasinski, Bon Secours Country Leader, offered blessings and gratitude to the four volunteers and presented them with wooden cross necklaces.

: Sister Rose Marie Jasinski, Bon Secours Country Leader, offered blessings and gratitude to the four volunteers and presented them with wooden cross necklaces.

: Sister Rose Marie Jasinski, Bon Secours Country Leader, offered blessings and gratitude to the four volunteers and presented them with wooden cross necklaces.

: Sister Rose Marie Jasinski, Bon Secours Country Leader, offered blessings and gratitude to the four volunteers and presented them with wooden cross necklaces.

: Sister Rose Marie Jasinski, Bon Secours Country Leader, offered blessings and gratitude to the four volunteers and presented them with wooden cross necklaces.

: Brittney and Maureen

: All of the Sisters of Bon Secours (present at the ceremony) along with the Volunteer Ministry Office, and the Volunteers.

: Marie Truffer, Shannon Curran, Katie, Sarah, Brittney and Maureen.

: Sister Fran Gorsuch, Shannon Curran, Katie, Sarah, Brittney, Maureen, and Sister Rose Marie Jasinski

: Katie, Sarah, Brittney, and Maureen

: Sarah and her Site Supervisor, Ameka Smith

: Katie and her Site Supervisor, Matt Ansel.

: Maureen and her Site Supervisor, JoeAnn Murphy.

: Brittney (c) with her Site Supervisor Monica Cioffi (r), and Hospital Staff Eileen Fernandini.

: May we bow our heads to bless our meal and thank God for the blessings that have showered our 2011/2012 Volunteers!

: The kitchen at Retreat and Conference Center at Bon Secours prepared a delicious meal of Tilapia, potatoes and summer squash.

: Beautiful edible flowers lined each place setting.

: Beautiful edible flowers lined each place setting.

: Sister Mary Shimo, and Mary Herbert, both of the Bon Secours Archives.

: Guest with Sister Fran Gorsuch

: Sisters Mary Cabrini and Mary Rita

: Sisters Anne Maureen and Mary Regina

: Katie

: Brittney

: Sarah

: Maureen

: The girls thank Marie Truffer, Volunteer Ministry Admin., for all of her love and support. They presented her with roses.

: Shannon Curran, Volunteer Ministry Director, speaks of the triumphs and challenges faced by the girls and program this year.

: 2006/2007 Volunteer Beth Wood spoke of her own experiences as a Volunteer with Bon Secours, and wishes the best for the girls leaving our nest this year.