As published on June 4, 2010 in The Weekly Insider, Volume 5, Issue 22 in the Sisters Corner column.
A Commitment to Healing
Flying across time zones, Sister Patricia Eck, C.B.S. saw first hand the devastation left by a Tsunami that left over 250,000 dead in 2004. Representing Bon Secours Health System as part of a delegation from Catholic Relief Services, Sr. Pat Eck as chair of the BSHSI board stood on the expansive flatlands of Banda Aceh in 2005 and realized that no one could have survived the violence of the tsunami that struck Indonesia.
The purpose of the trip was to see first hand how donations helped in recovery and as a witness to tell the story of how CRS relief efforts are doing wonderful works. Three years later in January 2010, Sr. Pat, as Chair of Bon Secours Ministries and as Congregation Leader for the Sisters of Bon Secours stood in the desert heat of Trujillo, Peru as part of a delegation from BSHSI to support the formal launch of a collaborative Infant Mortality Project to address the gap in healthcare services where children die from acute respiratory infections, lack of water and latrines. This BSHSI and Peruvian Sisters of Bon Secours partnership, along with others will help to address the incredible child mortality problems in Peru.
Sr. Pat’s strong belief that, “The struggle for a more humane world is not an option but an integral part of spreading the Gospel.” is core to who Sr. Pat is and a reason why she is a great fit to serve as Congregation Leader of the Sisters of Bon Secours internationally. Sister Pat has helped to facilitate change in the health care field over the last forty years both locally and nationally, and has never wavered from her commitment to take actions that ensure the preferential option for the care of people who are poor and marginalized. Now, as Congregation Leader of the Sisters of Bon Secours internationally, a position she was elected to by an international delegation of sisters at a meeting in Rome, Italy in October 2009, Sr. Pat is bringing her vision, love of her community and her talent to a new role.
Excited about this new chapter as the international leader of her community, for Sr. Pat, the sisters’ hopes and dreams are in the forefront as she creates structures that support the future they envision. Whether serving in health care, chaplaincy, peace and justice, human services, education or pastoral or spiritual services, the Sisters of Bon Secours share a common goal of providing compassion, healing and liberation to all of creation and all whom they serve.
Visioning a Better World
When asked what the future holds as the sisters unite in their global efforts, Sister Pat replied, “Our plans now go back to the past when our sisters treated the sick and dying in their homes. They brought people to wholeness. Our commitment today is to bring people and communities to wholeness wherever there is a need. All of our sisters have an important role in our collective works for the future. All are filled with enthusiasm and hope. As we move forward we invite other women to be a part of our community and to share the joy of what we do.”
For information about the international Congregation of Sisters of Bon Secours community email Sister Pat Dowling, Vocation Director at
CBSVocations@bshsi.org or call 1-877-742-0277 and visit their website at: www.bonsecoursvocations.org.
