Sr. Pat shared her thoughts about the journey: “My trip to South Africa and Tanzania was marvelous. Sr. Rose Marie  [Jasinski] joined me for the South Africa portion and Sr. Marie [Ryan] for Tanzania. We were blessed to see the ministries of our sisters. Their lives are very simple and focused on those they serve. The Clinic is changing with the requirements of the funders, it will continue to be an important ministry for us. The ministry of the sisters in the parish and township continues to grow. It was good to just be with the sisters. We also had a fun trip to the Kruger National Park in South Africa. It was exciting to see some of the BIG animals. Sr. Esther’s [Murray] work at the University in Tanzania is pretty amazing. She is loved and respected by faculty and students. It is difficult to describe the breadth of the University and the work being done there. Truly, it was a GREAT trip!”

Sr. Rose Marie Jasinski, CBS, United States Country Leader, also shared about her trip to South Africa: “I visited the AIDS clinic as well as the boys’ shelter and the town of Tshikota where our sisters visit people in their homes bringing them food packets, prayer and attention to some of their other social needs.  My time in South Africa was blessed with the many smiling faces not just of our sisters who we visited but of the patients, children and strangers on the street whose smiles portrayed joy, warmth and welcome!”

What an important ministry our Sisters of Bon Secours are providing in this area of the world. For more information about their work in Limpopo, South Africa, please our short video, A Mission of Hope & Healing in South Africa.

We painted, scrubbed, prayed, shared meals, laughed and collapsed at the end of the day, hearing the message of Jesus, ‘Come aside and rest awhile.’ What can be better than spending time with others who are committed to helping bring hope and healing to those in need?

Check out our Project Good Help webpage and enjoy the photo album below.  Simply click any of the photos to enter the photo album.

It was like going back in time walking in the footsteps of the sisters who came before us. 

The creaking of the floorboards brought into existence the realities of the strong and courageous women who took care of the poor, sick and dying.  The walls and the furniture made the past real today. 

The Bon Secours Chapel was the highlight of this two-hour tour.  It was more exquisite and breathtaking than pictures or imagination portray. 

We also had the opportunity to hear the vocation stories of the Peruvian, Irish, and English sisters and shared our stories. 

The fascinating thing we found was that while the stories took place in different places, different countries, there were many common threads.  Each story was an inspiring experience and lead us to feelings of closness and belonging to one international congregation.

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The closing ceremony began with a wonderful speech by Shannon Curran, Volunteer Ministry Director.  Please enjoy this excerpt from her speech:

Shannon Curran, Volunteer Ministry Director

Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry asks its volunteers to live and to serve with people on the margin…with people pushed to the edge of society. Often it is from this location, from the edge of our unjustly structured society, that our volunteers have their worldviews stretched, over-turned, and reconfigured.

In at least two places, today’s readings speak to this growth or speak to our mission of transformation through service with others.

When writing to the community in Rome, Saint Paul describes creation groaning from the pains of labor.  In facing many challenges, this year in particular with physical safety, our volunteers have experienced pains and groaned with their neighbors in Baltimore for a world where all people’s basic needs are met so that all people can grow to their full potential.

Like Paul, Matthew’s parable of the sower uncovers gifts which one can receive from God and through others on the margin. In today’s gospel, Christ says “but blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” While it is not difficult to encounter society’s pains, it can be difficult to see and to hear how our pains are calling us to labor with God in birthing a just world.  Volunteers, we thank you for your keen vision and acute listening this year.

After Mass and a special Blessing Ceremony from the Community, guests re-convened in the dining room for lunch. Speeches given by each of the girls told stories of how each of them has grown and learned, not just about hospital systems, and ministries, but about humanity and being good help. They told stories of patients and co-workers, warming the hearts of all in attendance!

Sister Rose Marie, the Bon Secours United States Country Leader, closed the day with words of kindness to show appreciation from the staff and Sisters for all of the wonderful things the volunteers had done for US.

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During her most recent pilgrimage to Rome, Sister Pat Dowling, CBS was able to be present for the Beatification of Pope John Paul II. Also, during the trip, Sr. Pat was able to take a tour of Icons throughout Rome.

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Being a Sister at the Sisters of Bon Secours is even better!  It has been said that nobody ends up working at our Provincial Office by accident.  We all end up here as part of God’s plan for our own lives, including all of the staff.  The gift even greater than that is the fact that everyone here gets along like a family.  This sort of relationship seems to make all House functions even more special and fun.

Today at Noon, the staff and Sisters from the Bon Secours Provincial House (including the Spiritual Center staff) came together to celebrate the Christmas Season with good cheer, great music, fun games, and magnificent food!

Click on any of the photos below to enjoy our Christmas Party Photo Gallery:

Says Sr. Rose:

My time in Peru was very busy but also very blessed.  We had the opportunity to visit many of the ministry sites of the sisters there and were warmly greeted by all.  The children were especially excited to see us and offered gifts, flowers, and entertainment of song & dance. 

The Ancient Greek word for “butterfly” is ψυχή (psȳchē), which primarily means “soul” or “mind,”  which is why some believe that a butterfly is the personification of a person’s soul. 

Personally, I think the symbolism is a bit ironic, because a butterfly goes through a complete metamorphosis, changing nearly from the inside out.  The same sort of life altering change occurs to many who walk through the doors of our Provincial House, whether it be employees, inquirers, Sisters, or retreat-goers at the Bon Secours Spiritual Center.  It is almost as if the butterflies are there welcoming newcomers to the possibilities…possibilities of becoming a nun, deepening prayer life, listening intently for God’s call, or spiritual growth and development.  

Seeing the butterflies is simply delightful.  I was drawn in and captivated by their movement.  The distinct markings and colors are mesmerizing.  Not only that, but their movement is curious…Once they find their perfect flower, they hover over it and flap their wings for dear life! 

Here are some fun facts I found online:

• Butterflies in their adult stage can live as little as a week or as long as a year, depending on the specific species.
• Some butterflies can survive through the winter by staying dormant within their cocoons.
• Butterfly eggs are fixed to leaves with a special glue which hardens rapidly.
• In the pupa, the wing forms a structure that becomes compressed from top to bottom, and pleated from proximal to distal ends as it grows, so that it can be rapidly unfolded to its adult size.
• If a wing is surgically removed early on, the other three wings will grow larger in size to compensate.
• The wings on butterflies are actually pigmented scales!

Click one of the photos below to enter the photo gallery:

Click on a photo to enter the photo gallery.