I would like to send a message of love and congratulations to five of our Sisters who are celebrating their Jubilee this year.  A Jubilee marks the number of years as a Sister.

(Pictured Left to Right)

Sr. Kathleen Moroney - 60 Years
Sr. Anne Lutz – 50 Years
Sr. Nancy Glynn – 50 Years
Sr. Margaret (Peggy) Mathewson – 50 Years
Sr. Mary Ellen Wagner - 60 Years

Congratulations to you all, and thank you for 270 combined years of dedication to the Sisters of Bon Secours’ spirituality and charism: compassion, healing and liberation.

Vocation Rally held at Catholic Campus Ministry of Howard University and nuns and priests and accompany students to talk about religious life, how to discern a catholic vocation (one’s calling), prayer, and ministry.

The Sisters of Bon Secours invite you to participate in World Day of Prayer for Vocations as you ponder your own vocation. 

In 1963, Pope Paul VI designated Good Shepherd Sunday as World Day of Prayer for Vocations (WDP).  Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows us well and gives His life for us.  We rejoice in the Good

Shepherd who leads us into fullness of life. 

May God give you grace and understanding to know God’s call for you in life.  May God’s presence reveal his deepest wishes for you.  We pray today for those who are discerning their life vocation that they may listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd who guides them.   

Everyone has a vocation.  

A vocation is a call from God to be the person you are meant to be.  Each vocation is sacred and is a way we live out our life.  

Acts of the Apostles 13:14, 43-52

Psalm 100

… continue reading…

Discover if your vocation in life is to be a catholic sister by spending a weekend exploring religious life, being with sisters and learning about discernment.

Jennifer has arrived!
I am so happy to announce that after two years of searching for a Communications Associate, God has brought Jennifer Murphy to the Vocations office.  She comes to us with experience as a director of public relations for a college, a freelance editor and writer with community relations, website content and layout, crisis relations, special events planning, and general promotions.

Jen will be spearheading our advertising and marketing campaigns and will be an integral part of our website optimization project.

Our department is very excited about continuing to take the Sisters of Bon Secours further into the technological age, and I think Jen will be a great asset to that goal.  Welcome, Jen!

The Catholic Review features Sister Bernie Claps’ first vow ceremony. Please review this article by George Matysek, Jr.

CLICK HERE for the full article.

National Religious Vocation Conference
NRVC.NET
phone: 773-363-5454
e-mail: nrvc@nrvc.net

U.S. CATHOLIC BISHOPS FOCUS ON LANDMARK VOCATIONS STUDY

Executive Director of National Religious Vocation Conference provides bishops
with major findings on vocation trends

Bishops asked to meet with religious leaders in their dioceses; speak often of vocations;
establish religious life component in diocesan vocation offices

Baltimore, Nov. 18, 2009—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, gathered in Baltimore for their annual meeting, invited Holy Cross Brother Paul Bednarczyk, Executive Director of the Chicago-based National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC), to present the results of the NRVC’s landmark Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life, published this past August.  

Bednarczyk outlined the study’s key findings including the need for collaborative efforts with dioceses, Catholic educators, and families in creating a culture of vocation within the Church. He asked for the bishops’ help “in promoting consecrated life as a viable, joyful, and grace-filled option for the men and women in your dioceses” and suggested three practical ways the bishops … continue reading…

For several years during discernment and novitiate, Sr. Bernie has been quite a blessing to the Sisters of Bon Secours.  It is with a warm welcome and excited  anticipation that we celebrated her First Vow Ceremony last weekend!  Here is the press release along with photos from the ceremony:

Fr. Joe gave a wonderful homily
Sister Bernadette Claps will make her first vows during a liturgy on November 7th at 11 a.m. at the Sisters of Bon Secours  Chapel in Marriottsville, Md.
Sr. Bernadette “Bernie” Claps first entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours in 2006. Her previous  experience in social work, counseling, pastoral care, and administration, as well as continued learning and spiritual growth within the congregation, has allowed her to serve the community in which the Sisters of Bon Secours are a presence … continue reading…

The Baltimore Sun is spotlighting the landmark “Vocations to Religious Life Study” and the vocation efforts of the Sisters of Bon Secours were featured. Can you believe religious life on the front page of the Baltimore Sun?  CLICK HERE for the full article.

On August 11, the National Religious Vocation Conference released the results of its Study of Recent Vocations to Religious Life. The complete study, executive summary, and other supplementary materials, including media information and best practices, are now posted on the NRVC website at www.nrvc.net.

The purpose of this research project was to identify and understand who is entering religious life today and which types of religious institutes are receiving and retaining new members. NRVC contracted with the Center for the Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), a Georgetown University-based research center, to carry out the study.