Defending and Caring for All of Creation

In 2009, the Sisters of Bon Secours adopted a Mission Focus Statement at the General Assembly (see right).   For nearly 200 years, the Sisters of Bon Secours have devoted their work towards improving the lives of people in need.  More recently, and certainly as we have grown into an International Congregation,  the Sisters hoped to broaden the scope of their mission to encompass ALL OF CREATION, including the living creatures around us, the environment that sustains our lives, and all of the beauty God created on our planet.   

As part of that commitment, we would like to share our stories and resources to be used for conservation education. 

How can you measure your household’s carbon footprint, you ask?  We found a great Carbon Footprint Tool from New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light that you can use. 

The 2011 Sisters of Bon Secours Prayerbook is also focused on Defending and Caring for All of Creation.  The booklet was made pocket-sized this year and includes a different prayer for each day of the week: Reverencing God’s Gift of Creation, Embracing the Earth Charter, Crying Out Against Injustice, In Defense of All Life, Sharing the Message for Change, Ecological Integrity, and finally, A Call to Action.  Email us to request your copy of the 2011 Sisters of Bon Secours Prayer Book or click here to view the prayerbook on our website.

Some of our Sisters are taking creative measures to conserve:

• Sisters Elaine and Vicky both plant vegetable gardens each year. 
• Sister Vicky takes the time on a daily basis to compost, greatly reducing her household waste.
• Sister Pat D., along with other Sisters drive hybrid cars to reduce the use of our planet’s natural resources.

Other Sisters defend and care for creation through helping people in need:

• Sister Anne Marie is active within UNANIMA, International, a coalition founded in 2002 by Sisters from seven different congregations.  In 2005, the Coalition developed a campaign to work against the demand for human trafficking and prostitution world wide and entered into United Nations discussion on violence against women.
• Sister Pat E., as our Congregation Leader, has played an integral role, along with our Peruvian Sisters, in working with various groups and government agencies to reduce infant mortality in Peru.
• Sisters Vicky and Elaine have both worked with some of our Sisters from Peru and Ireland, who are missionaries in South Africa, to help address the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The various ministries of Bon Secours, including the Health Systems and Spiritual Centers have become leaders of conservation:

• The Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in Greenville, South Carolina has recently earned a National Environmental Award for their “Sustainability” within Health Care.  They even created a hip new way to make the world a better place while announcing the recent award.  Check out their video on YouTube.
• The Bon Secours Spiritual Center takes great strides to recycle as much as possible within the Spiritual Center, also allowing Provincial House Staff to join in.  They have installed water coolers and a soda fountain to reduce the use of plastic bottles and cans for guests and staff.
• In 2010, the Bon Secours Health System in Marriottsville, MD received Practice Greenhealth Environmental Recognition Awards through their committment to the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge.  They also have an extensive “Greening” plan to develop a culture of sustainability.

Recycling Tips: Think outside of the box!

• CDs, DVDs, and Jewel Cases: Best Buy stores have FREE recycling collection for CDs & DVDs and their cases. Or, visit Greendisk.com or cdrecyclingforfree.com for information about mail-in recycling programs. Usable CDs or DVDs should be donated to your local library or charity such as Goodwill or The Salvation Army.
• Try paperless billing.  Most companies offer paperless billing to save on paper waste.  You can even set up online bill pay to avoid using more paper and stamps.
• Eat dinner by candlelight one or two nights a week.  Not only is it a chance to bond with your friends and family over a “special” meal, but you are also conserving energy.
• Old Towels, sheets, blankets: instead of throwing away old linens, contact your local animal shelter or veterinarian office.  They are always in need of linens to care for the animals they serve.
• Books and other reading materials: If you cannot donate your old books and reading materials to your local library, try contacting local foster care agencies, nursing homes, homeless shelters or detention facilities.  All of these are places where books are not always readily available. 

Recycling does not always have to be limited to cans, bottles, and disposable items.  Many artists are also finding ways to express themselves by reusing recycled materials.  Ecoble.com is one such website that displays this chic new way of recycling. 

Have you ever thought about using your gutter downspouts to capture water and nourish plant life, while also creating an artistic masterpiece?  Dornob.com shows how some have taken creative recycling to a whole new level. 

These are some examples of when function meets design, and is then infused with some creative recycling.