Community News Bon Secours Congregation holds it's first-ever international gathering A time for Jubilee
Bon Secours Sponsored Ministries Blessings and Celebrations Abound at Bon Secours Spiritual Center Bon Secours Health System Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Associate Member News
Volunteer Ministry News
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Community News
Bon Secours congregation holds its first-ever international gathering Meeting paves the way for centralizing governance
| During the last week of February, 140 Sisters of Bon Secours assembled for their first congregation-wide meeting to plan for their future. Sisters from the U.S., France, Ireland, Great Britain, Peru, and Tanzania met in Marriottsville, Md., Feb. 26-28 to prepare to centralize governance of the congregations' five provinces, a move that is to take place after September 2009. |
 Sisters of Bon Secours from the congregation's province in Peru enjoy scrolling through photos taken at the event.
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"This enabled us to get to know one another and gain insights about where we're going in the process," said Sr. Alice Talone, CBS, president of the U.S. Sisters of Bon Secours. "It was an opportunity for us to nurture our relationships, listen to one another in new ways, ask questions, and support one another."
The gathering, she said, is the latest step toward removing provincial boundaries for the international congregation and establishing a single governance structure and leadership team. The sisters decided in 2004 to centralize governance, and they will choose their headquarters location and leaders in a year and a half.
Sr. Talone said that with fewer women in religious life today, it is not uncommon for communities to merge this way. There are 300 Sisters of Bon Secours worldwide. Most of the active sisters attended the February meeting. "This really is a way of revitalizing our mission," Sr. Talone said of the reorganization. "Having governance centralized in one location rather than with the provinces will free people up to be faithful witnesses to the gospel message of Jesus."
In 2004, the congregation set up nine committees, called circles, through which groups of sisters are studying various aspects of centralization. Among the areas of focus are governance, stewardship, peace and justice, and sponsorship. The circle focused on international ministry has commissioned four Sisters of Bon Secours to undertake AIDS/HIV mission work in Tzaneen, South Africa.
Sr. Talone said the gathering set a nice tone for the coming changes. "The meeting was spirit-filled," she said. "We made big steps, and people are going back home more hope-filled than ever."
Catholic Health World - April 1, 2008
A Time for Jubilee Three Sisters of Bon Secours Celebrate Their Jubilees
Sr. Mary Cabrini Bonnett- 60 Year Jubilee
Sister Mary Cabrini entered the Community in 1948. A Native of Baltimore and a 1953 graduate of the Bon Secours Hospital School of Nursing, Sister Cabrini ministered to the sick in the Baltimore hospital for many years. She was especially known for her work in the emergency department of the hospital.
Her leadership qualities led her to be appointed Superior and Administrator of the Angelus Convalescent Home, Wildwood, New Jersey, where she served with distinction, being loved by the patients for whom she was responsible and by the civic community in which she became actively involved.
For many years Sister Cabrini served as receptionist for the Bon Secours Health System where she uniquely exercised her public relations skills. She also served on the board of trustees of Washington Village Community Medical Center.
"Being a Sister of Bon Secours all these years has been a great joy, privilege, and blessing in loving Our Lord and Lady daily by rendering service to all with whom we have come in contact through our values of respect, compassion, justice, innovation, stewardship, growth, quality, and integrity," says Sr. Cabrini.
In 2007, the new Information Technology Department building of the Bon Secours Health System in Richmond was named the Sister Cabrini Building in honor of Sr. Mary Cabrini Bonnett's years of service and dedication to the health system.
Sr. Marie Lucille Summers - 60 Year Jubilee
Sister Marie Lucille grew up on a tobacco farm in Southern Maryland. As a young girl, she worked as a volunteer in the X-ray department of Bon Secours Hospital. She entered the Community in 1948 and graduated in 1954 from the Bon Secours Hospital School of Nursing.
Sr. Marie Lucille has ministered to the sick in her own unique style in many of the Bon Secours facilities. Sister spent 21 years caring for the elderly at Villa Maria Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Miami. After the Community withdrew from the Villa, Sr. Marie Lucille transferred to Sr. Joseph Hospital in Port Charlotte where she held the position of Information Coordinator. She was a member of the board of directors of the Sr. Joseph Foundation, Hospice and CHAPS (A community AIDS organization).
Today Sr. Marie Lucille lives in Greenville, South Carolina, and volunteers three days a week in patient relations at St. Francis Eastside. She also prepares the spiritual thought for the day, which is e-mailed to all employees in the system. "It's all about customer satisfaction. We want people to tell us how they feel, and sometimes they just have to vent, which often makes them feel better. Being a Sister of Bon Secours has made me a good listener, and every minute of my volunteer time at St. Francis is a joy," says Sister Marie Lucille. "Bon Secours is a special religious order with a rich history. It is the human and fun loving aspect of the Sisters of Bon Secours that I enjoy most and of course our strong commitment to our mission."
Sr. Jean Aulenback - 50 Year Jubilee
Born in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, in 1930, Sr. Jean graduated from high school in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, in 1947. She went on to attend nursing school with the Sisters of Charity in Halifax. After graduating in 1951 she worked in the delivery room for one year. She immigrated to the United States via Michigan in 1952 and worked at Bon Secours Hospital in Grosse Pointe, where she met the Sisters of Bon Secours and entered the Community in 1958.
After making first vows, she was assigned to the hospital in Methuen, Massachusetts, as a Head Nurse and Night Supervisor. Sr. Jean came to Baltimore in 1962 and ministered in the Baltimore hospital as an ICU and Head Nurse as well as a Night Superviosr. In 1980 she was transferred to Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where she served for one year.
Sr. Jean left Grosse Pointe for six months to study Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in Methuen and then returned to Grosse Pointe where she served as Chaplain for six years. During that time she graduated from the University of Detroit with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.
In 1988, Sr. Jean was transferred to Richmond, Virginia, where she worked with hospice patients and their families. After four years in that ministry, Sr. Jean moved to Marriottsville. Her ministries have included managing the Bon Secours Spiritual Center Bookstore for 10 years as well as serving as sacristan. She continues to serve as sacristan as well as assisting the Sisters of Marian Hall with transportation to various appointments and shopping.
Sr. Jeans enjoys bird watching and star watching as well as showing movies to the Sisters on Marian Hall.
"It never occurred to me when I was baptized at the age of 17 that I would have so many adventures with the Sisters of Bon Secours," says Sr. Jean.
Bon
Secours Sponsored Ministries
Blessings and Celebrations Abound at Bon Secours Spiritual Center Recognizing 40 years of Service with Yearlong Festivities
"My friends, let us turn to the Father who has gathered us together in his Son, Jesus, and pray that the Spirit will come upon us and upon this place, so that all who come here will experience the fullness of God's peace, healing, and strength"
With these words, Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore W. Francis Malooly began the celebration on January 13, 2008 marking the beginning of the 40th Anniversary of Bon Secours Spiritual Center. |
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More than 180 people were in attendance to experience the bishop's blessings, Mass, a reception, and a liturgical feast. The day gave all in attendance a chance to thank the Sisters and to reaffirm the commitment to the Center's ministry as a place for all people to realize healing and wholeness in mind, body, and spirit.
As Sr. Alice reminded the assembly in her welcome: "We invite you all to rejoice with us in the heritage of healing we share and to pray that God will continue to be in this place to call people through us to healing, hope, and peace. May it always be so here and for all who come here."
Celebrations for the 40th Anniversary continue throughout 2008. A full description of the various events and activities can be found at www.bonsecoursspiritualcenter.org.
Bon Secours Health System Celebrates 25th Anniversary: 1983-2008
Planning for a Health System
It all started back in the late 1960's when the Sisters of Bon Secours realized just how autonomous their health care facilities were and knew that in the ever changing health care environment they needed to strengthen their sense of mission and identity to continue to succeed. In response to this concern, the Provincial Chapter authorized two studies that focused on the Sisters' mission and how they saw living out this mission in the future. One study was done in 1968 and the other in 1972. It was the recommendations from the 1972 study that began the evolution of Bon Secours into the health system we know today.
Sr. Rita Thomas and Sr. Urban Auer took the initial steps in 1973 by calling together for the first time the CEOs of all Bon Secours facilities. From the historic meeting, the Bon Secours Health Commission was formed in order for CEOs to share plans, problems, and opportunities as well as to consider the possibility of shared services. In the same year, Sr. Justine Cyr was appointed health facilities coordinator to serve as a liaison between Bon Secours facilities and the Provincial Council. Sr. Justine went on to serve as the first chairperson of the Bon Secours Health Commission.
After five years of cooperation and shared services, the Province appointed a task force to suggest more effective mechanisms of governance. This led to the formation in 1978 of a new corporation, Bon Secours Health Care Corporation. The new corporation established priority setting and criteria for financial performance, shared resources, personnel, marketing, and evaluation services.
According to Regina Clifton, president/CEO of the health corporation at the time, one of the first "system-wide" programs was the Kindly Care Program, which articulated what it meant to be a Bon Secours facility.
Bon Secours Health System is formed in 1983
Bon Secours Health System (BSHSI) was formed on July 1, 1983. The sole ministry of the Sisters of Bon Secours had always been a health care ministry, and thus the Sisters remained involved in the new health system and played strategic governance roles on the health system level as well as serving as Sister Presidents of local system boards. "The Sisters were committed to doing the right thing for the right reason, and BSHSI was never just a health care business, but rather a ministry of Jesus and the Catholic Church," says Sr. Pat Eck, current chair of the BSHSI board of directors.
In a 1986 article titled "Bon Secours Health System: A Brief History," Sr. Justine Cyr wrote: "The restructuring of Bon Secours Health System made possible a common understanding of Bon Secours' corporate thrust. The Sisters of Bon Secours and those who share our mission were called to unite behind a common purpose, delivering health care in the tradition of Bon Secours and responding to a call for quality, compassion, and innovative care. Only Bon Secours Sisters and laity working together can achieve our vision of 'Compassionate Care to Those in Need.'"
In 1983, Bon Secours Health System, headquartered in Baltimore, had four acute-care facilities, one nursing home, and approximately 5,000 employees located in Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Michigan, and Massachusetts. In 1984, BSHSI had $171.1 million in total assets, moved its headquarters to Columbia, Maryland and made its first acquisition for the new health system, Maryview Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. In 1989, the Health System Office moved to its present location in Marriottsville, Maryland, and acquired St. Francis Xavier Hospital, BSHSI's first facility in Charleston, South Carolina.
Growth of Bon Secours Health System
From 1995 to 1998, the health system doubled in size, with acquisitions of new facilities in Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk, Virginia; Venice, Florida; Altoona, Pennsylvania; and Baltimore, Maryland. In 1997, the board chair became a full-time position, and Sr. Pat Eck was named chairperson of the board of directors, a position she continues to hold today. In 2000, BSHSI continued to experience significant growth as it expanded into New York, New Jersey, and Kentucky, as well as expanding its presence in South Carolina and Virginia.
Over the next several years, there was an emplasis on a commitment to quality, liberating the potential of people, and expansion of primary care networks, emergency and other ambulatory care services, and cardiac programs. The system saw a restructuring of sponsorship and governance functions with the sponsorship of BSHSI passing from the Sisters of Bon Secours to Bon Secours Ministries and being shared with laity. There was strong focus on increasing our community commitment dollars and grants given through the mission fund. New community partnerships were developed in local systems, and health care advocacy efforts were intensified as the system worked to improve the health of its communities.
Bon Secours Health System Today
In 2006, under the leadership of President and CEO Rich Statuto, a new Strategic Quality Plan (SQP) was completed. The SQP revolves around six interconnected areas that are integral to everything the health system does: building healthier communities, aligning with premier practitioners, delivering clinical excellence, liberating the potential of people, pursuing focused growth, and achieving operational excellence and strategic performance.
As BSHSI celebrates its 25th anniversary, we realize how much it has grown since 1983 when the Sisters of Bon Secours had the vision to create BSHSI. Today, BSHSI is a $2.4 billion, not-for-profit Catholic health system that owns, manages, or joint ventures 18 acute-care facilities, one psychiatric hospital, five nursing-care facilities, five assisted-living facilities, and several home care and hospice programs. Bon Secours' more than 16,000 caregivers help people in ten communities in seven states.
"Through all our growth in the past 25 years, what has not changed is our mission to bring compassion to health care and to be 'Good Help to Those in Need,' especially the poor and dying, and the fact that we have the ongoing support of the Sisters of Bon Secours who continue to play an active and integral role in our helath system and in our facilities," says BSHSI President and CEO Rich Statuto.
Bon Secours Associate Member News
The day before the "Come with Hope" general sessions began, associates from the Congregations, various international provinces met, compared experiences and planned for the future. Assisted by translator Sr. Joanne Munoz, S.S.N.D., and facilitated by Congregation Team Member Sr. Rosa Elena Gomez Navarro, the United States associate, represented by Janet Keller (St. Petersburg, Florida) along with Amy Kulesa and Marie Truffer, met with eight other associates and Sisters. Each country's representative gave a report on the activities of their associate groups and the particular character of their community life and outreach. Brid Cottrell and Sr. Katherine Therese Tierney of Ireland shared that the Irish associates meet primarily for prayer with the Sisters. Sr. Mariselda Garcia Chumacero gave examples of both the vibrant prayer life and apostolic activity of the Peruvian associates. Teresa Duff (Glasgow, Scotland) and Sr. Lilias Clare Kane (Great Britain) spoke about how the group in Glasgow had dwindled down to one member, only to experience renewed life and energy from new members out of the local parish. Now the Glasgow community is going strong. Along with Sr. Jacqueline Rebours (France), Marie Madeleine Chopard, who is fluent in French, English, and Spanish, shared her experiences doing outreach to poor women in Ecuador and the healing and empowerment she has seen happen there through the ministry in which she is involved. As a French associate, she conveyed how blessed the community members feel to be able to hold their commitment ceremonies at St. Sulpice Church, where it all began for the Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours.
Bon Secours Associates in the United States commit to gathering in small communities at least once a month to share faith and pray for the Sisters, each other, and the world. New members are always welcome. If you are interested in becoming an associate, please contact the Associate office at 410-442-3131, or 3132, or e-mail amy_kulesa@bshsi.org for contact information for your local Associate Community.
Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry News
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