Press Release: Sr. Patricia Eck elected congregation leader

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 2, 2009

SR. PATRICIA A. ECK, C.B.S., ELECTED CONGREGATION LEADER
OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE SISTERS OF BON SECOURS

MARRIOTTSVILLE, Md.—The Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours elected Sister Patricia A. Eck, C.B.S., of the United States its new Congregation Leader during its 2009 General Chapter meeting in Rome. This international Congregation, comprised of Sisters from five countries (The United States, France, Great Britain, Ireland and Peru), is transitioning to a new organizational structure by eliminating provinces and functioning as one international entity under Sr. Pat’s leadership.  

A new Congregation Team also was elected to serve with Sr. Pat. Newly appointed Country Leaders include Sr. Rose Marie Jasinski, C.B.S., from the U.S.A.; Sr. Marie Ryan, C.B.S., from Ireland; Sr. Ann Morrison, C.B.S, from Great Britain; and Sr. Rosalinda Pajuelo Urena, C.B.S., from Peru. This new international Leadership Team will work to unite the Sisters worldwide around a new governance structure.

The Congregation’s international offices will be relocating to the United States on December 1, moving from Paris, France to Marriottsville, Md. The offices for the Sisters of Bon Secours in the United States, Bon Secours Spiritual Center, and Bon Secours Health System all reside on the Marriottsville campus.

“This is an exciting time in the history of our Congregation as we strive to work as one international community, carrying our message of ‘Good Help to Those in Need®’ around the world,” said Sr. Pat Eck. “I am honored and privileged to have been chosen to lead the Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours at this time and will build on the rich tradition of those very strong women who have come before me while helping the Congregation evolve to meet today’s  needs.”

Since 1997, Sr. Pat has served as the chairperson of the board of Bon Secours Health System, Inc., headquartered in Marriottsville, Md.  “Her vision and commitment to be a prophetic voice throughout the organization, combined with her strong governance and sponsorship capabilities, are models for all of Catholic health care today,” said Sr. Alice M. Talone,C.B.S., current president of the Sisters of Bon Secours, U.S.A. “To Sr. Pat, ‘the struggle for a more humane world is not an option; but, an integral part of spreading the gospel.”

Sr. Pat, whose health care career spans more than 40 years and includes clinical nursing experience, health care administration, and sponsorship and governance roles for Bon Secours Health System, has been recognized nationally for her leadership in creating alignment between sponsorship and governance. She served as chairperson of the Catholic Health Association (CHA), and in 2007 received the Sister Mary Concilia Moran Award from CHA. She has also served as chairperson of the Corporate Members of Mercy Housing and currently serves on the Catholic Medical Mission Board.

Over the years, Sr. Pat has served on the Leadership Team of the Sisters of Bon Secours, USA, and in 2006, she was one of the primary leaders in creating and structuring Bon Secours Ministries as the Public Juridic Person/sponsor for Bon Secours Health System and is currently the chairperson of Bon Secours Ministries. Under Sr. Pat’s leadership, the sponsoring organization for Bon Secours Health System included, for the first time, laypeople working side by side with the Sisters.

Sr. Pat earned a master’s degree in health administration from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University, a master’s degree in nursing from Catholic University of America, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours (www.bonsecours.org) , a religious congregation of Roman Catholic women founded in Paris in 1824, brings compassion, healing and liberation to those it serves, especially those who are sick, suffering, poor or dying. Whether in health care, education or social services, in hospitals, senior care facilities, clinics or parishes, in towns and cities or isolated villages, Bon Secours responds to a universal need: to provide to all who suffer a reason to live and a reason to hope.