If you watch TV you probably have heard of LOST - now in its third season. LOST follows a group of survivors whose plane crashes on a mysterious island where other people live an isolated existence.

The show is about people from all walks of life who are thrown together in an extreme situation that forces them to build community, find meaning in life in the midst of their surviving, confront good and evil, struggle with their own personal demons, and more.

The unknown and mysteries of the island force these survivors to confront not only themselves and who they are as individuals but forces them to make choices based on personal survival vs. what is best for the good of the group.

For us as viewers the answers to what, why, when and how are elusive, but the mysterious keeps us coming back wanting answers.

Doesn't this all sound familiar? Don't we want answers to those things that tend to be just beyond our grasp and yet the promise of hope keeps us engaged in the struggle to know. We are all confronted with situations that force us to make choices and those choices can bring either the best out in us or the worst.

Like lots of other viewers I'm hooked on wanting to know what lies under the mystery of this island and I guess I'll keep watching LOST until the mystery is unmasked and the survivors are reconciled with those things that haunt them.

Have a good week,
Sr. Pat

This week, we begin a time of prayer for church unity. How are we called to pray together with people of all faiths?

Today we live in a global world of instant communication that connects us with people from varying countries and cultures, where daily news coverage takes us up close and personal to situations that 10 years ago would have taken a week or months to learn about. There is tremendous opportunity to learn about and appreciate the richness of diversity in the world. Despite our differences, there is room for all at the table of God.

God has no favorites because all are made equally in the eyes of God. Can I appreciate my brother and sister Hindus, Moslems, Jewish, Christians and other faith traditions? And can I appreciate the cultures of Africa and Asia and S. American?

I too pray that God will allow me to know in the words of St. Peter (Acts 10:14), "The truth I have come to realize that God does not have favorites, but that anyone of any nationality who does what is right and fears God is acceptable to him."

Peace,
Sr. Pat

I am here in Warwick, NY to talk with co-workers from Bon Secours St. Anthony Hospital about "A Call to Service" through one of four vocations that includes: religious life as a sister, associate members, ministry volunteers and engaged co-workers. Actually, the Sisters of Bon Secours are collaborating with Bon Secours Health System to promote these vocations.

What we discovered through our colleagues is that they are very much interested in helping us to invite women to consider a call to religious life. It's really affirming that they believe our lifestyle is still a valid life option today.

I've heard colleagues say how much they appreciate working in a Catholic sponsored setting and how much they appreciate being able to even pray before a meeting. Certainly not something they're able to experience in the corporate or business world. For many of our colleagues, they are looking for a sense of purpose and mission and its this sense of mission that gives meaning to their lives. So,promoting vocations is not foreign to them.

If we can provide an environment for colleagues to explore their own vocation more, it allows them deepen their commitment to God and to service of others.

Perhaps you might want to consider your vocation anew as well. There are many ways to serve. Consider

- Religious life as a sister
- Assoicate members = those called to share the mission through prayer and service in their personal lives and sharing their faith with each other.
- Ministry Volunteers = are Christian men and women called to give a year of their life in service while living in a faith community.
- Engaged Co-workers = are called to deepen their commitment to ministry and mission and to invite others to service.

Be open to wherever God may be calling you ... it could make all the difference in your life!

Peace,
Sr. Pat

Last night I attended the annual Bon Secours Health System (BSHSI) board Christmas gathering at the Stonehouse on our campus in Marriottsville. The BSHSI board is the national board for our health system. I've had the pleasure of serving on this board for nine years with some wonderful folks who come with diverse backgrounds and experience in their fields of expertise.

I am rotating off the board after three, three-year terms. As I look back over this time I am struck by all the changes that have occurred as we've grown in size and depth in trying to answer the health care needs in the communities in which we serve. Our motto is to be "Good Help to those in need." It can be challenging at times given the complexity of health care in the USA. Health care can seem like big business to many people, but but we are dedicated to and aspire to provide compassionate care to people in need as a ministry following in the steps of Jesus.

In recognition of nine years of service I received a beautiful clear cut glass dove last night. To me it symbolizes not only peace that centers one, but liberation which is synonymous with what Bon Secours is about - liberating people from all that binds, holds us back from being fully alive.

I will miss serving on this board with my fellow board members who are highly committed to this ministry and to Bon Secours. We're blessed as a ministry to have good leadership and co-workers.

Peace,
Sr. Pat

Not long ago I was asked to help give a two-day retreat for young women in high school at St. Jane's parish in Pasadena, MD. On Agusut 14, 11 junior high schoolers surprised me with their views on love after Melissa, the youth and young adult minister from the parish gave the opening talk on what it means to be loved and to be beautiful. These young women, in two groups made a collage and then spoke about having respect for self, inner beauty vs. externals, loving others, and being concerned for others as a way of loving neighbor. I was impressed by their sense of inclusion amongst each other.

The next day we had the senior high schoolers and I wondered if they'd be as inquisitive and share in the dialogue. I was surprised by their honesty and their ability to enter into the sharing. They not only shared, but wanted to know what we thought. I thought, here's the promise of the church of tomorrow. Young women who are college bound and hoping to do something with their lives. Young women for whom the church has been a part of their lives who want to be there and are not afraid to speak of their faith. At one point I found myself thinking "Yeah, go God!" I found myself energized by them.

So, my advice to myself is to have hope in young people and to find ways for them to continue to develop their faith and lives.

At the end of two days I was pretty happy with the time spent with these young women, helping to nurture their faith lives.

Sr. Pat