Vocation News

Bernadette Claps, a division administrator for Catholic Charities of Metuchen Diocese in NJ is looking forward to entering the Sisters of Bon Secours on February 11, 2006, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes at a welcoming ritual here at Marriottsville. Bernie comes with a background in social work, counseling and administration. "The charism resonates deeply with me," says Bernie who believes, "…it's an important gift to the Church."

To be a part of a community that embraces the values of God's healing and liberating work in people's lives would continue to animate and support." She is excited about her upcoming entrance. She will spend a month in orientation at Marriottsville before beginning a ministry at Bon Secours Baltimore Health System.

Candidates Marjorie Beary of Miami, Florida and Deborah Mitchell of Manhattan, New York, entered the Congregation and were officially welcomed by the Sisters of Bon Secours during a Ritual on November 21, the Feast of the Presentation of Mary, in the Chapel at the Provincial House in Marriottsville, Maryland. Sisters, families, friends and associate members witnessed their presentation and acceptance for entrance. They received a medal of Our Lady of Bon Secours, the Sisters' Bon Secours logo pin, and the Companion to the Breviary. Deborah, who first contacted the sisters via the internet, owned a limo transportation franchise, provided personal care for homebound elderly and brings a varied set of skills that include being a flight attendant to debt counseling. She looks forward to a ministry as a case assessment specialist for the homeless.

Marj has experience as a health science librarian and as a volunteer working with homeless AIDS patients. She has a passion for working with the sick and dying and brings gifts and skills in research, analysis, teaching, computer programming, as well as pastoral experience. Her ministry will call upon her teaching and research skills in the education and community ministries departments. After their month long orientation at the Provincial House, Marj will be missioned to work and live in community in Greenville, SC and Deborah will be living with the sisters in the Port Charlotte community. During the Candidacy phase of formation, they will focus on community life and learn more about the Bon Secours charism and mission.

Elizabeth Keith of Greenville, SC, became the first laywoman to become a member of the Vocation Formation Team. Traditionally Vocation Formation Team members have been Sisters of Bon Secours. Over the last four years the Sisters have invited the laity and others to collaborate with them in inviting not only women to consider a vocation, but to also invite men and women to consider associate membership or the lay volunteer ministry program, as well as becoming a colleague in one of our many ministries. In an effort to expand the team's membership, it was natural to approach an associate member (who happens to be a colleague at Bon Secours-St. Francis Health System) to become a member. Liz, also married, has been an associate member for seven years and worked in Bon Secours Health System for nearly 10 years. She is currently the VP of Mission for the local Greenville health system. She brings a wealth of life and professional experience. Among her notable experiences has been coordinating and leading medical mission trips to our province in Peru to provide health care to those in need. Liz feels honored and privileged to serve in this capacity.

An Ad Hoc Communication Strategy Group is working with Paulist Media Works to develop a communication campaign. The purpose is to increase the visibility of the Sisters of Bon Secours to various publics, encourage and increase contact with us, identify how and where to reach young women, develop a distribution plan to get our message out, and identify a consistent message and appropriate media, tools and resources for vocation promotion. Co-workers at four local health systems that Bon Secours sponsor are giving feedback on what they know and do not know about the Sisters through an online survey and focus groups. This information will help provide valuable information about what and how we communicate who we are as a congregation of women religious. It will also be useful as we consider new ways to invite others to consider a vocation to Bon Secours.

From October 27-29, 18,000 youth, youth ministers and chaperones descended on Atlanta for a three-day conference sponsored by the National Federation of Youth Ministers. Presentations on faith, catechesis, and human development highlighted the conference, along with continual onstage performers. Thousands of young people dropped by the Sisters of Bon Secours' exhibit and every bit of promotional materials was distributed.
College Discernment Group: An introduction to Campus Minister Mary Ellen Pitard of William and Mary College in Williamsburg, facilitated by Sr. Pat Eck's sister Ginger, led to the development of a monthly women's discernment group facilitated by vocation director, Sr. Pat Dowling.

Now in its second year, seven young women ranging from sophomores to seniors are beginning the process. Vocation work takes the long view when it comes to helping people discover where God is calling them. Highly motivated, these young women are learning skills for discerning how to look at life options in a Christian context. The group begins with prayer and then after some input, the women share their reflections from assignments for the last month. Individual conferences also allow women to discuss any issues on their minds. Last year the process led several women to make major decisions about their future.

One senior decided to take a year to explore religious life more and perhaps consider teaching grade school as a career. A sophomore came to the decision to change her major from teaching to integrating psychology and social services because she feels strongly about working with the poor and wonders where this may lead. Her parents and others affirmed her in this decision. A chemistry major accepted a campus ministry internship because she feels drawn to share her love of God with others more. And, a junior confirmed her decision to decline the presidency of the catholic center to focus on her senior paper year, and is excited about accompanying another student through the RCIA process as an alternative. Each young woman began with a decision to discern and each came to her own decision about her future through a process for which she took ownership. What is important is that these young women have learned something about Christian decision making which will serve them for a lifetime.

A local Baltimore lay volunteer group of men and women has begun a year-long process to learn discernment skills so that they can make a decision about what comes next after their year-ends. Sr. Pat Dowling is facilitating the group and leading them through a process that will allow them to consider and weigh options they will explore about their future. The process is based on Ignatian Spirituality and as these young men and women consider their future they will learn skills that can be used in making decisions concerning any aspect of their life.