Green fingers: The plant lady from Ballylickey – Page 37 Heroic callings during The Irish Catholic, April 30, 2020 Irish Catholic ,xxxx | Vocations Sunday |21 The Irish Catholic, April 2330, 2020 2020 | Vocations | Vocations Sunday ||23 XXXXX ||19 The Sisters of Bon Secours are an International Religious Missionary Sisters of ies who Congregation of Catholic women based in six countr d”. The ‘We assist all who ask us’ say Vocations Ireland bring to the world “Good help to those in nee Congregation was founded by a grouprnational of 12 women,Religious led by ing services online during opportunity to keep regular tion. “It was said recently that The Sisters of Bon Secours are an Inte to nurse Our Lady of Apostles Josephine Potel, who came together in Parissix countries in 1824 who the crisis, and “break into contact through these strange ‘young people live online’ and Congregation of Catholic women based in places” where it “wouldn’t times. Another initiative has it is where we meet young the sick and the dying in their own homes, demonstratingd”. The the bring to the world “Good help to thosegh their in nee compassionate care. normally have gone”. been to update and create people. I will be putting more healing presence of Christ throu “We have seen churches resources that may be used time and energy into provid- Congregation was founded by a group of 12 women, led by Congregation’s work has broadened tosince nurse the go out to their communities into the future on social ing space for reflection and JosephineAlthough Potel, the who came together in Paris in 1824 and offer their services, which media platforms and in more prayer online. ying in their own homes, demonstrating the something I wouldn’t have traditionalA waysGift as well. of“There Life is time for greater to the World theearly sick days, and the the d core intention stays the same, to bring the their compassionate care. seen previously,” he says on reflection, solitude and healinghealing presence hand of of Christ Christ to through all those in need. since 1824 Our Mission as Sisters of Bon Secours the Church reaching out. prayer,” says Sr Ryan of the as broadened since the ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of AlthoughToday Sisters the Congregation’s minister❛❛ in healthcare, work h social services, healing, by serving “There is a real sense in ongoing coronavirus crisis. is to bring compassion and this crisis of being able to find “It has given me the oppor- earlypastoral days, andthe communitycore intention based stays ministries. the same, to bring the the harvest to send out labourers to his harvest.’ ~ troubled times ourselves,” says Fr Neville tunity to discern what is most healing hand of Christ to all those in need. God’s people in a diversity of ministries.since 1824 of his hope for more voca- valuable in life. I am thankful Matthew 9:37 In Ireland Sisters of Bon Secours are based in Cork,n just Our Mission as Sisters of Bon Secours Dublin and Tralee.❛❛ Their ministry includes more tha tions. “People, while they for the space and opportu- Today Sisters minister in healthcare, social services, healing, by serving remain very strong, will be Michelle Robertson nity to enjoy life at a slightly pastoralthe physical; and community it is a holostic based approach ministries. which includes is to bring compassion and feeling that absence of being slower pace and I value the nistries. freedoms that I have always peoples’ spiritual, psychological and emotional needs. God’s people in a diversity of mi able to come to churches and e are living through the In Ireland Sisters of Bon Secours are based in Cork,n just ecours celebrate the sacraments. strangest of times, a taken for granted until now.” DublinWe are and all Tralee. called Theirto serve. ministry It is just includes a matter more of tha finding Contact us to learn more about the Sisters of Bon S “There will be signs of turning point in human Vocation, according to Sr thethe physical; way that it isbest a holostic suits your approach interests which and talents.includes new life and new opportuni-Whistory. I’m su re we all Ryan, is “a call to live life in a s Vocations Ireland Executive ties out of this crisis, it’s the feel it, the world is on the brink of particular way” and adds that peoples’ spiritual, psychological and emotional needs. great change. now is an ideal time to “re- See our website and social media for opportunitie engagement that creates a present to our spiritual “As a woman religious As weVocations gather, physicallyIreland at separate,a Weto are come all calleand dspend to serve. some It timeis just awith matter us in prayerof finding and Aron Hegarty ecours new line of outreach.” evaluate” our lives for going Contact us to learndepths, more to nurturing about an the Sistersfor the of past Bon 50 Syears, I can Sr Carmel Ryan DC of yet spirituallyCareer Fairtogether Day inon the Vocations RDS forward. get to know the Sisters. We regularly host retreat honestly say the search for the way that best suits your interests and talents. ocations Ireland is an awareness of the Divine the Daughters of Charity, Sunday to pray, we reflect on the pur- “Many of us have the God, for meaning in life has pose of this day – A World Day of Prayer days and prayer events. rtunities association of voca- presence within.” another board member, says opportunity during this time never grown old for me and for Vocations“Many - whereby people arewe prayusing to See our website and social media for oppo tion directors from Although Sr Quinn admits most of the association’s ini- of pandemic to question, there is a “crisis of vocation”, the search for meaning now is Lord ofthese the harvest platforms to send to access out labour- “the to come and spend some time with us in prayer and religious orders,@BonSecoursIre con- | sistersofbonsecours tiatives are currently online ponderTwo and OLA reflect sisters on crossingwhat a river in V | she explains it is about “public even more urgent that ever.” ers to hisplaces harvest.” of prayer and reflec- @sistersbonsecoursirelandgregation and societies which as the pandemic disrupts the our Westcalling Africa, in life circais. 1877 get to knowwww.bonsecourssisters.ie the Sisters. We regularly host | retreat perception of the institutional The next board member Popetion Benedict during XVI these said: times “Our and provides training in ethical usual way of meeting people life is “We have during these days and prayer events. to discuss present and future to be a wegift keepof love our to mediathe presence decision-making and assess- Church” and “a crisis of Faith face-to-face. world. But times the opportunity to in relation to God”. directives is Fr Alan Neville what willupdated that look with like? some We piecesmust for The need for women ment of candidates for reli- “I keep contact with people value our relationships; our ter of Acts of the Apostles, “Cum | sistersofbonsecoursMSC of the Missionaries of the rememberpeople that tothrough use for our prayer Baptism, and gious life and | priesthood. @BonSecoursIre“What Faith provides for through email, phone and relationshipmissionaries with God, other Matre Jesu,” Maria, @sistersbonsecoursireland Sacred Heart. everyonereflection.” is called to holiness. Holiness with Mary, the Mother Over the last number of people is a lens through which Whatsapp,” she explains. “I people and oneself. Jesus. of www.bonsecourssisters.ie | “There are two things will look differentOne of thefor eachupcoming individual The story of this Religious 12-page Vocations supplement years, the association has to look at life,”We she Journey says. “Faith In The Search For Truth have been involved in a little “Perhaps this may promptorder began a The most important thing for the gives a person a way of relat- really,” he says when asked person becauseprojects God Sr Ryan works says uniquely she long time ago, back in 1876. This too My Life - Is This It? whosought to address the reality spiritual direction throughwith each soul. God gives each person somea time people of change. to re-evaluate The missi was sisters was to make contact with will be involved in is the ing to the universe, other what the challenges are ons of the people and build relationship. To the Be of life in IrelandGod and give talking to the individual ona particulardevelopment mission in oftheir appropriate vocation. howSMA they (Society live theirof African lives Missions)and h people, oneself and the divine. concerning vocations in this ad facilitate this building of relationship, professional training for those the phone as we cannot meetThis missionresources lives in for the online soul and publica is - we,extended as vocation across directors, the West willAfrican Coast “SearchersAs Dominican today are womencountry. of the “The 21st first century is the they learned the langu in the vocations ministry. and it helps them to have waitingthe to be discovered.” assistfrom Ouidahall who to ask Lagos us,” andshe thesays. priests of ages and dia- often at aWe loss asJourney to where In Themembership Search to For vocations Truth lects native to the areas in which they Discerning a vocation to religious life takes a On the topic of vocations, we strive to continue Dominic’s vision: these f ledgling missions were acutely My Life - Is This It? meantwhoyouto beto begin looking for purpose in Ireland where we will be worked and then went about opening The Irish Catholic spoke to An Extraordinary Call to aware that in order to reach the pe Be and meaning from a Faith looking at how vocations are ople schools for girls.