1833
At the request of the Archbishop of Paris, Mère Angelique Geay
(2nd Superior General) accepted the charge of caring for abandoned girls that a French
woman had gathered into her house to save them from the street. It was said by Archbishop
de Quelan that the orphanage in Paris was "healing a wound".
1861 In spite of many
requests, Mère Geay did not agree to make foundation in other countries because she
believed that Bon Secours was not strong enough to do this at that time. The third
Superior General, Mère Cecile, took this risk/step, and in 1861 Bon Secours ventured to
Dublin, Ireland to nurse the people in their homes. This was the first foundation beyond
the boundaries of France.
1871 Bon Secours was made
another foundation "beyond boundaries" in 1871 when they sent Sisters to London,
a predominately Protestant country, to care for the sick in spite of the war on the
continent.
1881 Bon Secours'
implantation in the "New World" occurred when the Bon Secours took the
courageous step was taken to cross the Atlantic to the United States of America in 1881.
The US was still "missionary" territory at the time. (It was not until 1911 that
the Church removed the United States from missionary status.) This was in response to an
invitation to care for the sick in their homes urged by the people and the Church of
Baltimore.
1900 The changing needs
associated with the care of the sick in the early 1900's called for a new response. Due to
changing and advancing technology and changes in society, care of the sick was moving from
the homes of patients to hospitals where the patient went to receive improved care. As
health care institutions grew, Bon Secours responded to the need to enter into
institutional health care - hospitals, clinics and nursing homes for the elderly.
1920-1930 The number of
Sisters staying in the homes ("en Garde" as it was called in French) diminished.
Another new way to respond to the growing need was for the Sisters to nurse in parish
sectors. This brought them more involvement in parish work and catechizes, especially near
to the children.
1957 In response to a
call from a Bishop in Chad, Africa the Sisters opened a house in Lere, a small medical
home for small sick children had as its mission/purpose to struggle against child deaths
and to educate the mothers.
1960 From hospital
pastoral care the sisters moved into Parish work. Since that time, ministry in Pastoral
Care and the parish is being carried out in all Provinces. In 1969 when the Sisters in the
U.S. moved into Pastoral Care this later led to formation of the Clinical Pastoral
Education (C.P.E). programs for training hospital Chaplains.
1965 Change in Structures
- Vatican II called religious to return to their original/founding charism. Post Vatican
II, the Sisters began movement from the former model of religious life to set in motion a
profound renewal both within the life of the Congregation and in its institutions where,
for the greatest part, our mission was carried out. Individual Sisters assumed personal
responsibility. New structures of participative government were developed and discernment
and dialogue about how the gifts and skills of the Sisters could best be distributed in
the mission was entered into, These steps in renewal helped to re-discover the richness of
our Charism and to develop new ways and new areas in which it would be implemented. The
search to be faithful to and to redefine our original charism for modern society brought
various changes in all areas of our life: community living; formation of new members;
government and mission.
1966 In response of a
call from the Universal Church to assist the people of South America and in answering to
an invitation from the Bishop of Cork to take part in the Cork Mission in Peru, the
Sisters of Bon Secours, Irish Province, opened a Mission in La Esperanza, Peru. This was
an area of new towns in the desert with a population of approximately 25,000 people who
had come down from the mountains seeking a livelihood and education for their children.
This is why the sisters were sent to Peru. These were dedicated women sorely needed in the
barriadas of Trujillo, in the fields of health care, education and catechetics. (In 1979
seeing a need for the Peruvian women to remain in their own country for formation as
Sisters of Bon Secours, a Novitiate House was opened in Lima, Peru.)
1979 In a movement to
strengthen the Bon Secours mission and delivery of health care the Provinces began to
establish Health Systems. This change in structure freed some Sisters to answer other
needs, especially among the poor, and it provided the Bon Secours Health Facilities with
the best possible way to move into the future - providing compassionate, quality health
care in collaboration with the laity:
Formation of Bon Secours Health System, USA. 1979
Formation of Bon Secours Health System, Great Britain 1990
Formation of Bon Secours Health System, Ireland. 1991
1981 The U.S.A. Province
formed a program of Associate Membership to help enable the laity assume their
"rightful role in the church". In 1986 a lay Affiliate Program was established
in the French Province.
1986 A Justice Committee
was formed in the U.S.A. Province involving the Sisters and Laity. The "Self
help" group was formed in Peru.
1987 Answering the call
to care for the sick in Salitral, Peru, the Sisters extended their mission to the north of
Peru in the Diocese of Chulacanus. This took the Sisters beyond the boundaries of the Cork
mission.
1991 A small community
was formed in Wichanzao, Peru, as a result of a decision to live among the poor people in
a new/forming Puebla/community.
1991 Answering yet other
needs among the poor the Sister of Bon Secours, France opened a mission in Portoviejo,
Ecuador.
1993 The USA Province
opened a mission in Riobamba, Ecuador, Latin America.
1995 The Mission in Peru
was established as a Province of the Congregation.
1997 The US Province established a lay
Volunteer Ministry program.
Other developments of recent years:
- Social care- In answer to the needs,
Sisters have responded to social needs in forming and working for: Day Centers; Down and
Out Centers; Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Evangelization through Education; Counseling and care
of people living with AIDS.
- Alternative Medicine
- Holistic Medicine
- Hospice Care
- Basic Christian Communities
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