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Sr. rose marie Jasinski being
s i s t e r s i n m i n i s t r y
blessed when newly elected as
congregation leader in 2019.
Sr. Rose Marie Jasinski: • Acquiring a much-needed
new piano for the Chapel and
Reflecting on Ten Years as Leader installing handrails on the altar
steps, improving accessibility.
• Leading a group of about
of the Sisters of Bon Secours, USA 18 staff on a pilgrimage to the Bon
Secours Motherhouse in Paris to
share the very rich heritage of the
Sr. roSE mariE JaSiNSki BEGaN HEr
Sr. Rose Marie Jasinski visits with a student at Sisters Academy. Sisters of Bon Secours with them.
tErm aS lEadEr oF tHE SiStErS oF
BoN SECoUrS, USa, at tHE CoNClUSioN Early on, the sisters in the As Sr. Rose Marie completed her term as Leader of the
oF tHE 2009 CHaPtEr aNd SErvEd iN United States were very Sisters of Bon Secours, USA, she was elected Congregation
attentive to implementing Leader at the 2019 Chapter. She says, “The transition to
tHat rolE For 10 yEarS. tHiS WaS
the Mission Focus Statement, Congregation Leader was certainly helped by the fact that
aN ExCitiNG timE For tHE SiStErS,
as stated at the Chapter. I was on the Congregation Team for 10 years. In some
aS tHE CoNGrEGatioN Had JUSt Our sisters, for example, spent ways, I knew what to expect.”
votEd oN tHE rESolUtioN to significant time at assemblies
CHaNGE itS GovErNaNCE modEl and on committees learning She goes on to explain how shortly after becoming
to CrEatE a CoNGrEGatioN how to better implement our Congregation Leader, COVID-19 changed everything.
call to “care for all creation …” Travel bans restricted all in-person gathering meetings,
WitHoUt ProviNCE BoUNdariES.
T more frequently to the other countries and meeting join us for presentations and discussions on this topic. ‘‘ tO enhanCe a Better SenSe OF
and most of the the work is now done via Zoom.
The sisters expanded attendance at our assemblies by
inviting other women and men religious in the area to
his came after a five-year process
of study, research, surveys and much
so many of our sisters across the Congregation.
COnneCtedneSS, we haVe held
committee work to form this new model
SeVeral zOOM gatheringS aCrOSS
In pre-COVID-19 times, we had the opportunity
Among Sr. Rose Marie’s many accomplishments,
of governance. While the vote was met
to meet in person as a Congregation Team four
the COngregatiOn where eVeryOne
a few of the things she was most proud of during her
with great enthusiasm, there was still
tO CatCh Up, Share CUrrent
much work to do locally to implement
• The Sisters of Bon Secours’ membership in the Asylee
“Over my many years in ministry, I’ve discovered that
experienCeS and ‘See’ One anOther.”
the many changes it entailed. times a year,” says Sr. Rose Marie. 10 years as leader were: iS inVited tO jOin a Call, jUSt
I really love creating new things; that I love having Women Enterprise, an organization that journeys with — Sr. rOSe Marie jaSinSKi
One of the most significant changes was that individual variety in my life. This opportunity to serve as a asylum seekers as they rebuild their lives, enabling the
sisters were elected to the Congregation Team and then Country Leader certainly gave me both. I enjoyed Sisters of Bon Secours to assist several women with “It has been very invigorating for all of us to see the smiles
appointed to serve as the leader in one of the countries. working with the directors of the various ministries to housing and support at Marriottsville. on the faces of friends we haven’t seen for a while. Of
The Congregation Team serves as the primary canonical support their efforts and, hopefully, encourage their • Significantly reducing the use of plastics and disposables course, our excellent translators facilitate the sharing.”
governing body of the Congregation. growth and development as leaders. I also very much at the Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center
enjoyed working with the sisters, as together we gave as we work toward saving our planet. Sr. Rose Marie is looking forward to being able to
“My term as the United States leader was a brand-new life to the new governance model and the Mission • Major renovations and upgrades on Marian Hall to resume her travels and to meet in person with our
experience for all of us. A big change for me was travelling Focus Statement.” improve the home of our elderly and infirmed sisters. sisters around the globe.
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