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The Sisters of Bon
Secours were founded in Paris in 1824, amidst the devastation following the French
Revolution. The foundation was initiated by a small group of young women who came together
in Paris in 1821 animated by a desire to bring compassionate care into the homes of the
sick and dying and the Good News of salvation with its message of joyous
hope. They placed
themselves under the direction of Josephine Potel. They nursed the sick in their homes,
whatever their social situation, especially in their last moments, revealing to them the
charity of Christ.
The
sisters work in the homes of the sick often keep them absent from the convent for days or
months at a time, bringing the message to those in their care, "There is a God who
loves you."
The
Congregation of Sisters of Bon Secours of Paris was officially recognized by the Church in
France in 1827 and by Rome in a decree issued 16th June 1875. Our Mother House (below) is still located on the site purchased in
1833. |
Since the origin, availability, loving devotion and courage in the
face of suffering and death have been the traditional strength of the Sisters of Bon
Secours.
The
dynamic force inspiring and vivifying the renewal and adaptation in our apostolic works
that time and circumstance require is rooted in the charism of our Foundress. The variety
of our apostolic works today witnesses to the constant vitality of the original charism [click to see a brief evolution]. |
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Mother House - Paris, France
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Sisters of Bon Secours continue to bring together women desirous of following Christ more
closely by uniting themselves in a particular manner with His passion, death and
resurrection. The expression of of our unity throughout the Congregation is our apostolic
activity. Generalate
The
Bon Secours Generalate is the headquarters of the International Congregation of Bon
Secours located in the Mother House in Paris France. The Generalate has been in this
location since 1833 when the site was purchased just nine years
after the foundation of the Congregation (except from 1965 to 1995 when it was temporarily
in Rome, Italy). |
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| The spirit animating our Foundress,
Josephine Potel, was that
of a living faith, enabling her to face difficulties and overcome them. Her devotion to
the person of Christ, whom she recognized in the sick and the needy, was without reserve.
This spirit was continued and the Congregation developed by Alexis
Angélique Geay, second Superior
General, who assumed the leadership of
the newfound Congregation in 1826 after the sisters suffered a severe loss in the death of
their young Foundress. |
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 The members of the General Government, Superior General and General
Councillors, are responsible for leading the Congregation in the spirit of the Gospel to
promote unity and vitality and to encourage its growth. Through interaction of the
Generalate with the other units of the Congregation (Provinces) mutual support and
knowledge is fostered to strengthen the mission of the Congregation and the bonds of
unity. Bon Secours Provinces
From the foundation, the Sisters of Bon Secours wished serve
wherever a need was present, serving the universal Church rather than just one Diocese.
Today, with the Congregation’s headquarters in Paris, the Sisters of Bon Secours
minister to the sick and suffering in France,
Ireland, England, Scotland, the United States,
and Peru.
These
countries are organized into five Provinces of Bon Secours (boundaries of which are
usually determined by geographic location.). The Provinces are governed by Sisters elected
within the Province as Provincial and as Provincial Councilors to oversee the life and
mission there. The cultural variety of each Province is treasured and promoted as a
Congregation richness which strengthens the Charism. Bon Secours’ objective is to
renew life and bring a message of hope. In developing nations afflicted by poverty, health
care may consist of teaching basic cleanliness and nutrition as well as working for
justice. In modern cities it may consist of fighting chemical addiction, abuse and
inadequate housing. In rural parishes, Bon Secours offers special care to the most
vulnerable members of society. In the Bon Secours Health Systems in three of the Provinces
compassionate, quality care is offered in modern health care settings. |
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