In this 25th year of ministry, BSVM is highlighting different alumni who share the ways in which they are living into the charism and mission of the Sisters of Bon Secours years after their time with BSVM concluded. Each alum has been marked by stories of compassion, healing, and liberation from their community and ministry placements, and their lives now reflect aspects of their growth and transformation, from informing how and where they work to decisions related to neighborhood placement, community life, and more. We are grateful for their continued faithfulness in being Good Help wherever they find themselves.
This month is a story from our very first Ministry Volunteer – it’s a treat to hear her bear witness to the many ways God moved during and since her time with BSVM!
Living the Mission
By Kristine Corbett (BSVM 1999-2000)
A Graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago
Twenty-five years ago, during my senior year of college, I was not certain what my next step was going to be. That is, until a mentor introduced me to the Catholic Volunteer Network. At that time, the directory of organizations was a small paperback booklet. That aging, weathered collection of pages could fit in the palm of hand, yet it held a power that changed my path in life.
I selected three organizations in three very different locations, and finally made my decision by asking myself, “Who needs the most help?” Intuitively, I knew it was the west side of Baltimore. It was also the first year of the Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry program, and I was ready to be a pioneer. Sister Pat Dowling guided and inspired me as I began working as a case worker at the Women’s Resource Center, which was just across the street from Bon Secours Hospital, now known as Grace Medical Center.
The Women’s Resource Center is a place where women are treated as guests rather than clients. It is a loving, home-like environment where women, who are facing housing insecurity, domestic violence, unemployment, and physical or mental health issues, can drop-in to access basic quality-of-life services and be connected to other local resources. My time there was both challenging and rewarding. The greatest gift from that year was the unexpected reciprocal experiences and relationships that helped me. Our guests taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I am grateful for these women and their strength to carry on under the most difficult of circumstances.
Twenty-five years later, I continue to rely upon the mission of the Sisters of Bon Secours. As a nurse, a civil servant at the Food and Drug Administration, a mother of four, a basketball coach, a writer, and while navigating day to day life, I am guided by “good help to those in need.” In honor of the Sisters and their endless good help, love, and support, I have highlighted precious moments from my year of service in my memoir that is now with an editor. This book unfolded after I was cured of a rare medical condition that took its toll on me for over two decades. While healing both physically and emotionally, I began writing about my challenges and how I overcame them. The Charism of Bon Secours, “to bring God’s healing, compassion and liberation to people in need,” is an intricate part of my triumph.
Happy Anniversary and thank you to the Sisters of Bon Secours and to Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry!
Kristine with her spouse, Mary
Kristine’s kids all had something special in common: they were all baptized in the Sisters of Bon Secours Chapel!
Kristine with other early Bon Secours Ministry Volunteers from 1999 and 2000