The foundation of the Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours of Paris was in response to a need existing in 1821-a dehumanization cried out for healing. The mission of the Sisters of Bon Secours, embodied in the charism and ministry of our foundress and first sisters, was a special gift to the Church. It made Christ present in the lives of people and in society to alleviate suffering and to bring them Christ's message of hope: There is a God who loves us.

The world today is still a body wounded and in need of healing-in need of restoration to wholeness. The Church today, exercising its prophetic role of announcing justice and denouncing injustice, is striving to help bring about this wholeness. The Sisters of Bon Secours have a great-a crucial-place in this process, because the Church's prophetic role is rooted in Christianity's deeper role, which is to heal and to liberate the heart. This is Bon Secours' work-to heal and make whole. Without the efforts of the Sisters of Bon Secours, Christianity, the Church, and Christ in our world is diminished.

Each religious congregation, through its foundress, receives the gift of an unique spirituality and charism. Each member of a religious congregation is a responsible bearer of that spirit and charism and is responsible for passing it on. To know a charism and spirit apart from the lived tradition requires knowledge of the lives and writings of those who came before us. This book is written to preserve some part of the lives and ministry of the Sisters of Bon Secours in the United States: their efforts to be faithful to the original spirit which animated the lives of our foundresses and first sisters and their efforts to be faithful servants in response to the needs of the Church and the world. It is written also to share with those whom we serve and those with whom we labor the spirit and charism of healing which is the "good help" of Bon Secours.

Sister Justine Cyr, Provincial