SAVE THIS DATEApril 22, 2026 (Earth Day) ZOOM at 4pm PDT (7pm EDT) BACAR, Inc. Forum #25Bay Area Conference of Associates, Affiliates, Friends, and Religious, Inc. “Covenant | Commitment | Courage”Sister Bridget Bearss, RSCJ
Dear Friends of BACAR, Greetings to you this early Spring! We hope that BACAR, Inc. will be part of your plans for this Earth Day, April 22, 2026! We have invited Sister Bridget Bearss, RSCJ, for our twenty-fifth forum entitled “Covenant | Commitment | Courage”.Sr. Bridget brings us a wealth of connections that will make this presentation a special time to come together. In the complexities of the challenges in our midst – personal, community, and global – we will explore the relationship between Covenant and Courage, listening deeply to the prophetic call of the Gospel and the challenges to live with moral courage grounded in contemplative love. As we celebrate Earth Day 2026, we will let the mystery of emerging life guide us as we confront the real challenges of our time while trusting our inner experience to help us address the question, “What is the work that is ours to do… now?” Sister Bridget, RSCJ, is the Associate Director for Transformative Justice at the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and brings to us her vision and insights based on her leadership roles in LCWR, Network Lobby, Pax Christi, the Climate Covenant, and other major groups. Bridget Bearss, RSCJ, is an educator, artist-writer, activist for the Beatitudes, and facilitator of processes to build and strengthen the experience of communities of dialogue, justice, and hope.
As a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart, United States-Canada Province, she is also currently serving as Executive Director of a work within her congregation, Stuart Center for Mission. Stuart Center hosts the work of the United States-Canada Province, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation office, provides conference space for religious communities and faith based non-profit groups to gather, retreat, and create. As a Religious of the Sacred Heart, the integration of contemplation and apostolic mission into a single movement is a source of both inspiration and life-integration for her. It is the journey of living from the heart of God into the heart of the world that most characterizes her journey. We welcome you to this challenging, inspirational, and engaging event on April 22, 2026! Kathy Noether and Judy BorlandCo-directors of BACAR, Inc. BACAR, Inc. Forum #25Bay Area Conference of Associates, Affiliates, Friends, and Religious, Inc.“Covenant | Commitment | Courage”Sister Bridget Bearss, RSCJAssociate Director for Transformative Justice Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Date: April 22, 2026 4:00pm-5:15pm PST, 7:00pm-8:15pm EST Via Zoom
Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK was the presenter at BACAR’s 21st Gathering at Notre Dame High School, in Belmont, CA on September 21, 2019. Simone shared her insights on the intersection of faith, contemplation, and doing justice.
Simone reminded the assembled that Prayer is not a private practice, but rather one that impels us into action. She invited us to explore the call to engage this chaotic and painful world.”
Below are pictures from the event.
Simone Campbell, SSS
Participants at Notre Dame HS
Ann, SND Associate & Elizabeth, BVM Associates
BVM Associates, Carmella and Valerie
BVM Associates, Marilyn & Grace
Vivian with OSF Associates from Washington
Discussion at Gathering
Participants
Kathy, SND Associate & Kathi, Holy Family Associate, Members of BACAR Board Members
Sister Pat Bombard, BVM gave a presentation in Nairobi, Kenya to Sisters who feted her at the end of the Workshop. Sister Pat teaches at DePaul University, Chicago and does outreach in Kenya and China. Click on Arrows to the top left to make video full screen.
Sr. Patricia M. Bombard, BVM, D.Min. Director of Vincent on Leadership: The Hay Project at DePaul University
Patricia M. Bombard, BVM, D.Min., serves at DePaul University as director of Vincent on Leadership: The Hay Project, which conducts research, training and education furthering the leadership legacy of Saint Vincent de Paul.
In addition, the Project is the DePaul base for the Chinese Leadership Initiative (CLI), a four-week summer program of leadership development begun in 2011 for native priests and women religious who live and minister in China. As a CLI co-coordinator and program director, Dr. Bombard guides program and curriculum development and assists with fundraising, evaluation and reporting.
Dr. Bombard also directs a partnership between DePaul University and Tangaza University College in Nairobi, Kenya to identify and train a team of local facilitators to develop a leadership program for women religious unique to the African context and research its impact.
Her own international teaching and travel experiences include Australia, China, Ecuador, India, Ireland, Kenya, South Africa and the Philippines.
Associates and BVMs Celebrate Renewal of Associate Promises and BVM Vows.
With virtual presence 11 members of the BVM family gathered in the Sunnyvale home of BVMs to pray, renew commitment, and socialize. Present virtually were BVMs from Washington, DC, Belmont, CA, and Associates from Ashland, OR, Los Gatos and Pacifica, CA. Following the prayer Associates and BVMs continued the celebration with a hearty meal. The roses in front of the prayer table add to the remembrance of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Welcoming New Associates to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, CA
The Sisters and Associates of Notre Dame de Namur welcomed six women at the Celebration of Commitment ceremony held at the Belmont, CA, Province Center on March 11, 2018. Cari Alexander, Mary Chan, Laura Leon, Karen Rende, LaVerne Vitale, and Partner in Mission – Patti Andrews each were graciously introduced by their Companion On their Journey, and then each gave a few words defining their reasons for choosing to be an integral part of Notre Dame. These women of courage spoke so generously from their hearts that it gave us all pause to remember the joy of being on this spiritual journey together with the Sisters of Notre Dame.
We weredeeply grateful to Associates Shyrl McCormick and Joanne Rossi for leading our new Associates towards their initial commitment. It was a growing experience for new and old, sisters and Associates, who participated in the Saturday sessions planned for the women seeking to become part of the Notre Dame Family. The leaders provided sessions that would be unique and enriching for the candidates andfor Sisters and Associates who joined them to share in praying together, relationship building, and getting to know the community of SND’s and Associates. This bonding effort helped to create the experience of community through prayer, sharing, and support.
Monthly an invitation was sent to Sisters and Associates saying, “We are hoping you will be able to participate in some of the Saturday gatherings while the candidates will be discerning and preparing for their commitment. Even if you don’t have a formal role, you will be acquainting our candidates with the community to which they belong. Come be with us and enhance our experience of prayer, story-telling, learning, support and inspiration.” Throughout the sessions it was apparent that a truly significant contribution to the process came from Sisters who joined in the sessions and shared their stories, remembrances and reflections. All these things came up spontaneously out of the conversations while inspiring knowledge and understanding.
Shyrl and Joanne invited Sisters and Associates to plan monthly Saturday sessions with themes including: Sisters of Notre Dame – Founded on Friendship; Spirituality and Prayer; Sisters and Associates Partnering in Mission; Discerning Association as a Way of Life;Peace and Justice; and finally, the Commitment Retreat. The Candidates were welcomed to all events the sisters and Associates have had throughout the year. One of our sisters, Sr. Kay McMullen, prepared and led the prayer experiences for all of the sessions before she became seriously ill. These rich and spiritually alive presentations concluded with the Associate Commitment Ceremony and Celebration in March.
Together all Sisters and Associates present this March day recommitted themselves to the mission and charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur established by Saint Julie Billiart and her dear friend, Francoise Blin, in 1804. The Call of Notre Dame Associates draws ‘women and men, living their baptismal call in the spirit of St. Julie Billiart. They have experienced a strong attraction to Saint Julie, who proclaimed God’s goodness throughout her entire life. Based on their desire to grow in Notre Dame spirituality and mission, these women and men have a special relationship to the SNDs,” stated on the SNDdeN website – www.sndden.org. These women have personified the gift of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur that the “Good God is so very good” (Saint Julie Billiart)!
BACAR has a theme of action for the year 2018-2019 particularly with homelessness, immigration and trafficking. After the last DG which focused on Joan Chittester’s article “Let the Call Be Heard”
At the last meeting the time spent in reflection and discussion was rich and reminded of us our deep commitment to the individual charisms embedded in each of our congregations. It is also true that this affirmation inspires each of us to continue the Call with renewed energy and focus, particularly as we share compassionate goals. Mark Piper in his article found in the NCR, August 23, 2018 says The largest factors that attract new associates are:
Join Us at these BACAR Discussion Groups September 8, 2018 at 1399 Santee Drive, San Jose. Topic: Homelessness
May 18, 2019 (at either Holy Spirit in Campbell or Notre Dame Province Center)
September 21, 2019: BACAR Conference tentatively at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz.
We decided to go with 3 meetings instead of 4 this coming year, and one of these will be an event rather than a discussion group. It is not firm yet but tentatively a movie on trafficking at Notre Dame HS Belmont in their theater for January. Not definite!!)
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious recently published an article on resistance. “Resistance as a response to injustice and social sin has received a surprising signal boost in 2017. From protests against police brutal- ity and executive orders, to creative displays at marches for women’s rights or climate justice, or even as a trending hashtag on social media, resistance is suddenly on the radar of the body politic.” To read full article LCWR_rta4-17
Some members of BACAR Board and friends at the NACAR Retreat in Racine Wisconsin.
Some of BACAR Board, Judy Borland, Kathi Goodman, Kathy Noether, and former Board member Kathy Harrington
To the left Franciscan Associate friends in Dubuque, Iowa after NACAR Conference (in the Franciscan Motherhouse Chapel) – Deb Albert, Kathi Goodman, Virginia Busch, Kathy Herrington, Franciscan, and Kathy Noether
Pledge of Nonviolence; Many Religious Congregations and their Associates have studied, prayed and reflected on the Pledge of Nonviolence. The BVMs as others have a corporate stance on nonviolence and encourage Associates and Religious to ritualize their taking the pledge and being affirmed by others. On April 30, 2017 in Sunnyvale, CA, Associates: Carmella, Susan, Carol, Barbara, Kay, Valerie, and by Zoom: Marilyn, and Linda, and BVMs Dee, Marilyn, Bette, and Elizabeth took the pledge of nonviolence during a prayer and discussion on nonviolence living.
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On Saturday March 18, 2017 the Quarterly BACAR Discussion Group met to reflect and discuss Leadership possibilities in their Associate Family. Holy Names, Notre Dame, Holy Family, BVM, RSCJ, and Dominicans of Peace Associates attended the gathering. The Zoom group included, Conni, a Dominican of Peace Associate from Ohio, Lori, a BVM Associate and Director of Life and Mission for the BVMs from Iowa, and Nancy, a Holy Family Associate from Utah. It was a great gathering of folk.
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The Sisters of Notre Dame DeNamur have a video
of the 2017 January 21, March. Click on picture below
The Women’s March in San Jose gathered Associates,Sisters, Families, Friends, and other Advocates for Women’s Issues.
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On Saturday January 14, 2017 Associates Gathered at the Sisters of the Holy Family Motherhouse to begin the discussion of the Leadership Structure of Associate Communities and Sustainability of Associates. Next meeting is March 18, 2017 at the Sisters of the Holy Names in Campbell, California. Check calendar for details.
BACAR, Inc. 