Jubilarian 2021 - Sister Paul Bernadette Bounk

Sister Paul Bernadette Bounk, baptized Mary Frances, was born in Jennings, Missouri. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1960 and was received into the novitiate in 1961. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Fontbonne College in 1965 and a master’s degree in religious education from Seattle University in 1973.

Sister Paul Bernadette began her ministry as an educator. She taught at St. Mary Grade School in Littleton, Colorado, (1965-71 and 1974-77) and Little Flower Grade school in Mobile, Alabama (1971-74). She was principal and teacher at St. Mary Grade School in Littleton, Colorado, from 1978 to 1982.

Sister Paul Bernadette then transitioned to pastoral ministry. She served as pastoral associate at St. Augustin Parish/Sacred Heart Parish in Republic, Michigan and at Sacred Heart/St. Agnes in Champion and Michigamme, Michigan. She also served as a pastoral administrator at Holy Family Parish in Holy Cross, Alaska.

After a sabbatical, Sister Paul Bernadette was the administrative director and associate director at Rockhaven Ecological Center in House Spring, Missouri, during the late 1990s to 2003. She also studied and received two certificates in spiritual direction.

Moving to St. Mary of the Woods, Indiana, she was a farm project worker at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice and continued spiritual direction. From 2005 to 2012, she cared for alpacas, offered spiritual direction and was the retreat director at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice.

Sister Paul Bernadette then served as a spiritual director in Terre Haute, Indiana. Today, she resides in Kirkwood, Missouri and serves in spiritual direction.

Sister Paul Bernadette is very dedicated to the preservation of the earth, and loves music, art and dance.