Transition: A Call to New Ministry

     When Sister Mildred Busch was asked to be the community representative to healthcare sponsorship in 2000, she understood the meaning of transition very well. Having been in education and had, as she says, “the best of all worlds” for 36 years,  that transition was made at no small cost.

     Her initial reaction was a sense of unpreparedness as it involved a new and huge learning curve, requiring a lot of time spent in study about healthcare in general and Avera in particular. Healthcare was not entirely new to S. Mildred, however, as she had been on boards of Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, and Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Lincoln, NE, since 1976.

     Presently S. Mildred is chair of the Avera System board, having served four years as chair of the System Members. She is one of six sisters who are system members representing the Benedictine and Presentation   Sisters’  sponsoring  authority.  She is

also on the board of Avera St. Luke’s, Aberdeen, and Avera Holy Family, Estherville, IA.

The nature of her ministry requires Sister Mildred to spend a lot of time in study and reading about healthcare issues. 

     S. Mildred indicates that she enjoys the huge challenge of healthcare ministry, and “it has certainly broadened my outlook on ministry in general and healthcare in particular.” Perhaps the biggest challenge comes in trying to keep up with all the financial, government, and church aspects of healthcare. The System Members are responsible for promoting the mission of Avera Health and exercising oversight of that mission, which is  to make a positive impact in the lives and health of persons and communities. “We do this,” she says, “by being rooted in the Gospel and providing quality services guided by Christian values.”

     While in education as an elementary and junior high principal and teacher, “I was involved,” S. Mildred comments, “in very hands-on activity and ministered directly among the people. In healthcare it is much more oversight and board work.” Because she is not responsible for the daily running of hospitals, clinics, homes for the elderly, etc., she perhaps does also on the board of Avera St. Luke’s, Aberdeen, and Avera Holy Family, Estherville, IA.

     S. Mildred indicates that she enjoys the huge challenge of healthcare ministry, and “it has certainly broadened my outlook on ministry in general and healthcare in particular.” Perhaps the biggest challenge comes in trying to keep up with all the financial, government, and church aspects of healthcare. The System Members are responsible for promoting the mission of Avera Health and exercising oversight of that mission, which is  to make a positive impact in the lives and health of persons and communities. “We do this,” she says, “by being rooted in the Gospel and providing quality services guided by Christian values.”

     While in education as an elementary and junior high principal and teacher, “I was involved,” S. Mildred comments, “in very hands-on activity and ministered directly among the people. In healthcare it is much more oversight and board work.” Because she is not responsible for the daily running of hospitals, clinics, homes for the elderly, etc., she perhaps does not make the same practical differences in this ministry. “Some days I miss that ‘hands-on’ aspect, but nevertheless, feel my ministry is essential to good sponsorship, and I see this transition as another gift—maybe the ‘best of all worlds’ again!” “I seem to have more time for monastic life and prayer,” Sister Mildred muses,  “and that is certainly something to be excited about.”  

S. Mildred is also the manager of the monastery gift shop, which opened in 2000.

Sister Mildred shows a new addition the gift shop book section to another sister.

   She is one of seven children of the late Walter and Mildred Busch of Garretson. She entered the monastery after her first year at Mount Marty, impressed with how the sisters enjoyed and treated each other.