Mary Bernard is her religious name. She was born Verena Bütler, the fourth of eight children in Aux, Switzerland. She was a happy girl: smart, and a lover of nature. Verena finished her studies at the age of 14 and dedicated herself to work on the farm. She fell in love with a young man, but also experienced God calling her to Himself. Verena decided to end the relationship and pursue a life dedicated completely to God. She entered the local monastery, but soon realized that it was not for her. She decided to join the Franciscan Monastery of Mary Help of Sinners in Altstätten and took the name Mary Bernard. She held various leadership roles in the community until she accepted a call to go on mission in Ecuador. She was accompanied by 6 other sisters and they worked to spread the gospel as they served the local poor. In 1895, persecutions against the church arose in Ecuador and Mother Bernard along with 14 other sisters left for Cartagena, Colombia. Blessed Mary Bernard Bütler spent the rest of her life serving in Colombia until her death on May 19, 1924.