The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis

Welcome and thank you for visiting us!

Our Sisters invite you to learn more about us, our life together as a Religious Community, our Franciscan spirituality, and how we give our lives to God through serving His Church and His people today.

The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis are a community actively engaged in caring for the sick, the poor, the injured, the aged and the dying. This legacy was entrusted to us by God and our Founders, Mother M. Frances Krasse, OSF and Bishop John Lancaster Spalding, over 130 years ago. It is sacred ground where we encounter Christ and love and serve Him. This is the source of our greatest joy!

God calls individuals to give their lives to Him in religious consecration and He does this for His own wonderful and mysterious reasons. He takes the little that we bring and blesses it and makes it more than enough to accomplish His Will. St. Francis of Assisi simply wrote of this God Who is so good: “Thank you, God, for You!”

The Church calls religious to holiness and to continually renew and deepen their lives of consecration. We are actively engaged in this ongoing journey of renewal and find joy and hope in the journey. Only to the degree that we are united to this wonderful God can we accomplish what He asks of us in the service of His people.

Share your comments or suggestions with us regarding our web site and how we can make it more helpful. You are welcome to write or call us, or come for a visit to experience our life as you seek God’s will for you.

The God Who calls is the God Who leads us and walks with us every step of the way for He is good, so good! We have nothing to fear!

In the words of St. Francis: God bless you with Peace and All that is GOOD!

Pax et Bonum!

Sister Judith Ann, OSF

Major Superior

The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis

East Peoria, Illinois

A Eucharistic Congress September 11-12, 2009

All are invited to attend a Eucharistic Congress on September 11-12, 2009 in Washington, DC at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Congress, entitled Sacrifice of Enduring Love, is sponsored by the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR). There is no charge for admission to the two-day event that will consist of: celebration of the Liturgy, conferences and catechesis, Eucharistic adoration and procession, and other activities focusing on the Eucharist. Three vocations will be explored in-depth — the Priesthood, Religious Life, and Marriage.

Speakers include: Justin Cardinal Rigali, Seán Cardinal O’Malley, Marc Cardinal Ouellet, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Archbishop Edwin O’Brien, Rev. Eduardo Chávez, Rev. Bernard Murphy, CFR; Rev. David Toups, STD; Mother Ann Marie, OP; Sr. Maria del Cenaculo Perez, SSVM; Terry Polakovic, Executive Director of ENDOW; Rev. Thomas Rosica of Salt and Light Television; Laura Molla, daughter of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, and her husband Giuseppe Pannuti; Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus; Kerri Caviezel, Cecilia Sone, and others.

In addition to other displays, a piece of the actual tilma of St. Juan Diego will be exhibited. For more information about the Congress, visit www.cmswr.org or write: P.O. Box 4467, Washington, DC 20017.