The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis

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Institute on Religious Life - 2010 National Meeting

This annual event is held every year at Mundelein Seminary just outside of Chicago. Come for the free Saturday youth session and visit the vocation fair, listen to great talks, see religious from around the country and attend Mass with them. Take this time also to visit Marytown’s perpetual adoration chapel and see the St. Maximillian Kolbe shrine.

Made for More - 2010 FOCUS National Conference

The Fellowship of Catholic University Students is having their national conference in Orlando over New Year. Many young adults found the last one to be a very inspiring and life changing event.

Spirit of Hope Concert

For the second year in a row the Peoria area will be treated and thrilled by the sounds of John McDermott in a benefit concert for the Radiation Oncology Program at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center on November 21, 2009. The event begins with a musical interlude and Mass at the Cathedral. John brings along with him not only special guest performers, but also the hope that comes with supporting a cause close to the hearts of many…cancer.

Annual Motherhouse Bazaar

This year’s annual bazaar is on November 20-21, which is a Friday and Saturday. All proceeds to go to the missions.

Sr. Judith Ann’s Feastday and Mother Frances’ Death Anniversary - October 28, 2009

We actually celebrated these on October 24, so that we could all be there. The major superior’s feastday is always a fun day because we are all together. That day the community Mass is offered for her. We offer her spiritual bouquets and gifts including all our handiwork for the year. Most of these items will go to the annual bazaar.

Transitus and Feast of St. Francis - October 3-4, 2009

With Franciscans all over the world, we celebrate St. Francis’ passing to eternal life on the night of October 3, the eve of his feast. We call this the Transitus. During the Transitus we read the account of St. Francis’ death, along with the readings and prayers they prayed that night nearly 800 years ago. Click here to read the account of St. Francis death.

Visit to the FSJB Convent - September 6, 2009

The Franciscan Sisters of John the Baptist moved into their new convent in January. They are all unpacked and moved in now and they invited us over for a visit and tour. We were finally able to find a date that worked for all of us in September. We prayed in their new chapel, they took us on a tour and we had a nice coffee break afterwards. Sister Faustina, FSJB had baked all kinds of treats and the Sisters had put together a slideshow too. We all really enjoyed the visit.

OSF St. Mary Medical Center Centennial - August 25, 2009

St. Mary’s Centennial Mass was celebrated at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Galesburg, IL. Click here to view a slide show and hear Sister Judith Ann’s comments at the event.

Sister Magdalene’s Final Profession - August 6, 2009

Sister Mary Magdalene made her perpetual profession of vows on the Feast of the Transfiguration. See photo gallery at the bottom of the Final Profession page.

Sisters Appreciation Dinner - July 20, 2009

The seminarians of the Diocese of Peoria held a dinner for the sisters in the Diocese. We prayed Evening Prayer together, ate a lasagna dinner and then they entertained us with singing and a skit. It was really nice to get to meet all the seminarians and to visit with the other sisters.

Founders’ Day - July 16, 2009

Our community was founded on this day, in 1877 by Mother M. Frances Krasse and Bishop John Lancaster Spalding. There were nine sisters in the community when it was founded. Each year this event is celebrated by a special gathering of our sisters at our motherhouse.

Brothers of St. John visit - June 10, 2009

Father Joseph Mary brought some of the temporary professed and novices down to the motherhouse to visit with our sisters. We took them on a tour of the grounds and the convent. They chanted their midday office and joined us for dinner. After dinner a few of the brothers entertained everyone singing with guitars and a banjo. I think our infirmary sisters enjoyed this day the most.

Jubilee - May 9, 2009

Jubilee is always a special time. This year we celebrated Sister Bernarda’s 60th and Sister Mary Ruth’s 70th Jubilee. Normally we celebrate on May 17th, the feast of St. Pascal Baylon. However the Bishop was not able to attend then because he had to ordain two young men to the transitional deaconate, so Sister Judith Ann moved Jubilee up to May 9th so he’d be able to celebrate with us.