On December 1, 2019, at The National Shrine of Our Lady the Snows (Belleville, IL), Sister Thomas Kundmueller, OSF, received a Humanitarian Award from Bethany Place for her 30 years of service. The Black Tie Affair and Award Ceremony was organized with the theme of "Aging with HIV" and was presented by the Writers, Planners, Trainers, and Bethany Place in conjunction with the 2019 World Aids Day.

Sister Thomas reflected upon her time at Bethany Place by saying, “Thirty years with many joys and sorrows, and good and hard times, have had wonderful memories all mixed in. I give thanks to the Good Lord for all of them."

Sister Mary Immaculate Creedon, Sister Rosily Menachery, and Sister Thomas’ friends were also in attendance.

To learn about Bethany Place, please click here.

It is with solidarity that the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis stands with Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) in disappointment by the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement. Recognizing our Catholic teaching that climate change is a grave moral issue that threatens our commitment to life, we will continue to advocate against climate policies that harm the Earth and its inhabitants and promote environmental justice.

The Hospital Sisters of St. Francis welcomed seven new Franciscan Associates on November 17 during the morning liturgy in St. Francis of Assisi Church. The new Associates are Mary Bonner, Jane Locascio, Linda Mueller, and Alicia Shapinsky, Springfield; Bernie Curry, Decatur, IL; Jerrilyn Zavada, Streator, IL; and Peggy Pendergast, Eau Claire, WI.

“Years ago the Church found ways to welcome men and women who desired a way to deepen their baptismal commitment by accepting God’s call to live according to Jesus’ Gospel but not profess vows,” explained Nancy Davis, Associate Coordinator. “One of these ways was through an Associate relationship to a religious community and our Associates seek to model themselves in some way in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi and the example of our Hospital Sisters of St. Francis,” explained Davis.

These seven Associates join the Hospital Sisters’ family of 136 Associates who embrace Franciscan values and the Hospital Sisters’ healing spirit while bringing the compassion of Jesus to others in ways that fit their lifestyle. Associates meet monthly to share their faith on spiritual and Franciscan topics, share in the Hospital Sisters’ spirituality and join with them in prayer, community, celebration and ministry. Associates do not take vows.

Founded in 1987, Associates of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is a ministry that is open to baptized Christians 18 years or older with gatherings in Decatur, Effingham, Highland, Springfield, and Streator, IL; and Eau Claire, Green Bay, and Sheboygan, WI. For more information, please visit our website, contact Nancy at 217/522-3387, ext. 664 or send her an email.

We welcome Mary Bonner (Springfield, IL) as an Associate. She was sponsored by Sister Trudy O'Connor, OSF.

We welcome Bernie Curry (Decatur, IL) as an Associate. She was sponsored by Gloria Guy.

We welcome Jane Locascio (Springfield, IL) as an Associate. She was sponsored by Barb Butler.

We welcome Linda Mueller (Springfield, IL) as an Associate. She was sponsored by Sister Janelle Athorp, OSF.

We welcome Peggy Pendergast (Eau Claire, WI) as an Associate. She was sponsored by Brian Blasco.

We welcome Alicia Shapinsky (Springfield, IL) as an Associate. She was sponsored by Sister Mary Ann Minor, OSF.

We welcome Jerrilyn Zavada (Streator, IL) as an Associate. She was sponsored by Sister Jomary Trstensky, OSF.

Sister Josine Mondloch, O.S.F. died on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 7:21 a m at St. Francis Convent, Springfield, IL.

Sister Josine, the former Dolores Mary Ann Mondloch, was born in Sheboygan, WI, on August 12, 1932, the daughter of Joseph and Magdalen (Schirmeister) Mondloch. She entered the Congregation on February 2, 1949 and professed her religious vows on October 4, 1951.

Sister Josine was a 1954 graduate of St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing and she completed post graduate studies in Surgery at St. John’s Hospital in 1957. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from Marillac College in St. Louis, MO in 1971. Sister Josine served as a surgical nurse at HSHS hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin. Her career highlights included serving as Surgery Supervisor at St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur, IL from 1957-69, Director of Surgery at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL from 1971-82, Health Office Coordinator for St. Francis Convent, Springfield, IL, from 1992-95, Assistant to the Vice President for Wisconsin Hospitals at Hospital Sisters Health System, Springfield, IL, from 1995-01, and as Assistant to the Motherhouse Coordinator at St. Francis Convent from 2002-06. In 2006, Sister Josine began serving as a volunteer at Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, Springfield, IL, and continued this ministry until her health no longer permitted her to do so.

She is survived by three sisters: Loyola (Bryce) Huebner and Anna Mae Cinealis of Sheboygan, WI, and Mary Jo (Charles) Freites of Chelsea, MI, several nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews as well as her Franciscan Sisters with whom she shared her life for over 70 years. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be held at St. Francis Convent from 4-7 p.m. with a Wake Service at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father André Schludecker, OFM on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 10 a.m. in St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel at St. Francis Convent. Burial will be in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery.

Please click here to read her feature story from 2008.

Butler Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sister Anna Clara Rick, O.S.F. died on Friday, October 11, 2019 at 10:32 a.m. at St. Francis Convent, Springfield, IL.

Sister Anna Clara was born in Valmeyer, IL, on January 28, 1929, the daughter of Vincent and Clara (Marquardt) Rick. She entered the Congregation on February 2, 1946 and professed her religious vows on October 4, 1948.

Sister Anna Clara was a graduate of St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1956. She went earned a Post Graduate Degree in Surgery from HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield, IL, in 1957. She began her career as a nurse in the Surgery Departments at HSHS hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin. She served as an instructor at Copley Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Aurora, IL, from 1971 until 1975 during which time she attended Aurora College and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in 1973. She returned to surgical nursing in 1976 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Joliet, IL where she served until 1979. She then returned to St. Francis Convent in Springfield, IL, in 1979 and worked in various departments until 1985 when she served at HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, IL, as a Medical Records Coder. In 1989 she returned to St. Francis Convent and served as Sacristan until 1993 when she relocated to Breese, IL and served in the Social Services/Pastoral Care Department of Breese Nursing Home until 1997 when she retired from active duty. She continued to serve in a volunteer capacity at Breese Nursing Home until 2004 when she returned permanently to St. Francis Convent in Springfield, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers: Albert, Emil, Armin and Erwin Rick, and four sisters: Florence Schevbe, Elsie Stork, Alice Doffin, and Rita Breitenstein.

She is survived by two sisters, Coletta Rau of Columbia, IL and Eunice Warren of Smyrna TN, many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, as well as her Franciscan Sisters with whom she shared her life for over 73 years.

Visitation will be held at St. Francis Convent from 4-7 p.m. with a Wake Service at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15, 2019. The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father André Schludecker, OFM on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 1 p.m. in St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel at St. Francis Convent. Burial will be in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery.

To view her feature story from 2009, please click here.

Staab Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sister M. Viola Swoboda, O.S.F. (91) died on Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 5:55 a.m. at St. Francis Convent, Springfield, Illinois.

Sister M. Viola was born in Tilden, Wisconsin on November 7, 1927, the daughter of John and Mary (Rubenzer) Swoboda, Sr. She entered the Congregation on September 8, 1945 and professed her religious vows on June 13, 1948.

Sister Viola was a graduate of St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1955. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Arizona State University in 1971. She obtained additional education in nurse midwifery and did post graduate studies in Obstetrics. She served as a practical nurse at St. Joseph’s Home for the Infirm and Aged in Monroe, Louisiana from 1951 until 1953. After completing her additional education, Sister Viola was assigned as the Maternity Supervisor at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, Illinois from 1956 until 1964. From there, she served at St. Isabel’s Mission in Lukachukai, Arizona, as a nurse in the OB Clinic until 1971. She then served in Fort Defiance for the U.S. Public Health Service as a nurse midwife until 1975. She relocated to Chinle where she became head nurse for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In 1993 she returned to Springfield, Illinois, to serve as a volunteer in the ICU Department at HSHS St. John’s Hospital for many years. She joined the Loretto Home Community of Sisters at St. Francis Convent in 2016.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by five brothers: John, Jr., August, Walter, Norbert and Eugene Swoboda. She was also preceded in death by seven sisters: Florence Havings, Leona Schneider, Bernadette Nimmer, Eleanor Bowe, Marie Swoboda, Dorothy Bowe, and Evelyn Meinen.

She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Dyllis Swoboda of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and Mrs. Susan Swoboda of Marshfield, Wisconsin, numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews and her Franciscan Sisters with whom she shared her life for over 74 years.

Visitation will be held at St. Francis Convent from 4-7 p.m. with a Wake Service at 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 13, 2019. The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father André Schludecker, OFM on Monday, October 14, 2019 at 10 a.m. in
St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel at St. Francis Convent. Burial will be in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery. Staab Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

To view her feature story from 2008, please click here.
 

The Leadership Team of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, in the light of the recent mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, asks how we can be instruments of healing and non-violence that help bring about the change necessary to counteract the direction that division, racism and violence seem to be taking us? As consecrated women empowered by Franciscan Spirituality that reverence all life, we have dedicated our lives to be a healing presence in society and agents of change.

We join other religious communities in a shared response to these incidents of violence through the August 6, 2019 statement of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) and their call to end gun violence.

“The recent mass shootings in our country impel us to once again beg all citizens and all elected leaders to end the rampant rage and division that has overpowered the nation and too often result in mass, indiscriminate violence. We implore all legislative bodies to pass legislation that effectively prevents gun violence. We call for the passage of laws that ban assault weapons, require universal background checks for all gun sales, provide funding for gun violence prevention research and makes the trafficking in weapons a federal crime.”

We choose to join the thousands of other citizens and religious communities across the country to ask our Federal Government to take action now to prevent this continuing violence from spreading. We join our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer, advocacy and education to bring healing to all from this stochastic terrorism - the public demonization of a person or group resulting in the incitement of a violent act, which is statistically probable but whose specifics cannot be predicted.

This year marks the 175^th anniversary of the founding of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis. This graphic was designed by Sister M. Theodora (Japan Province) and will be displayed throughout the year in various ways including as a flag on a new flagpole at Convent Entrance and on the flagpole at Chiara Center.

The central image of the graphic is Our Lady of Grace Chapel (Telgte, Germany) where Father Christopher Bernsmeyer, OFM, welcomed young women to begin their life of caring for the sick on July 2, 1844. Surrounding the Chapel are the flags where the Sisters have a Province: Germany (since 1844), Poland (since 1849), USA (since 1875), Japan (since 1948), and India (since 1973).