Sister Maureen O'Connor, OSF, Provincial Superior, and Sister Elreda Huser, OSF are pictured in front of the Japanese Gate Lantern - a gift from the Japan Province of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis on September 3, 1977 in appreciation to the American Province. Sister Elreda is in Springfield, IL for a home visit and will return to Japan next month.


This weekend we will honor Sister Elreda Huser, OSF and her 60 years of service in Japan.

Born on April 8, 1925 in a small town near Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Sister Elreda learned of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis from her two older sisters, Sister Elaine and Sister Elvon. She entered the Community on February 2, 1942 and Professed First Vows on October 4, 1944. After graduating from St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing, Springfield, and serving her Community, she was assigned to the Community’s mission in Lukachukai, AZ in 1953 where she served three years.

Upon receiving a letter from Mother Canisia for volunteers to serve in the Community’s Mission in Japan, she was selected along with three Sisters who sailed to Japan on the President Wilson Liner on November 23, 1956 and arrived on December 7. Soon after arriving in Himeji, she learned the Japanese language and began working in St. Mary’s Hospital. She was also asked to help in the formation of the Japanese women who were interested in religious life and was appointed Novice Mistress and Convent Superior. She served in this role for eight years in Tokyo.

In 1967, she was appointed Regional Superior of the Japan Region. Ten years later, when the Japan Region was raised to the status of a Province on September 3, 1977, Sister Elreda was appointed Provincial Vicaress and transferred her membership from the American Province. Two months later she was elected Convent Superior in Himeji. After a two-year term as Vicaress, she served at Francisco Villa, Tokyo.

On November 3, 1986, Sister Elreda was elected Provincial Superior and served two terms (one was three years/the other was four years). In November 1993, she was elected Provincial Councilor and served a four-year term. On November 1, 1999 she accepted the role of the Convent Superior of the Retreat House Convent. In October 2005, she was elected Provincial Councilor for a four-year term. Since that time, she has been serving as an accountant for the Himeji Convent Superior while providing English and Japanese translation for the Sisters and praying for the needs of the world.

Click here to read her feature story from 2011.

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck at 3:27 p.m. local time in Tanzania on Saturday, September 10. Sister Anne Carlino, serving at the San Damiano Mission, Kemondo, Tanzania, spoke with Sister Maureen O'Connor, Provincial Superior, late yesterday and said that she and Sisters Neera, Preethi, and Deepa (Hospital Sisters from the Indian Province also serving at the Mission) are ok. 

Sister Anne asks for prayers for the people of Tanzania - reports are that at least 13 people have been killed and more than 200 injured amid damaged buildings and homes.

The epicenter of the quake was about 15 miles east of the northwestern town of Nsunga.