Photo Caption: Sister Judith Ann Duvall, OSF, (seated, center) with Council Sisters, from left, Sister Agnes Joseph Williams, Sister Rose Therese Mann, Sister Theresa Ann Brazeau, and Sister Diane Marie McGrew.

EAST PEORIA — Sister Judith Ann Duvall, OSF, has been elected to another six-year term as major superior of The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Assisting her as Council Sisters will be Sister Theresa Ann Brazeau, Sister Rose Therese Mann, Sister Diane Marie McGrew and Sister Agnes Joseph Williams. Not only do the five of them make up the governing board for the East Peoria-based religious congregation, but they serve as the high board holding reserve powers over OSF HealthCare and sit on various OSF boards.

Their election on Oct. 6 came at the end of the community’s General Chapter, which convened with a Mass on Sept. 30. During the week members of the governing board and delegates from the congregation at large addressed various issues designed to strengthen the internal life of the community as well as the Franciscans’ health care apostolate.

The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis own and operate OSF Healthcare System, which includes OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, as well as OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, OSF Holy Family Medical Center in Monmouth, OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa, OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and Medical Group in Escanaba, Mich.

Also part of the system is OSF Saint Clare Home in Peoria Heights and a wide variety of medical groups, specialist practices and two colleges of nursing.

“The family just keeps growing,” Sister Judith Ann told The Catholic Post after her election last weekend. She counts the 14,000 individuals “who are in this sacred ministry, side by side with us and without whom we couldn’t do it” among that extended “family.”

She also expressed gratitude for the volunteers and people who support their work through donations and gifts. Their generosity makes it possible for the Sisters to care for everyone who comes to them, regardless of financial status, Sister Judith Ann said.

“That’s one of our hallmarks and our founding request that God made of us — never to turn anyone away that God sends to us for care. It is fidelity to that that is our lifeline for the future,” she said.

“Never will we seek viability by cutting care for those who need us most. That makes no sense,” Sister Judith Ann emphasized. “God never founded us to be profitable. He called us to serve. What he asked of us he will help enable us to do if we’re faithful to that promise.”