Accompanied by Dr. Jillian Stalling and Dr. Elizabeth Cox, Bishop Jenky sprinkles holy water throughout the new OSF Women's Health and Advanced Fertility Center in Peoria. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)

In the days before the birth of Christ was celebrated, people gathered at the OSF Center for Health in Peoria to pray for all the holy families who would benefit from the new OSF Women’s Health and Advanced Fertility Center and OSF FertilityCare Center.

“Grant that in this new office, the physicians and staff will receive with kindness all those who come to their care and will tend them and help them with skill, so those who visit here will be served in body and spirit, forever praising your mercy,” Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, asked God before walking through the hallways to sprinkle holy water in the six exam rooms, procedure room, lab, phone room and offices.

He also offered words of gratitude for The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, who own and operate OSF HealthCare, for their ability to “understand all the challenges of health care in this moment as a ministry, as a work of God, as something they do for the Lord — seeing the Lord’s face on the faces of those they serve.”

“They and their lay collaborators are irreplaceable in the life of faith in our diocese,” Bishop Jenky said.

Sister Judith Ann Duvall, OSF, chairperson of OSF HealthCare, offers words of gratitude during the blessing of the new OSF Women’s Health and Advanced Fertility Center in Peoria. “What a privilege it is for OSF to help those we serve to follow their own spiritual, religious, ethical and cultural beliefs,” she said. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Wiillems)

He acknowledged the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, too, calling them “sister Sisters” to The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Now part of the health care ministry of the “OSF family,” they are “a great gift to all of us,” he said.

Dr. Charles Dennis, senior vice president of the OSF Medical Group for the Central Illinois Region, noted that the new center brought together many different services across OSF’s ministry, allowing for greater education, collaboration and communication. It also strengthens their partnership with the Diocese of Peoria, he said.

ESSENTIAL TO MISSION

As a Catholic health care organization, encouraging the practice of natural family planning is essential to the OSF mission, said Sister Judith Ann Duvall, OSF, chairperson of OSF HealthCare.

“What a privilege it is for OSF to help those we serve to follow their own spiritual, religious, ethical and cultural beliefs,” she said.

Under God’s providential care, the new practice is “an essential extension of his presence,” Sister Judith Ann said. “By being servant-leaders, we have the joy of being a part of his bigger plan of . . . serving the precious gift of life.”

The OSF Women’s Health and Advanced Fertility Center, which opened Nov. 1, is served by Dr. Elizabeth Cox and Dr. Jillian Stalling. Both specialize in obstetrics and gynecology and are natural family planning-only physicians.

There are also offices for Paul Kortz and Debra Hroziencik, FertilityCare practitioners who can assist women in learning to chart their cycle. Issues identified this way can then be addressed medically by the doctors.

In addition, a room has been set aside for an ultrasound machine and that service will be added in time.

“This has been a great opportunity to move into care that’s very aligned with Catholic teachings and to promote family and fertility and sanctity of life,” site supervisor Katie Heskett told The Catholic Post.