Sisters of St. Francis

A Loving Ministry
Called like Francis of Assisi to live the gospel in joyful servant hood among all people, the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, as messengers of peace, commit themselves to works that reverence human dignity, embrace the poor and marginalized, and respect the gift of creation. 

Mission Statement of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio
In 1935, the Sisters began operating what was then the Bryan Hospital, and still sponsor St. Joseph Health System today.  Throughout the more than 70 years of service to the Brazos Valley, the Sisters of St. Francis have grown the health care ministry into a full health system, encompassing more than twenty facilities throughout a nine county region.  The Sisters have personally served in many capacities at St. Joseph Health System, including having a Sister as the chief executive until 2005. 

Throughout the history of the Sisters' ministry in Bryan, we have been privileged to have many Sisters on our team.  Currently, St. Joseph Health System is blessed to have four Sisters working throughout the System, and the common thread among all is that they were called by God into Sisterhood, as well as called to St. Joseph to grow the health care ministry to provide excellent health care to the people of the Brazos Valley.

Sister Ann Marie Chmielewski, OSF
At the young age of 13, Sister Ann Marie made a decision to enter the St. Francis Convent in Sylvania, Ohio.  The Sisters of this order were some of her earliest teachers through her catholic education, and her Aunt was also a member of the Sisters of St. Francis.  Like many of the others, Sister Ann Marie started out as a teacher, teaching elementary school for 40 years in Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, and Texas.  She came to Bryan in 1999 and has served as Assistant Activity Director at Burleson St. Joseph Manor, and currently works as Activity Coordinator at St. Joseph Manor in Bryan.  Sister Ann Marie has been a member of the Sisters of St. Francis for nearly 50 years, and knows in her heart that she is exactly where she is supposed to be.

Sister Gretchen Kunz, OSF, FACHE, MHA
Sister Gretchen joined the congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis immediately after graduating high school.  Throughout her years in the congregation, Sister Gretchen has earned two undergraduate degrees and a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA).  She currently serves St. Joseph as the Senior Development Officer for the St. Joseph Foundation, where she helps with fundraising and expansion of relationships within the community.  She came to Bryan in 1981 after serving as a teacher in Michigan and Ohio, and working as Director of Nursing at a hospital in Ohio. Her current role is her second at St. Joseph Health System, and her first was serving as Chief Executive Officer for the Health System, a role she filled for 24 years.   While small in stature, everyone agrees that Sister Gretchen is a fire-ball - with an amazing passion for people and for doing God's work right here in Central Texas.  One of the things she loves most about her work here is the opportunity to "take the mission off the page and make it a reality." 

Sister Rita Jane Radecki, OSF 
Sister Rita Jane joined St. Joseph Regional Health Center's Spiritual Care staff in September 2009.  Sister Rita Jane was previously the Director of Religious Education for the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio for the past 17 years.  She has been a member of the Sylvania Franciscan community of 50 years. She is a native of Toledo, Ohio, where she attended St. Hedwig and St. Agnes Grade Schools, Central Catholic High School, Our Lourdes College and Mary Manse College.  Sister Rita Jane and Sister Gretchen Kunz were classmates at Central Catholic High School in Toledo. Sister Rita Jane taught grades K-8 for ten years. She received her M.A. in Religious Education from Catholic University in Washington D.C. and worked in religious education for 38 years in Toledo, Cincinnati, and Rockford, Illinois and Columbus, Ohio at the parish, area and diocesan levels. At St. Joseph, she is a chaplain at the hospital, particularly ministering on the second floor, but also throughout the hospital where ever she is needed. She is also enrolled in the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program at St. Joseph Regional Health Center. "I am enjoying the wonderful people I work with in Spiritual Care, and in the hospital itself, including the volunteers and of course the sisters here in my community," said Sister Rita Jane. "The Texas climate and culture are also most enjoyable!"

Sister St. Anthony, OSF
Sister St. Anthony, joined our ministry in the Spring of 2009, and serves as an Assistant with the Gold Medallion and Helpline Programs.  Helping seniors stay active and have optimal health is one of Sister St. Anthony's primary passions, and her new role at St. Joseph allows her to do just that.  She is involved in community outreach, including social activities, educational classes, and one-on-one instructions for seniors.  She has been inspired by the cooperation between the Sisters, St. Joseph and our community, and also how closely the mission of St. Joseph Health System is integrated into all that we do.  Sister St. Anthony comes to Bryan from Sylvania, Ohio, where she has lived since a young age.  As a young child, she knew that she wanted to teach, and was motivated by the Sisters who taught her.  She was professed as a Sister in 1967, and has served as a teacher, administrator for a home for at-risk boys, and worked in finance for the Sister community for 10 years.