Congregational Minister

Until being elected to serve as Congregational Minister from 2025-2029, Sister Sharon Derivan, OSF, worked in the ministry of justice and peace as a public servant in the federal court system for over three decades as a Law Clerk from 1989–2023. While working full-time at the Court, Sister also served two previous terms in Congregational Leadership, 2012-2016 and 2016-2021, as the Congregational Secretary.

A daughter of Immaculate Conception in Port Clinton, OH, Sister Sharon entered the Community in 1963 and made First Profession as a Sylvania Franciscan in 1970. “I love my Sisters in community and have always valued and counted on their love and support,” Sister Sharon says.

In addition to her law degree, Sister Sharon holds degrees in education from Mary Manse College and St. Louis University. She taught Junior High at Regina Coeli in Toledo, OH and St. Raphael School in Garden City, MI. Just before going to law school, Sister served as the principal of St. Richard School in Swanton, OH.

Sister is the immediate past President and Board Chair of Sylvania Franciscan Ministries; sheserved on the Trinity Health System Board in Steubenville, OH from 1991-2007, and as Secretary on the Forget-Me-Knot Pet Rescue Board from 2016 until its closing in 2022. Sister Sharon served as Recording Secretary for the National Board of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious from 2023-2025.

Sister Sharon brings out her 12-string guitar to serve as an occasional liturgical musician and, until recently, lent her voice to the Cleveland Sight Center as a radio reader of the New York Times for the Monday radio broadcast.

Her social media friends can attest to Sister’s love of animals, citing in particular one Siberian cat named Gracie who was a Facebook favorite and Sister Sharon’s delight for almost 16 years. Since Gracie’s death in 2023, Sister Sharon has gotten her feline fix by volunteering at a no-cage, no-kill cat shelter.

In her role as Congregational Minister, Sister brings with her a basic philosophy on life that she found in Desiderata by Max Ehrmann: “… And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”

“In other words, I try not to worry about things I can’t control,” Sister Sharon says, smiling.

Assistant Congregational Minister

Professed as a Sylvania Franciscan in 1968, Sister Nancy taught middle school and HS math until 1972. She transitioned to administrative roles, serving (as Dean and Activities Director) at Central Catholic HS and (Assistant Principal) at Cardinal Stritch HS from 1977-1984. She then spent five years supporting adult students at (what was then) Lourdes (College). Sister obtained her doctorate in higher ed administration from Boston College and returned to university administration serving at Lourdes College, Briar Cliff College in IA and the University of Detroit Mercy. In 2006 sister transitioned to health care, serving as VP of Mission Integration at Franciscan Services/Sylvania Franciscan Health, Catholic Health Initiatives and CHI Living Communities.  Retiring from this phase of active ministry in 2022, she assumed oversight of the Sylvania Franciscan’s outreach to migrants and refugees as well as serving in mission integration for the employees of the sisters.  Called by her Sisters to leadership, she gladly assumed the role of Assistant Congregational Minister in 2025.

Councilor and Congregational Treasurer

Sister Becky begins her second term on the Leadership Team, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her longtime ministry in Biloxi, MS. Since her arrival in 1993, Sister Rebecca has served through four Bishops, at least a dozen hurricanes—including Katrina—and a global pandemic. She first served as Executive Director for Social and Community Services, a role traditionally held by priests, before making history in 2002 as the first woman religious appointed Chancellor for the Diocese of Biloxi—a position she held until her initial election to the Leadership Team.

Councilor and Congregational Secretary

Sister Pat’s ministry in education began in 1974, teaching at her alma mater, St. Ann’s in Cincinnati, then Toledo schools and finally Presentation School in St. Paul. In 1985, Sister accepted the role as Principal for a school in Corsicana, TX, remaining until 2000 when she and two other Sisters launched Los Ninos for orphans in Los Lunas, NM. Sister Pat returned to the Motherhouse to serve two terms as treasurer on the Leadership Team from 2008-2016. She served as JPIC Co-Director from 2017-2025.  She also helped serve refugees in NW Ohio through her ministry with Welcome House and serves as a CASA in Lucas County.