THERE were celebrations at the Convent of the Holy Name,
Derby, last month, when Sister Pauline Margaret
(far right) was installed as the new Provincial Superior
of the community. The Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge, who is
Visitor to the community, presided at the ceremony and the
eucharist.
Also present were three former Provincials: left to
right: Sister Mary Patricia, Sister Jean Mary, and Sister
Monica Jane. Between the four of them, my correspondent, Sister
Catherine, says, they have "an astonishing 189 years as professed
Sisters".
Like many other Anglican religious orders, they are an ageing
community: of the 28 Sisters in the English province, only three
are below retirement age. They also have overseas houses in
Lesotho, however, where a community of 20 Sisters work with
children and HIV/AIDS sufferers; and in Zululand, where some 50
more Sisters are teachers and nurses.
But retirement age does not stop the English Sisters' being very
busy. Those based in Derby work with five churches and their
parishes, as well as being involved with Amnesty International. And
hospitality in the convent is important - there is both day and
residential accommodation for those in need of quiet times or small
parish meetings. They also hosted overseas university students over
Christmas.
They do similar work from their small branch houses in Vauxhall,
London, Peterborough, and Manchester, and there has long been at
least one Sister living and working in Lambeth Palace, on the
Archbishop's staff. A constant, however, for all of them is their
community life of daily offices, private prayer, and silence.