Young women reflect on living a monastic life
Five young women were commissioned as the inaugural members of the "Companions on the Way" programme of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine (SSJD) in Toronto. As the the programme nears its close they reflect on what the experience of living with the sisters has meant for them. Full story on
New website for Anglican religious communities
A new website has opened for Anglican Religious Communities in the UK - covering both traditional or established communities and acknowledged or emerging communites.
The Community of Sts. Barnabas & Cecilia celebrates !
On Sunday the 14th of May CSBC celebrated its 20th anniversary at Evensong in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Adelaide. Seven of our ten members were present, including the Rev’d. Br. John Edwards (aged 87). The service was wonderful, with some of Sr. Sandra’s hymns included. The choir sang magnificently, and Bp. David McCall preached a wonderful sermon. Br. Martyn Robinson and Sr. Sue Nirta read the lessons.
Lots of friends and companions we had collected along the way joined us, and it was fun catching up with about fifty of them at supper in the Cynthia Poulton Hall after the service. There was a display of old photos to peruse, including a photo album to browse through. There were comments such as “Oh look! That’s me!” and “I remember when that was taken!”
It was a joy to have Br. John Edwards with us from Maitland. Many thanks to his family for making this possible. It made his, and our, day.
Our only sadness was that Sr. Jeanne Frost was not with us, having died only a couple of weeks before. She would have had a wonderful time talking to all her old friends, and we missed her terribly. We also remembered with affection Sr. Jean Johnson, without whose vision the Community would not have been formed.
It seems that our 20 years has been spent in feeling our way along the path without really knowing what the outcome would be. Celebrations such as this help to wake us up to the fact that really, we haven’t done such a bad job after all.
Our thanks to our Chaplain, Fr. Simon Bailey, who organised the service; to staff and choir of the cathedral who so generously gave over their Evensong to help us celebrate; to all who joined us, especially those from Willochra; and for all who helped with the practical management of the occasion. And, of course, those who have journeyed with us over the past 20 years.
So here’s to the next 20 years!
The Rev’d. Sr. Sandra Sears CSBC
Standing L to R: Bp. David McCall (who called us into Community in 1997), Fr.
Simon Bailey (Chaplain), Sr. Cheryl Wisemans, Br. Martyn Robinson, Bp. John Stead (our Visitor)
Sr. Sandra Sears, Sr. Sue Nirta.
Seated: Sr. Katherine Thorpe, Br. John Edwards, Sr. Pauline Treloar.
Members processing in with the choir & clergy
Br Raphael SSF - Life Profession
Br Raphael Suh was elected to Life Profession at the recently completed PDC Eastertide Provincial Chapter at the friary in Annerley, Brisbane on Tuesday 25 April 2017. He also asked to change his name from Raphael Suh to Raphael. Br Raphael made his life vows at St Philip's Church, Annerley before Bishop John Stead, the Bishop Protector at the Concluding Eucharist of the Chapter in the presence of the Brothers, Tertiaries and friends from the parish on Thursday 27 April 2017 at 4.45 pm. This was followed by a celebratory meal at the local Chinese restaurant with the Third Order as they gathered for their Chapter. There will be another celebration in Korea of thanksgiving for the Life Profession at a later date.
Sr Jeanne Frost CSBC - RIP
Sr Jeanne Frost CSBC died on 2 May 2017— peacefully, with all the family there.