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We are a Religious community for women in full communion with the Anglican Church. Our Mother house is at Ham Common, Richmond in England and our Superior resides there. Women in Canada, England, Australia and the Solomon Islands bring the richness of their different cultures when they unite to form C.S.C. Founded in 1870, the Community pioneered work in Christian education, child care, social welfare and mission work. By the mid-1890's the Sisters had established work throughout England and in Canada, Burma, India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Eventually Provinces were established: the U.K. Province, the Canadian Province, the Australian Province and the Solomon Islands Province. By 1989 all institutional works, schools and children's homes world-wide had been given up or handed over to others and new ways of service and ministry continue to be explored. Today the life of prayer and worship continues to be our foundation and from that evolves ministries of hospitality, spiritual direction, informal educational work such as facilitating retreats and workshops, preaching, teaching Sunday School and Christian clowning. Other ministries are undertaken according to the needs around us and our varying gifts. Sisters, lay and ordained, also work in parishes, or as hospital or prison chaplains. Work with children and young adults continues, as do ministries with people caught up in prostitution, drug or alcohol addiction and homelessness. Sisters also work with those who have physical disabilities and psychiatric difficulties, with elderly people and those living with HIV/AIDS. In 1970 three Sisters went to the Solomon Islands and began work in education, social care of various kinds, particularly with women and children, and primary evangelism. Our Solomon Island Sisters continue this work and are also engaged in reconciliation of those involved in the recent troubles in their country. We, as Sisters of the Church, are trying to live out God's love in the world in a balanced way. In addition to prayer, work and study, crafts such as candle making, painting, pottery, card making, music, gardening, cooking, encourage growth and wholeness for the Sisters and those who come. The traditional vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience are taken after a period of careful preparation. They free us to serve God in this particular way. So faith, hope love abide, these three; but
the greatest of these is love. ©1997, 2004 CSC |
