What is the vocation of the Community of Saint Anna?
The Community of Saint Anna is a developing religious community. Our community has adopted a modern version of the lifestyle led by the Beguines in the Middle Ages: drawn by the compassion of Jesus, we center our lives on prayer for all and listening “with the ear of the heart” to the needs of the world while remaining self-supporting, committed to the spiritual care of one another, and providing services within our home communities as circumstances allow.
Our lifestyle resembles the vocation of widows and unmarried women in the earliest Christian communities and the beguines of the Middle Ages through the 20th century. Their spiritual and practical services were a reminder to all that each person has intrinsic dignity and has gifts to offer the community regardless of age, social standing, wealth, and other measures of value in secular society. For these reasons, these devoted women were highly respected and their prayers were considered especially powerful1. Although their roles were gradually absorbed over time by clergy and vowed religious women, circumstances today call for a renewal of this ancient Christian vocation, adapted to modern conditions.
Our patron is Saint Anna the Prophetess, whose wise, observant heart recognized the infant Jesus as the Messiah.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus is a model for our lives as one who listens with care, offers hope, and prays with joy, as this ancient medallion (Constantinople, ca 1100) depicts her.
As members of the Community of Saint Anna, we aspire to follow the example of these holy women who came before us by offering kindness, wisdom, and spiritual support in the communities in which we live, work, and pray, by receiving all as Christ, listen[ing] with the ear of the heart (Rule of Saint Benedict2) and by striving to be gentle and just. By embracing this vocation, we hope to grow in love for every person, without exception.
The Lifestyle of the Community of Saint Anna
The Community of Saint Anna is designed to meet contemporary needs of single women, churches, and society. With guidance from several nuns, we have attempted to establish a flexible ecumenical religious community for that is shaped by Benedictine and Salesian values of personal responsibility, kindness without judgment, prayer for all without exception, support for each other, and responsiveness to our kind and gentle Savior who makes hope and healing possible.
Our fidelity to this calling is not maintained by vows, but by a commitment of the heart that is strong and authentic, but does not extend to the unique consecration and requirements that vows imply. Members of the Community are affectionately called Annas to convey our secular devoted mission and identity rather than Sisters, a title that implies vowed consecration.
The Community of Saint Anna welcomes single Christian women whose religious traditions include the values of spiritual hospitality, gentleness toward others and oneself, prayer, peace, and acceptance.
As an ecumenical group, each woman is obliged to be a faithful follower of Jesus according to traditions that are compatible with her spiritual background. Our Christian ecumenical character requires us to accept the Christian spiritual perspectives and practices of each member.
As a non-residential community, members may live wherever they choose to reside. The non-residential nature of the community places an obligation on members to maintain bonds through technology and attendance at monthly gatherings over the Internet, whenever possible.
The Community of Saint Anna treasures the privilege of being present in prayer to others and witnessing to the understanding and kindness of God through this calling.
1Polycarp, Letter to the Philippians, 4.3.
2 Rule of St. Benedict, c. 530-560 AD
Could God be inviting you to experience His warmth and generosity through this vocation of love and prayer?
If you are interested in learning more about the Community of Saint Anna, please email us at community.saint.anna@gmail.com.