A reflection and tribute on the passing of Sister Annette CSN by Rev'd Michael Holdaway.

Sister Annette CSN - 15 July 1932 to 3 November 2024.

My first experience of Sister Annette was some 35 years ago while on a silent retreat in Barbados St; she read stories during our mealtimes.

Many years later I was privileged to be asked to be their chaplain when they moved from Barbados St Christchurch to Ashburton following the earthquakes.

There are just a few people in my life who have profoundly shape my faith and Sister Annette is one of those.

Sister Annette was, extraordinarily kind and gentle and well known for her gift of patient listening. She trained as a schoolteacher. Then later taught at St Michael's school in Christchurch, which she didn’t really enjoy, although still fondly remembered by her pupils while part of the Community of Sacred Name.

I asked her why she choose a religious life at such a young age, 23 years old? She explained it was something she always wanted to do from a very young age. And ‘it was the most self-giving act I could do , to devout my life to the worship and service for God’.

She had not long emigrated with her father and sister Bee to NZ from Seven Oaks in England. They left in the 1950’s shortly after the death of her mother leaving behind a struggling post war Britain. Their father, a cabinet maker, wanted a new start.

She was a perfectionist, wonderful at calligraphy and embroidery. Embroidery was her first love, a way of expressing God’s presence. Stitching linen, stoles and copes gave her joy. Sister Annette said,

“It satisfied me very much and I was happy to think that it was to the glory of God and the church’.

“It was up to me to try and express the person it was for in a way that would be meaningful to him or her -it was a useful thing to do”

Some would say, ‘Oh but it isn’t like missionary work, you’re not doing anything helpful for the world are you”

And I said “No not in that way but perhaps in my quiet way with my needle and thread I could do something useful tor people’

Sister Annette explained she would often be pressed for time when it came to formal prayer. But when she did her stitching prayer came with it. She described her work, stitching, as a ‘sense of union with God and with what God is talking to me about”

Sister Annette was elected as Mother superior twice a role she did not enjoy. She said, “I tried to be loving, tried to be understanding but never mind it did not last forever”. It is worth noting Sister Annette was dearly loved by all the sisters.

I want to acknowledge the quotations were from Sister Annette’s life history written not long before she died.

Good and faithful servant

May you rest in peace and rise in glory

Alleluia, Alleluia

Read more about the Community of the Sacred Name.