Present at Creation

It’s not often that you find yourself present at the creation of something that has a history dating back to ancient times. The first religious communities were probably formed in Egypt in the third century and the religious life has been part of the Christian experience ever since. The Reformation in England saw the lively religious communities of their time looted and their members dispersed but in the nineteenth century, Anglican communities of men and women were resurrected in the sure hope that a life of prayer, service and contemplation still had a place in the life of the church.

The Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent have a long history in Queensland and the signs of their faithful witness survive in unexpected places. The community itself been reduced in numbers but with the Order facing extinction, Christian men and women attracted to the ethos of the Order have looked for ways to reimagine the religious life in a modern setting.  There’s nothing new here; the religious life has always been flexible and protean. Encouraged by the Sisters themselves, people formed by or attracted to the SSA are looking for new ways to participate in the life of the Order. An Interim Chapter is presently exploring this issue. Progress has been interrupted by the restrictions on meetings and movements imposed by the Covid 19 shutdown but an understanding of a different kind of religious community is now emerging. There are interesting and exciting times ahead for the SSA.

The Rev’d Paul Bland, Chaplain & Priest Associate