A Novena of Prayer:

Almighty God,
by your Holy Spirit you gave your handmaid,
Etheldreda Anna Benett
the inspiration to found the Sisters of Bethany:
grant us, her daughters in Christ,
to be inspired by the same Spirit
with a renewed vision and extravagant optimism,
that with wise counsel and mutual encouragement
we may serve your glory in the church and the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus - Pray for us

Saints Augustine, Francis de Sales
and Saint Jane de Chantal - Pray for us

Can I join if I’m well over 16?

Can I join if I’m divorced?

What if I have children?

What if I’m not healthy enough?

What if I’ve been turned down/asked to leave by other communities?

What happens first?

DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
TO THE RELIGIOUS LIFE

TRINITY 7

Setting a particular Sunday each year
as a "Day of Prayer for Vocations to the Religious Life"
was begun in 1992.

We are also invited to pray each Thursday
for the life and work of Religious Communities in the Church,
using the following prayer, written by a Little Brother of Francis,
originally for communities in Australia and New Zealand.

Lord Jesus Christ
in your great love you draw all people to yourself:
and in your wisdom you call us to your service.
We pray at this time you will kindle in the hearts
of men and women the desire to follow you
in the Religious Life.
Give to those whom you call, grace to accept
their vocation readily and thankfully,
to make the whole-hearted surrender
which you ask of them, and for love of you,
to persevere to the end.
This we ask in your name. Amen.

Associates

Associates are a body of close friends, both men and women who unite their life of prayer to that of the Community and who are accepted as members of the extended family. They live in their own homes with a simple rule of life appropriate to their individual circumstances. Each Associate makes their own Rule in consultation with the Associates' Sister. The Rule should include a definite commitment to personal prayer and spiritual reading and, when possible, the saying of an Office, possibly Compline, in union with the worship of the Community. The Sisters receive as Associates those who desire to be linked with them in prayer and friendship, while serving God in their various callings. Many find strength and support in such a bond of union. The Community itself values greatly the sympathy and prayers of those so closely united to them.

Click here to jump to the gallery where there are photos of the most recent Associates Day

The Noviciate

ln the Noviciate women who feel they have a vocation to live the Religious Life, and are over twenty one years of age, are able to come and test their call. On first entering the Noviciate she spends three to nine months living as a Postulant; then she may be received as a Novice for a period lasting for not less than two years and not more than five; after which a life commitment is undertaken with vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. During this time of learning about and entering fully into the Community's Life the process of discerning God's will for the individual takes place.

Noviciate FAQ's

What do I do if I feel I want to explore my vocation?

Pray about it, and try to talk to your local priest.
Try to find out about and contact your nearest Religious Community and ask for some information, a chat or a visit. However, Religious Communities are very different from each other in the way that they live the Religious Life, so you may wish to contact a few to get some idea of the variety that there is.
Think about what you might look for in a community e.g. type of work, number of Offices, a habit and veil (either or both or none), number and ages of Sisters, geographical position etc.
Anglican Religious Communities tend to have a good level of contact with each other, so any community should be able to point you in the right direction if you’re looking for a community with a particular ethos or style. However, sometimes it’s a case of searching and visiting until you find the one for you. But, no community is perfect.

What’s the Noviciate?

The Noviciate is a collective term for those in the training stage of a religious community. It refers to both postulants and novices.
It can also mean the room/area that is set aside for their use (for classes, relaxation. work etc).

What’s a postulant?

A person in the first stage of training. In this community the first stage can last from three to nine months. During that time the postulant learns the basic set-up and routine of the convent from the inside. They are given a gentle timetable, which can be adjusted if needed, and some work to do at set times during the day. A postulant wears her own clothes with a small wooden cross given to her when she is formally admitted. It is an opportunity to explore the Religious Life as lived by this community. It is a time of prayer, testing and discernment, getting to know the sisters and their daily life. There is no pressure to go on to the next stage and she is free to leave at any time. The individual may request to be elected as a novice between three and nine months.

What’s a Novice?

A Novice is in the next stage of training where she will live more or less like a professed sister. The timetable is fuller and she will be introduced to more duties (especially taking part in chapel offices). She wears the habit (dress) of the community with a grey veil. She promises to: live by the Rule, treat all with loving kindness and be a peacemaker, while she remains a novice. She can also change her name if she wishes (with permission); from then on she has the title ‘Sister’. A Novice is still in a testing stage of her vocation, with training and guidance, to help her to discern God's will for her. She is still free to leave if she wishes. A Novice Sister can remain in the Noviciate for up to five years. However, at the end of two years she can request to make final vows if she feels ready and the Chapter (all Professed Sisters) are in agreement.

What’s the habit like?

The dress of the habit is blue (not black) and usually ankle length, with long sleeves. The sleeves are fairly loose, but not impractical for daily living and work. A warm material used for the winter habits and a lighter, cooler material for summer habits. We usually have two of each kind.
Around the dress there is a leather belt, for Novices, or a girdle (‘rope like’ belt) for professed Sisters.
Over this we have a scapular, which is also blue. (A scapular is like a long version of a tabard, and has the practical purpose of protecting the main part of the dress from anything that drops on it).
Over the scapular, the Novices have a plain wooden cross. This cross is larger than the postulant's cross, but is still very light weight. The professed Sisters don’t wear a cross around the neck; they have a crucifix attached to their girdles.
Round the neck is a fairly wide white collar, kept in place by press studs.
On the head there is the veil. The whole thing is commonly referred to as ‘a veil’, but the actual veil itself (the coloured part which hangs down the back) is attached to a cap. It is this cap which covers the hair, is secured at the nape of the neck with Velcro, and folds back showing the distinctive white band. The veil itself is attached by Velcro to the cap, then the veil is tied back and slightly adjusted so it hangs in theright way. It sounds more complicated than it is! The novices have a veil which is dark grey and it’s worn all the time. There is no white veil for wearing within the convent and a black veil for wearing outside (which is what some communities have). Professed sisters have black veils.
Professed sisters also have a gold ring on the third finger of their right hand to symbolise their commitment to the Lord.
Apart from our clothes being blessed at Reception/Profession, there is important religious symbolism connected with each part of the habit and veil, but for the purpose of simplicity it won’t be gone into here.

Do I have to be a Roman Catholic?

No, we are an Anglican Order (Church of England). But, we do have ecumenical links, within the country and internationally.

Do I have to give up everything?

Not at first. A postulant keeps control of her finances and her property. However, the amount of possessions a postulant has within her room here, does have a limit. She may have to keep some belongings in storage in the convent, or elsewhere (e.g. with friends/family). She keeps her purse/cash/cards with her. All property and possessions of the postulant remain hers. The community will support her and pay certain expenses.
When a Postulant becomes a Novice, any belongings, that are in her room, are gone through with the Novice Guardian. At the discretion of the Novice Guardian, anything that is considered unnecessary is stored away or moved to a more open room e.g. the noviciate (to be shared). Her purse is kept safe by the Novice Guardian. Money, for necessary expenses, or necessary items will be given to her by the convent. A novice can ask for permission to spend her own money on something, and her purse will be given back to her for use on ‘Rest’. All property and possessions of the Novice remain hers, though some of her possessions will be available for use by others in the noviciate/convent, for as long as the person remains.
It is only at final profession that a Sister gives up her accounts, property and possessions, to be given away, sold, used in community or disposed of(if they are of no use). A Professed Sister has to have permission to keep anything. The convent may keep, or allow the Sister to keep, some useful items if they are offered, but they are no longer considered personal property.

Will I see my family again?

Yes. A person is free to visit their family during their ‘Rest’.
Family and friends are also welcome to visit (some time will be made available to spend with them, go out for a meal, a walk, etc).
Sisters are encouraged to keep in touch with their families by writing regularly. Telephone calls can also be made to them, and they can also ‘phone you.

Can I join if I’m well over 16?

We don’t accept women under 21, as it is important that they have some life experience first. This may be from further/higher education, courses, independent home-life or some sort of work experience. Experience of ‘ordinary living’ is important in the discernment process and can help the person understand the mainstream secular life before entering community.
Many people of varying ages are joining religious communities across the country. There are still younger people in their 20’s and 30’s, but also more mature people who are joining noviciates in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.

Can I join if I’m divorced?

It is certainly a possibility. Each person’s situation will be considered individually.

What if I have children?

Any children the individual has, will have to be adult and independent.

What if I’m not healthy enough?

We try to be accepting, as we are based on the Visitation communities which were founded to enable women of ‘delicate health’ to work ‘outside the cloister’. Each person’s situation will be considered individually.

What if I’ve been turned down/asked to leave by other communities?

We try to be accepting and understanding of any difficulties a person may have had, in adapting to life in other communities. Many people may have to go through ‘living alongside’ or ‘noviciates’ of other communities, to discover God’s will for them. Each person will be considered individually and not judged or turned down, purely because they were not right for another community. All communities are different.
There are Sisters here, who started off in other communities before finding their calling with us, and they are now professed and happy.

What happens first?

You are welcome to contact us to ask for general information. We will send you some details with no obligation to take it any further. Then it’s up to you to contact us again if you would like to come for a visit.
On a first visit you will be treated as our guest, and you may ask any questions you wish and meet us all. Then, if you want to, you may come for a second visit or as many as you wish. At any time, after the first visit, you may ask to spend some time with us as an official ‘aspirant’.
An Aspirant lives alongside the community; they stay in a guest room, but attend offices and do light work to discover if they might like to join as a Postulant. If they do, after an interview and a request in writing, they may be admitted into the Noviciate. If they don’t want to join, there’s no problem and if a person is ‘searching’, we may be able to suggest where a person may look next if they wish.

More answers on 'faq' page

DAILY TIMETABLE OF SERVICES

VISITORS ARE WELCOME

The Eucharist is celebrated daily