My Story - Sr Anne Lee

Last year I celebrated my Silver Jubilee – 25 years since I made my first profession in the Sisters of Sion.  It was a great occasion and I am still amazed at where the years have gone.

I joined the Sisters of Sion in 1980, and made my novitiate in London.  After the early years in Sion, I trained as a nurse and worked in hospitals in Manchester and Leeds, specialising in Haematology.  I was very happy nursing – I had patients and colleagues whom I will never forget.

In 1996 there was a call in the congregation for sisters to serve at Ecce Homo Convent, one of our houses in Jerusalem.  I volunteered to go there and stayed in Israel for 5 years.  This was an amazing time for me, I learnt so much about myself, and the congregation.  Ecce Homo is an international community – there were 6 of us in the community from 5 different countries.  Working at our Pilgrims’ Guest House, and meeting the students on our Biblical Programme, it was a wonderful privilege for us to meet people from all over the world who were deepening their faith and their knowledge of the Bible. 

When I returned to the UK in 2001 I came to Sheffield to do a degree in Biblical Studies.  It was marvellous experience to be Mature Student and I learnt so much.  When I graduated I took a job at Sheffield Hallam University Catholic Chaplaincy where I now work.  It is a special place where students form a faith community and discover much about themselves, God and their faith.

I am blessed with a close family – My mum lives in Stockport, and I have four sisters and eight nephews.  Three of my sisters are married and one is a Benedictine Sister at St Cecilia’s Abbey on the Isle of Wight.  I really enjoy our occasional family gatherings.

These twenty five and more years of Religious Life have had their ups and downs and their challenges.  But I would do it all again, knowing that God is ever faithful and so generous with his gifts.