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©2011 Community of the Holy Name, 40 Cavanagh Street, Cheltenham VIC 3192  Ph: 03 9583 2087  Contact us

An edited version of the following text appeared in  the May issue of TMA .

Tuesday 12th April was a special day for the Sisters of the Community of the Holy Name, when Sister Carol Tanner was installed as their ninth Mother Superior in the chapel of the Community House at Cheltenham.
Sister Carol is one of a small number of C.H.N. Sisters who have been called to a double vocation: first to marriage and raising a family, and then to the Religious Life. Her five children and other family members attended the ceremony, including her eldest grandson, Jason, who represented her thirteen grandchildren.
The Installation took place in the context of a sung Eucharist celebrated by Archbishop Philip Freier, assisted by the Warden of the Community, the Revd. Graham Reynolds. The Ring and Cross of Office, together with a copy of the Rule, had been placed on the altar the previous evening by Sister Josephine Margaret, the outgoing Mother Superior. Before presenting them to the new Reverend Mother, the Archbishop prayed, “Father, … pour out your Spirit on your servant, Carol, that she, being this day installed as Mother Superior of this Community, may by your grace be kept worthy of this office. Give her perseverance in good works, constancy in adversity, patience in tribulation, wisdom in counsel, discretion in judgement, and strength with gentleness. Grant that she may walk faithfully in all your ways and ever desire the things that belong to eternal life.”
In his address, the Archbishop spoke of the aspects of character and Christian virtue outlined in Colossians 3:12-17 (the reading for the Epistle), and pointed out that the Religious Life was first lived in the common life of the first Christians, and later developed into the forms in which we know it today. Commenting on the words of Jesus, “The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do”, he pointed to what C.H.N. has accomplished over its long history, and encouraged us with the thought that God sees not just who we are, but who we can be, with the Spirit’s help. He said that God has called Sister Carol through the discernment of the Community; that Christ is present with us here, and so we can meet with confidence whatever challenges may be put before us.  
After the address, the Eucharist began with the lovely hymn of dedication, “Take my life and let it be / consecrated, Lord, to thee.”                                                                                                                  
The chapel was filled with guests who afterwards joined Sister Carol and the Sisters in the refectory for a celebratory lunch
More photos here.