“My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready. I will sing, I will sing your praise.” ~ Psalm 57:7

Sr Sarah Renata of Jesus made her Solemn Profession on September 1st , feast of St Teresa Margaret Redi. It was a day filled with joy, prayer and thanksgiving as she gave herself more completely to God as a solemnly professed Carmelite, following many years of monastic formation before this.

Family, friends and parishioners gathered for this deeply moving and significant occasion to witness her total commitment to a life of prayer and service in Carmel.

Bishop of East Anglia Peter Collins was the principal celebrant. He was joined by our Chaplain Fr Stephen Blair, Fr Nicholas Crowe OP, Prior Provincial of the English Province of the Dominicans, who helped her discern her vocation to religious life before she entered Carmel, Fr Alex Anaman, parish priest of Diss, Fr Peter Ho, parish priest of Bury St Edmunds, and Fr John Warrington of St Felix parish.

Sr Sarah's Solemn Profession, at the end of Mass — Sr Sarah’s Solemn Profession, at the end of Mass. From Left to Right: Fr Peter Ho, Fr Stephen, Fr John, Sr Sarah, Bishop Peter, Prioress Sr Nicola, Fr Alex, Fr Nicholas OP and our altar server Sally

The service was accompanied by the organ, beautifully played by Sr Shelagh, who performed wonderful pieces including Erik Satie’s Gymnopédie No. 1, Gustav Holst’s Jupiter and Pachelbel’s Chaconne. Sr Anna also joined Sr Shelagh on the oboe to play Bach’s Arioso from Cantata 156 before the start of the Mass.

Please keep Sr Sarah in your prayers as she begins this new chapter of her life as a solemnly professed Carmelite.