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Alongsiders
Living in
God’s Rhythm Join us for a year’s
adventure living alongside a
contemporary Christian
community.
The Community
C elebrating 130 years of ministry in
Canada, the Sisterhood of St. John the
Divine is on “a journey just begun” as we
move expectantly into God’s future, open to
the needs of the culture around us and the
mission of the contemporary church.
W e are committed to sharing our life
with those who wish to experience,
for a time, being part of a prayer- and gospel
-centred monastic community, bound
together by the call to live out our baptismal
covenant in community.
F or more information about the
Sisterhood, see our website
www.ssjd.ca or like us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/ssjdcanada
A Monastic Community within
the Anglican Church of Canada
How to become an Alongsider
A woman interested in exploring
the Alongsider program may
request an application form and
further information from the
Alongsider Coordinator, Sister
Constance Joanna, by e-mailing
[email protected] or phoning 416-226-
2201, ext. 316.
The Sisterhood of
St. John the Divine
St. John’s Convent
and Guest House 233 Cummer Avenue
Toronto, ON M2M 2E8
Telephone: 416-226-2201 ext. 305
Fax: 416-226-2131
Email: [email protected]
St. Johns House, BC 3937 St. Peter’s Road
Victoria, B.C. V8P 2J9
Telephone: 250-920-7787
Fax: 250-920-7709
Email: [email protected]
www.ssjd.ca
The Sisterhood of St. John the Divine is a
registered charity. Our charitable donation
number is BN 11925 4266 RR0001.
Who is an Alongsider?
A n Alongsider is
a woman who
desires to share the life of a monastic community
for a year, and to live a rhythm of life based on
Jesus’ summary of the law: “Love the Lord your
God with all your heart and mind and soul, and
your neighbour as yourself. “ She shares her gifts
with the community of sisters and Alongsiders
and learns from them in shared prayer, classes,
service, and friendship.
A longside the Sisters, she is committed to a
daily practice of personal prayer, spiritual
reading and reflection on sacred Scripture. She
learns to express the values of both silence and
conversation in relationships with Sisters, other
Alongsiders, and all with whom she comes in
contact.
The life of an Alongsider
E ach Alongsider is assigned to a work
area in the convent , that is in
keeping with her talents and her goals for
the program and that helps to further the
Community’s ministry. She also shares in
daily household responsibilities like after-
supper kitchen help, gardening, etc.
A longsiders share in the daily round
of prayer in chapel, join the Sisters’
weekly choir practice, and participate in
the rota of reading scripture, ushering,
ring the bell, & other chapel assignments.
T hey participate in classes on the
monastic life, contemplative prayer,
Christian classics, and related topics. In
turn, they have opportunities to help the
community deepen its understanding of
the needs of the contemporary world.
E ach Alongsider has a mentor to assist
in the practical and spiritual aspects
of community life and to help her
develop personal spiritual practises to
support her ongoing Christian life when
she returns home.
R oom and board are free, and most
living expenses are covered by the
Sisterhood. Alongsiders in turn work
approximately 25 hours/week and have
the same free time, retreat opportunities,
and vacation as the Sisters.
Purpose of an Alongsider
B eing an Alongsider for a set period of
time (usually a year) gives a woman
the opportunity to seek a deeper
relationship with God in community, to learn
about the monastic life in general, to explore
and better understand living in community,
and to take some of the core values of
monastic life back out “into the world.”
H aving Alongsiders in the community
also enriches the Sisters’ extended
community family. It enhances the way they
model community life for the church and
contemporary culture by including women
who can act as intermediaries and
ambassadors for the monastic values lived in
ordinary life.
Prayer for Alongsiders
G od of our journeys and our resting
places, we thank you for the women
you have called to join us as Alongsiders for
this time in their lives. Bless them as they
join our Household of Faith in finding new
ways to witness to the Gospel in our time
and place. May they listen with the ear of
their hearts as you make yourself known to
them in their prayer and their play, their
community life and their work. Join us
together in a communion of faith as we
witness to you in your world.
