Solemn profession of Sister Camilla Oberding

Photo: Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk

More than 400 worshippers, including family members, friends from around the world and parishioners, attended the solemn profession of Sister Camilla Oberding in Kensington, west London on Wednesday.

Rev Mgr Christopher Brooks, accompanied by 20 priests, presided at the Mass on the Vigil of the Annunciation in the Carmelite Church of Our Lady and St Simon Stock Sister Camilla's 85 year old mother Magda was a prominent figure among the guests, along with her other three daughters, Aunt Trudy and friends from Germany, Italy and Slovakia.

Sister Camilla chose the Carmelite Church as the venue for her final vows because it was here that she was enrolled at the age of 15 in the Confraternity of the Scapula of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Today Sister Camilla devotes all her energies to the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham. Based at Abbotswick House in Essex, the six-strong community was founded in January 2004 and is the most recent addition to the Diocese of Brentwood.

Members of the community based at Abbotswick - the first Catholic mixed community in England since the Reformation - formed part of the choir at the celebratory Mass in Kensington which was followed by a reception for guests.

Sister Camilla told guests of the phrase she had written in her diary many years ago:

"The only love worthwhile is the love that lasts forever."

She explained: "I was able to reflect on it during my time of retreat recently and my final profession of vows is a testimony to the truth of this fact and something I am personally experiencing at an ever deeper level."

Sister Camilla, who took her first vows in an Italian community 23 years ago, added: "By taking the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience I have chosen to follow Christ more closely in a religious life, to make my whole being an offering of praise and thanksgiving to the glory of the Holy Trinity."
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Sr Camilla Oberding, is Community Servant (Leader) and Formator of the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham. For more information see: www.walsinghamcommunity.org
Photo Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk