“Those who truly know her never question her name.”

Sister Anne of Noying hails from the small hamlet of Noying on the River Piddle in England. A reasonably devout Anglican, her inspiration in religious life is Almost-Saint Annae O’Noeyingge. Al.-St. Annae’s canonization failed because her healing miracles (for hangnail, dandruff, and hiccups) were deemed insufficient. Annae’s “straightforward” approach with people did not endear her to the hierarchy, and was also a tough time for ascending to sainthood—Annae of Rexia and Annae of Drogenie didn’t make it, either. Prayers for sufficient miracles for all of the Annae’s are appreciated.

The current-day Anne nonetheless draws upon Annae’s belief that “The Goode News Should Afflikt the Comfortable, and Who Better to Do Said Affliktinge?” Anne moved to the United States, stating, “Why afflict the good people of England, when Americans deserve it far more?” She lost her accent, among other things, in the process. In her heart (or somewhere in that flat bosom), she knows that most people want to do good works, but don’t know how to go about it, especially as this rarely comes up on their Facebook and Instagram feeds. Thus, she is unafraid to cajole, shame, and nag others to help the sick, the poor, the needy, and the disempowered, and help the comfortable part with their resources for a good cause, one Square swipe at a time. She also deploys her sense of humor, which at times amuses, at times confuses, but most a’times just A’Noys. In her own devotions, she turns to the Prayer of St. Francis to help her find some compassion in dealing with people and not extend just it to animals, especially cats. It should be clear that Anne needs all the help she can get, so include her and all the Annae’s in your daily thoughts and prayers. All of them could use some good miracles.

Sister Anne is “well-seasoned in life” (code words for “old as dirt”), and she has a special place in her heart for those who care for the aging, especially members of the LGBTQ community caring for parents, spouses, or siblings who are suffering with dementia in any of its forms. She herself has gone through this with one of her own biological sisters.  Especially with parents, the task of care can fall to us rather than to our straight relatives, but the challenges are often met in isolation. Her goal is to help people access resources and connect with and support one another in these caregiving situations.