Sr. Anna Chan, SC, Foundress and General Superior of the Servants of the Cross went home to be with the Lord on February 4, 2025.

She was born Easter Sunday in Toronto on April 11, 1971, to Rodolfo and Esther Chan, and was baptized the next day. She grew up in a loving faith-filled home and was part of the Charismatic Renewal since her early teens.

After graduating from Holy Name of Mary High School in Mississauga, she and her parents went on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje when she was 18. It was here that she experienced a conversion of heart and began to turn to the Lord in a deeper way.

She then attended the University of Toronto, obtaining a degree in Anthropology. This course of study encapsulated the heart of Sr. Anna. She had a deep understanding of people and cultures.

In 1999 – 2000, she gave a year of her life as a missionary for NET Canada (National Evangelization Team). Her team of 10 travelled across Canada putting on youth retreats in various parishes.

After her time with NET she moved to Ottawa and helped found a Young Adults Group from 2001 to 2010, and worked for the government from 2000 to 2013.

On June 3, 2003, while on retreat, Sr. Anna clearly heard the words “Are you ready now?” She knew it was the Lord speaking directly to her heart about the call to religious life.

At the beginning of July, Sr. Anna approached Fr. Bob Bedard, CC, Founder of the Companions of the Cross, and Fr. Roger Vandenakker, the Moderator at the time, about starting the Sisterhood of the Companions of the Cross. They suggested a retreat, which she undertook that confirmed her call.

Shortly after, Sr. Monique Bisson, SC, who had been a teammate of Sr. Anna’s on NET, joined her in answering her own call to religious life. They began their formation toward becoming religious sisters. On March 25, 2006, Sr. Anna and Sr. Monique stood before Fr. Bob Bedard, CC, and made their first Promises as Servants of the Cross.

From 2006 to 2018, Sr. Anna continued building the Sisterhood, writing the Constitutions, forming the Community, and living a life of evangelization that was the heart of the new young community. She was tireless in her evangelization efforts which became a solid foundation for the Servants of the Cross.

In August 2009, Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, SJ approved the Community’s elevation to a Private Association of the Christian Faithful. In November 2017, the Community was further elevated to a Public Association of the Christian Faithful, allowing Sr. Anna and others to make their final lifetime Promises.

On May 3, 2018, Sr Anna made her Final Promises alongside Sr. Monique Bisson and Sr. Melinda Schenher. At the end of the liturgy, she exclaimed with a huge smile, “Best Day Ever!” She carried that joy forward throughout the rest of her life.

The mission of the Community on Sr. Anna’s heart from the beginning was evangelization, bringing Jesus to the world one person at a time. The Community has established the vision of “creating a path for the church deployed to make Jesus irresistible to all people.”

She had a strong love and passion for parish renewal, serving as Coordinator of Pastoral Ministries at St. Mary’s Parish from 2015 to 2020. Working with lay people for the renewal of the church brought her great joy. Then, in 2020 she became the Director of Encounter School of Ministry Ottawa Campus, which opened its doors in 2022.

Most recently she gathered with evangelization leaders from across Canada, collaborating with them to see the Gospel of Jesus proclaimed to everyone, everywhere by 2033.

Sr. Anna loved mentoring others as they became equipped to minister using their supernatural gifts. She strived to lead the lay faithful in living their deepest identity as missionary disciples. She made Jesus “irresistible to all people” both within the Community and in the world.

She is survived by her parents, Rudy and Esther Chan of Mississauga; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, godparents, spiritual children, godchildren, and the Servants of the Cross Sisters.

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