Religious Milestones: Christian Charity Sister Annelyth Pandi, 25 years

Christian Charity Sister Annelyth Pandi said that she had no expectations as to what life in a religious community would be like when she was first considering a consecrated life, so she focused on her desire of why she was entering this new life – to return the love of Jesus.  

The youngest of seven children, Sister Annelyth’s parents and two of her brothers have passed away. “I got my happy disposition from my papa and being faithful from my mama,” she said. “The love that I received from my sacrificing mama and the affirmation I received from my papa helped me to be who I am today.”

Sister Annelyth attended grammar and high school in Lianga, Philipppines. Her favorite subject was English and her favorite teacher was Lina Ibra, who was there for her during the challenging times of adolescence.

In March 1994, Sister Annelyth received her Bachelor of Secondary Education degree at the Philippine Normal University.

Subsequently, Sister Annelyth moved to the United States, which, she said, was the greatest spiritual experience for her. Before the day of her departure, Sister Annelyth clung to the Lord in prayer at her church, entrusting the journey that she had to undertake. When she arrived in America, she said the Lord blessed her with friends and the people and circumstances of St. Aloysius Parish, Jersey City.

Discerning her vocation, she prayed Psalm 25 for guidance to join either the Sisters of St. Joseph or the Sisters of Christian Charity. She said that she was guided to choose the Sisters of Christian Charity and on June 4, 1994, Pentecost, decided to answer her “call.” In November 1995, Sister Annelyth made her first visit to the Sisters’ motherhouse and said she felt at home.

After attending a discernment weekend in January 1996, she sent her application letter to the Sisters of Christian Charity and entered the community Sept. 12, 1996. She became a novice Aug. 21, 1998. Her first profession of vows was Aug. 16, 2000, and took her final vows Aug. 15, 2006.

Sister Annelyth said that her religious name is a coined name of papa (Amando), mama (Nesie) and herself (Lyth). She said that she received her name when she became a novice. She chose Pentecost as her feast day.

While in the United States, Sister Annelyth attended St. John Paul II’s papal Mass at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands in 1995. She said that it strengthened her desire to enter religious life.

In 2010, the Sisters of Christian Charity assigned Sister Annelyth to its Philippine Mission for the Blind for a year.

“Our congregation was started because of the blind children in Paderborn, Germany, in 1849,” noted Sister Annelyth.

In 2018, she got a gift to travel to Kenya and Tanzania. On one of the days, The Apostles of Jesus Aids Ministry took her group to the Masai Village in Kenya.

Today, Sister Annelyth serves as parish catechetical leader, lector, cantor and choir member at St. James Parish, Basking Ridge.

As for what advice Sister Annelyth would give to women considering consecrated life, she responded: pray and seek God’s will and be open to notice his responses through people and the circumstances of the day.

As she reflects on her 25 years with the Sisters of Christian Charity, Sister Annelyth said, the reason that she entered the community is life can be found in verse three of “Lord You have Come:” “returning love, the love you gave me.”