Retirement Fund for Religious

At age eight, Sister Anne Lanh Tran already knew she felt called to religious life. That calling would eventually carry her from Vietnam to Thailand and the United States—and into decades of ministry with refugees, and women and children experiencing homelessness.

“The generous support of donors who contribute to the Retirement Fund for Religious honors the lifelong service of sisters who have given everything to God and the community. This kindness allows us to live in dignity during this precious season of prayer. We are deeply grateful,” shares Sister Anne, 80, a member of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Los Angeles, California.

Born into a devout Catholic family in North Vietnam, Sister Anne was one of six children raised in a home where faith was deeply rooted. Her family’s commitment to religious life was evident: two daughters are members of the Lovers of the Holy Cross, one is in the community in Vietnam, Sister Anne is in the United States, and her younger brother is a priest in the Diocese of Xuan Loc, Vietnam.

Sister Anne first felt called to religious life when she was just eight years old. After her family relocated to South Vietnam in 1954, she encountered the Lovers of the Holy Cross sisters at her parish and was drawn to their way of life. With her parents’ permission, she entered the sisters’ school at age 12, traveling far from home to begin her formation. She entered the novitiate in 1962 and professed her first vows in 1965.

Following the fall of Vietnam in 1975, Sister Anne fled with some members of her community to Thailand before eventually arriving in the United States. She studied English in New Jersey and earned a Bachelor of Social Work from La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA, while balancing work and studies with determination and grace. She later earned a Master in Social Work at the University of Southern California (USC).

Her ministry led her to serve Vietnamese and Indochinese refugees in New York, San Jose for few years, and later to the Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children, a program of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc., where she devoted 29 years to supporting homeless women and children. Through her compassionate presence, she accompanied those facing profound hardship, offering care, dignity, and hope.

Now in retirement, Sister Anne continues her life of prayer within her community, finding quiet joy in daily routines and spiritual reflection. She views this season as a precious blessing, a sacred time of preparation and deepened faith.

Reflecting on her life, she offers simple yet profound wisdom: “Pray, and wait for God.”