THE
P RTAL
July 2017
Page 22
The Community of Our
Lady of Walsingham
looks for a new home
Arnold Herron is trying to help
T
he Community of Our Lady of Walsingham is a new community, not yet twenty years old, of
consecrated sisters and brothers, (some of whom will be priests). They help promote a culture of vocation
in the Church and in society by enabling people to respond fully to the call of love in their lives. They are a
Marian community dedicated to Our Lady of Walsingham and they pray and work for the re-evangelisation
of England and the western world.
They have been based in various locations since
foundation, but in recent years they have landed in
Walsingham itself - surely the right place for such a
Community to be. One of their tasks is to run and
organise the Dowry House in Walsingham. This is the
new Retreat House attached to the Shrine.
It means, of course, that they now need a house to use
as a Convent and it so happens that there is a suitable
one on the market. Until recently, it housed the Marist
Fathers, but they are relocating. The Community needs
to raise £350,000 to purchase what would be the first
convent for the community. So far they have raised
£81,428 in just a few months.
The Community hopes for the future include;
welcoming people to live alongside them for a time
to deepen their Christian calling, offering places of
solitude for those who would like a hermit experience
and supporting the local community by their presence,
prayers and home visits.
The Community is looking for people to become
founding benefactors by donating to this appeal.
Since foundation, they have been blessed with All founding benefactors, living and deceased, will
the help of both the dioceses of Westminster and be remembered in a monthly Mass offered for their
Brentwood and now the Shrine with providing them intentions.
with places for the first sisters to start the community
You might also like to give a donation in memory of
and to have some living accommodation. However,
they do not have space to grow or welcome new a departed loved one and have their name inscribed in
the book of benefactors. Thus Mass will be offered for
candidates.
the repose of their soul.
A suitable property, ‘Half Moon House’, has become
Any amount you can give will be gratefully received.
available in Great Walsingham. It has ten bedrooms
and a field. It would be a fantastic place for the first To give online, please go to:
www.walsinghamcommunity.org
convent and novitiate and to welcome young people
attending shrine events. It has been the home of
Please keep this intention in your prayers and be
the Marist Fathers for many years and already has a
assured the Sisters and Brothers will keep you in their
prayerful chapel.
prayers.