✦ COME & SEE WEEKEND • 13–15 JUNE 2025 • YOUNG WOMEN 18–35
HOME / WHO WE ARE
WHO WE ARE
A family of sisters, brothers, priests and lay people, called together by Mary to live and proclaim the Gospel.
OUR CALLING
One ecclesial family. Many vocations, one shared mission.
Ecclesial Families of Consecrated Life—such as Verbum Dei, the Identes, the Community of the Beatitudes, the Spiritual Family “The Work” and the Franciscan Fraternity of Bethany—are all new forms of consecration.
The universal call to holiness is the motor that propels every state of life in the Church. The structure of an Ecclesial Family such as ours expresses the equality, dignity and primary mission shared by all the baptised, each according to their particular state of life. As the 1997 document In Verbo Tuo: New Vocations for a New Europe enunciates so beautifully in §12b, saints are needed in all states of life:
“Fathers” and “mothers” who are open to life and to the gift of life are needed; husbands and wives who witness to and celebrate the beauty of human love blessed by God; people capable of cultural dialogue and of “cultural charity”, for the transmission of the Christian message by means of the languages of our society; professionals and simple people who are capable of imprinting on their civil life and on their working relationships and friendships the transparency of the truth and the intensity of Christian charity; women who can rediscover in the Christian faith the possibility of living fully their feminine genius; priests with a big heart, like that of the Good Shepherd; permanent deacons who proclaim the Word and the freedom of service to the poorest; consecrated apostles with the ability to immerse themselves in the world and in history with a contemplative’s heart, and mystics so familiar with the mystery of God as to know how to celebrate the experience of the divine and show God present in the events of life.
Europe needs new confessors: of the faith and of the beauty of believing; witnesses who would be credible believers, courageous even to the shedding of blood; virgins who would be so not only for themselves, but who could point out to all that virginity which is in the heart of each one and which leads immediately to the Eternal, the source of all love.
There are two essential novelties in an Ecclesial Family: the presence of both consecrated men and women, and the gathering of different states of life—lay people, couples and celibates, together with consecrated persons.
PERSONAL STORIES
One ecclesial family. Different states of life, one shared call.
RELIGIOUS SISTERS
Consecrated women whose life is rooted in prayer, community and apostolic service.
Men called to religious life and ordained ministry, united in prayer and mission.
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Lay people living the Community’s spirituality in family life, work and parish.
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Diocesan priests sharing our prayer, fellowship and Marian charism.
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OUR STORY
From foundation to the present day
1999
The Vocations Group for Women is established in Westminster Diocese, and the founding inspiration for a new community is received.
2003
2004
COLW’s Founding Mass is celebrated in the Slipper Chapel. The Community begins running Abbotswick House of Prayer for Brentwood Diocese.
2006
2010
2012
2018–2021
2018 — Lay Branch discerners begin meeting.
2021 — The Rule for the Lay Branch is approved by DICLSAL.
2018–2021
2018 — Lay Branch discerners begin meeting.
2021 — The Rule for the Lay Branch is approved by DICLSAL.
2023–2026
2023 — The first lay members make promises.
2026 — Mary’s House, a mission house in Walsingham, is acquired.
DICLSAL: Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
2023–2026
2023 — The first lay members make promises.
2026 — Mary’s House, a mission house in Walsingham, is acquired.
DICLSAL: Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
2014
Bishop Alan Williams becomes COLW’s bishop protector, and the Community is invited to run Dowry House Retreat in Walsingham.
2017
Bishop Alan Williams grants the decree establishing COLW as an Ecclesial Family of Consecrated Life. The Community acquires its first convent, House of the Divine Will in Dereham, as a novitiate.
2018
Lay Branch discerners begin meeting.
2021
The Rule for the Lay Branch is approved by DICLSAL.
2023
The first lay members make promises.
2026
Mary’s House, a mission house in Walsingham, is acquired.
DICLSAL: Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
2018–2021
2018 — Lay Branch discerners begin meeting.
2021 — The Rule for the Lay Branch is approved by DICLSAL.
2018–2021
2018 — Lay Branch discerners begin meeting.
2021 — The Rule for the Lay Branch is approved by DICLSAL.
2023–2026
2023 — The first lay members make promises.
2026 — Mary’s House, a mission house in Walsingham, is acquired.
DICLSAL: Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
2023–2026
2023 — The first lay members make promises.
2026 — Mary’s House, a mission house in Walsingham, is acquired.
DICLSAL: Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
WHERE WE ARE TODAY
Living prayer, community and mission.
Today, we live our common life in Dereham. Prayer is the source of all we are and do.
Together we serve the Church and the world through hospitality, formation, outreach and works of spiritual mercy.
COME AND MEET THE COMMUNITY
We would be glad to welcome you.
Whether you are discerning, visiting Walsingham, or simply want to learn more, please get in touch.
❦
Community of Our Lady
of Walsingham