The Lord has done marvellous things,
let them be made known to the whole world!

What we are sharing about the founding years and inspiration of this newest religious community in the UK is done with the knowledge that you will join us in giving thanks to God for the immense love and mercy shown to us through this sacred history in the making. As regards the future, we hope:

• That the community will grow slowly but steadily. As we all know it is quality, not quantity, that counts.

• To respond to the requests of bishops to open houses in other dioceses and abroad.

• To have our mother house and novitiate at Walsingham, to run a formation/vocation/evangelisation centre
   there and to serve the shrine itself in some way (and other Marian shrines in the future).

• For a community of brothers to live and work alongside us. One of our advisors has even advised staying
   open to the idea of a mixed community. We are aware of the necessary formation and maturity needed for
   such a venture. And yet, if God wants it, the people and the means will come. A recent article by Ronald
   Rolheiser 'Searching for a New Maturity' summed it all up quite well so we invite you to read it
   (see link below).

• We believe that the men's branch will be made up mainly of brothers because, as a community, we feel called
   to support diocesan priests and the local church in a particular way.

• For a secular consecrated branch of COLW to be established.

• To fine-tune and release the theme song of the Community, 'Mary of Walsingham, Mother of Vocation'.

• To support vocations promotion around the country and act as a resource for Vocations Groups.

• To facilitate more discernment communities seeing that there appears to be a demand for them.

• To organise conferences (see events page) in order to support people in all vocational states. To develop
   associate membership in the not too distant future so that those who wish to can share in the treasures of
   this dynamic and unfolding charism.

• To promote Vocations Pilgrimages to Walsingham as a discernment experience for teenagers and young
   adults from all dioceses around the country.

So, new life is born, but, not without pain, struggle and groaning during the birth. And as with any child that is born, the COLW charism has a life of its own. We cannot control it or even desire to plan for its future. We can only allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit to a constantly renewed discovery of God and of his Word, to a burning love for God and for humanity and to a new understanding of the charism which has been given. We know that this will involve growing pains, especially if we consider that the first twenty years of any community can be considered the 'founding years'. However, we live in the hope that all those called to be part of the Community will already have the seed of the charism within them and will help us unravel its mystery.