The Community of our Lady of Walsingham
"Called to the Fullness of Life and Love"

Having come to a place where I had finally decided to trust Jesus and allow
him to heal me, I was finding myself regularly on my knees in awe and praise
of the wonderful things he was doing in my life. It felt like now I had begun
saying 'yes' to him, he was sweeping through my relationships and problems
and simply fixing them, cleaning and tidying as he went. This was much
deeper and more beautiful than I can explain even if I had all the words in
the world. Receiving his mercy in such a deep and profound way made me
fall more and more in love with him. Everyday I found myself with new joys
and new little miracles that touched me so deeply that they made me cry
that someone could love me this much.

During a retreat at Walsingham in 2007 I was praying in the Holy Ghost and Slipper Chapels. It was here that my vocation to religious life became clearer and I gained the confidence to nurture it further. My vocations director put me in touch with COLW and I began visiting regularly. As time went on and I learnt more about the charism of the community; I realised that it corresponded to the desires of my own heart. With my personal evangelism being on-going, I hope to one day encourage others.

During my early time at COLW I realised (through spiritual direction and prayer) that I had spent my whole life looking for my vocation in the wrong place. I came to realise that Jesus was not just God to me, someone I should pray to, but my best friend and someone who would love me no matter what I did - even if, at times, I fail to do what he asks. It was then that I decided I want to serve him in a radical way that is different and I want to be free from the worldly and material ties that have kept me for so long from following my call. It hasn't been easy giving up the opportunity to get married and have a family. I even had a boyfriend at the time when I first began to feel 'called', but I came to realise that my deepest desire is to bring Christ's healing love to many people and to walk with many along their road to the cross. One small family just wouldn't be enough for me. My vocation is to love everyone and be a part of the 'wider family of God' reaching out to those who are still searching for the fullness of life that only the love of Christ can bring.

As time goes on and I prepare to take the next step towards my 'yes', I receive more and more affirmation during quiet prayer and praying with scripture. I once told Jesus he needed to make it really obvious to me what his dream for my life is because I'm not a very good listener. Well, he certainly hasn't wasted any time and the only way I can describe how I feel about the certainty of his plan is through the loving and passionate conviction that I feel whenever I think of him who saved my life simply because he loves me. His passion has now become my passion and I am living everyday with a new surrender.