FINDING SILENCE IN WALSINGHAM
11TH – 13TH OCTOBER 2019

Thirteen of us shared cars to travel to Dowry House Retreat situated opposite the ancient Priory Grounds, where Our Lady asked for a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth to be built in 1061.

We joined the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham in their regular times of prayer, which included the Fiat Rosary, revealed to an English lay missionary in 1984 and which differs from the standard.

Silence began on the Friday evening after Night prayer and continued until Sunday morning. Sr Gabriela with Sr Theresa led us in five sessions over the weekend looking at the spiritual history of Walsingham, the treasure of silence, living in the present moment, Lectio Divina and how we can incorporate what we learned into our daily lives. Those who wanted to could also avail themselves of individual spiritual direction. Mass and the sacrament of Reconciliation were celebrated for us by Fr John Delaney of the Franciscans on Saturday, whilst on Sunday we walked the Holy Mile for Mass at the RC Shrine.

Apart from Dowry House itself, reflection times could be spent in the Abbey Grounds, to which we were given free tickets, the Orthodox Church with its Quiet Garden or the Anglican shrine, all nearby.

Every attention was paid to our needs and the Community exemplified what it is to live fully in the present moment and to trust in God.

‘Uplifting’, ‘instructive’ and ‘enriching’ are words used by some of the participants following the retreat.