Walsingham House is celebrating two significant milestones this year – it is 60 years since Fr Pat Brennan began Walsingham House as a retreat centre and 40 years since Fr Pat Sammon and Sr Margaret Soper formed the first residential team, after they caught a new vision for Youth Ministry. This vision was inspired by Pope, now Saint, John Paul II who started World Youth Day and who said to young people gathered in Cardiff, “In the Church of today, you are the hope of tomorrow”.
To mark this, there will be a Mass of Thanksgiving on Saturday 31 August at midday, celebrated by Bishop Alan in the grounds of Walsingham House at Abbotwick. Abbotswick became the new home of the Walsingham House team in 2018 after its years at first Chingford (left below) and then Canvey (right below).
Everyone is very welcome to attend, with a special invite to those who have been part of the Walsingham House team over the last 40 years. After Mass you are welcome to stay for a picnic in the grounds.
In 2018 the renovated Abbotswick, originally the House of Prayer founded by Sr Agatha McEvoy, a Franciscan Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Conception, became the new home of the Walsingham House retreat team after its move from Canvey Island. Read more history in Fr Dominic Howarth’s homily from that celebration: Homily for the Official Opening of Walsingham House at Abbotswick