New religious community launches website

One of the newest religious communities in the UK is marking the World Day of Consecrated Life tomorrow by launching their own website: www.walsinghamcommunity.org The Community of Our Lady of Walsingham (COLW) hope the resource wll help men and women in their vocational journey. It will also provide information about the new community; their inspiration, lifestyle and hopes for the future. One of the founding members, Sr Camilla Oberding, said, "There is no shortage of interest in religious life and we work with a lot of young women and men who are discerning God's plan for their lives. Many young people in England and Wales still consider responding to God's call through a radical consecrated lifestyle; particular interest seems to be shown in new and different forms of consecrated life and through membership of new movements and communities, of which we are one." Mgr Keith Barltrop, Director of the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE) said: "Religious communities have made and are making an exemplary contribution to the mission of the Church. In more recent times, the wide variety of new movements and communities in England and Wales are also helping to introduce large numbers of people to Christ. COLW and others deserve our support and encouragement. Their radical response to God's call should remind us all of our baptismal call to proclaim and share the Gospel in our daily lives." Meanwhile, Fr Paul Embery, Director of the National Office for Vocations said: "It is important to develop online material to engage a new generation. It is also heartening to see some 'green shoots' in terms of those expressing an interest in religious life and priesthood. Traditional forms of religious life will continue to be cherished by the Church, but so too will fresh expressions of it."