Sisters of Our Lady of Reconciliation

[beatitude]

We often get people asking for communities who accept 'older' vocations, so I thought I would mention the Sisters of Our Lady of Reconciliation, who located in Walsingham in the UK (a country village that is home to a thousand-year-old shrine to Mary that has a fascinating and turbulent history). The shrine was destroyed during the Protestant Reformation and later restored in the 20th century - movingly by a woman from the Church of England. The community of Our Lady of Reconciliation was begun by three former Anglican nuns who became Catholic through the Ordinariate. They have a beautiful charism and mission, very fitting for the place - to promote unity and heal the wounds caused by division. They have an active apostolate (pastoral and chaplaincy work at the shrine) but their lives are heavily contemplative. Their spirituality is strongly informed by that of St Francis de Sales.

Right now they are classed as a private association of the faithful, but they are fully supported by their bishop and have permission to wear the habit. There is only one sister now, as the other died unexpectedly very recently and the third is no longer part of the community. This is another reason why I mention them here. They are doing beautiful work. If I hadn't chosen my secular institute, I would have discerned with them. I pray that they will flourish and grow.