After spending many years away from the Catholic Church, Clare had felt a call to attend Mass at a local Church in Newcastle. It was on this day in the first Mass she had attended in many years, that she picked up the Parish Bulletin – where a notice for a Women of the Well (WoW) retreat had been placed.
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Clare has since attended two WoW Retreats. 

We asked Clare what her experience of her first retreat was like:

“I think I was just so happy to be here. It just really filled me with, all I can call it is happiness. I took a big walk around the property at Kincumber and the atmosphere, the vibe was just so welcoming and friendly and there was nothing pushed at you.  It was just all new and a bit surprising to me. But what surprised me the most was how much I enjoyed it.”

Growing up in a big Catholic family & then having kids and a family of her own meant that she was always around others. But 2023 marks 10 years since her husband died. She noted that it was the first time she had really experienced being on her own. It was in reflection of this that a seeking started to occur.

 “I think it's a time and opportunity for me to look into what's going on. There does seem to be something calling me to more than just this day-to-day life. I do feel a sense of needing to look into my spirituality. I've been involved with Buddhism for quite a long time but it's not quite the same as Christianity. I am finding that Christianity is calling me back. But not to Church, not to Mass, not to just mouthing the words. To something more within me. A bit more of a relationship.”

We asked Clare what she would say to someone who might be considering joining us for a WoW retreat. She said:

“I would say definitely give it a try. It’s open to anyone who wants to come, who wants the company and the friendship of women and who's looking for something more in their lives than all of the day-to-day stuff that we get into and that we're lucky enough to enjoy in this country. But if you're looking for a bit more than that, then come along and give this a try because it's just lovely to be here.”

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