Scotland: 25th Anniversary of Craig Lodge Community

Bishop John Keenan with Calum MacFarlane-Barrow founder of Craig Lodge Community

Craig Lodge Community marked their 25th birthday with a weekend of praise and thanksgiving culminating in a Mass celebrated by Bishop John Keenan and attended by several hundred friends and supporters from through the years. The weekend was a joyful reunion that brought together many of the former members who have lived as part of the Community and included the very first member, Martin Dodwell.

The Community is still led by founders, Calum and Mary Anne MacFarlane-Barrow, who decided to turn their guest house into a retreat centre after a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in the 1980s. Soon after taking this step they felt called to form a community, inviting young people to commit for a year to live a life of prayer, service and evangelisation. Ten years later the Community expanded its vision to include families and others who felt called to make a permanent commitment.

"We just want to thank the Lord for all the blessings of these 25 years. And we are so grateful to all those who continue to support us with their prayers, donations and encouragement and by coming on retreat here. We couldn't do any of it without you!" Calum MacFarlane-Barrow.

Offering young people the transforming experience of a year in Community remains at the heart of Craig Lodge. It is often a time of spiritual growth and healing. The Community is involved in a variety of ministries: running the retreat centre, youth work, family events and a weekly Praise and Worship prayer group. Many past members of Community have gone on to serve the Church in different ways such as becoming youth officers or leading initiatives like Nightfever and Youth2000. Some have entered religious life and they were represented during these celebrations by Brother Benedict and Brother Joshua who went on from their time with Craig Lodge Community to join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.

For more information on Craig Lodge retreats or Community see: www.craiglodge.org