The Well Retreat Center

History of The Well

In 1981, Sister Nancy Healy began a House of Prayer, which she called “The Well,” in a small subdivision in the Churchland area of Portsmouth, Virginia to provide spiritual direction and prayer for individuals, and to offer daily retreats for individuals and groups of 8-10.  Eventually, pastoral councils, catechists, confirmands, and men’s and women’s groups began to inquire about using The Well for group overnight retreats.  Her facilities could not accommodate those needs, yet it was obvious this area of Virginia had a need for such a facility.  All of those people who had expressed interest in having a retreat center were asked to petition Bishop Sullivan to establish a center in Tidewater.  Bishop Sullivan responded to the petitions by authorizing the formation of a Board to explore creating a retreat center.

Planning began in the fall of 1985.  Suitable property was found and The Well Retreat Center opened its doors in March 1987 with Sr. Nancy Healy and Diane Weymouth serving as co-Directors.  Over the years the facilities have been utilized by a variety of faith traditions, and seekers with no traditions at all.  On average about 900-1,000 people use The Well each year for retreat purposes.

For seven years the Virginia Institute of Spiritual Direction, under the guidance of Sr. Nancy, Diane Weymouth, Anne Bland, Sr. Mary Fran Serafino and Gary Knapp, provided instruction for those seeking a closer walk with God and God’s people by becoming Spiritual Directors.

In January 2005, Sister Nancy and Diane decided that their mission at The Well was coming to a close.  They requested that the Board of Stewards and the Diocese begin a search for a new director or directors.

In July 2005, Tom and Linda Ashe accepted the position as co-Directors of The Well Retreat Center.

About The Retreat Directors

Linda and Thomas Ashe were both born and raised in Rochester, New York.  After college, they married and five years later moved to Wilmington Del.  In Wilmington they experienced a Marriage Encounter weekend and subsequently began working with Marriage Encounter in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Over the years they have been involved in many different aspects of ministry:  Cursillo retreats, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, JustFaith and a variety of social justice issues.

They began to listen for the voice of God in their lives and heard the call to go to Chiropractic school, something that neither of them had ever entertained as a profession.  As Chiropractors in Wilmington, now with their sixth child, they attended to not only the structural and biochemical needs of their patients but their spiritual and emotional needs as well.

In 1984 they met Monsignor Chester Michael and in 2003 graduated from the Spiritual Direction Institute under Monsignor Michael’s direction. 

In 2005 they once again listened to the voice of the Spirit and applied for, and were chosen, as co-Directors of The Well Retreat Center, where they continue to offer spiritual direction as part of their ministry of hospitality at The Well.  Tom also obtained his chiropractic license to practice in Virginia and helps those with chronic health issues identify spiritual, emotional, mental, biochemical blocks to healing.

God continues to unfold the plan for the future of The Well.  All we can ask is to be attentive to God and responsive to the plan God sets before us.  We ask that you keep The Well in your prayers as you are led to do so by the Spirit of God.  May this retreat center always be a place of healing, love, spiritual growth, prayer and hospitality.

Copyright(c) 2006 The Well Retreat Center. All rights reserved.