Colombo House re-opens

Colombo House (on the corner of Ferry Road and Kingston Road) has completed a substantial refurbishment despite having to battle with its building company going into administration.

The building was originally a residential care home for children with learning disabilities and more recently a respite care home but closed almost ten years ago. It’s current reincarnation as “St Johns” will support adults with learning disabilities to help them live normal lives within the local community.

Funded by the Orione Care, the state-of-the-art building will now be home to tenants nominated by Richmond Upon Thames Borough where residents will live as independently as possible with the help of Walsingham care agency.

This is one of the several buildings provided by Orione Care – an English charitable company funded by Catholic Congregation “The Religious Congregation Sons of Divine Providence” which was founded in 1893 by St Luigi Orione. His motto was “Do good to all; harm no one”

To commemorate the occasion the building was dressed up in colourful bunting as the new residents welcomed members of the organisation to make their appreciation known.

Bishop Howard Tripp, retired auxiliary Bishop of Southwark, led a liturgy for a blessing of Colombo House. Three of the Sons of Divine Providence clergy were in attendance as was Joe Moffat from St. Mary’s and St. Albans representing Churches Together in Teddington.

Past and present staff also attended – some of whom had worked in Colombo House when it was a children’s home and speeches were read by various guests as well as the Colombo family whose father Angelo originally donated the building.

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