BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

PSALM 46:10

Wellspring is a Catholic spirituality center that offers spiritual growth opportunities such as classes and retreats and promotes contemplative spirituality. The center is owned and operated by The Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales and operates on a basic vision that all of God’s people are called to holiness and that it is possible for all to live a contemplative life style while being active in ministry.

RETREATS

RETREATS AT

WELLSPRING

Due to inclement weather,

our Lenten Retreat

has been rescheduled.

Saturday, February 27, 2021

9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Fr. Gus Tharappel will guide the retreat. There is limited seating due to COVID. Please email us at retreatsatwellspring@gmail.com to reserve a spot. All participants are asked to wear a mask and social distance at the retreat.

OUR MASSES

MASSES AT

WELLSPRING

Due to COVID-19,

there is limited seating

at our Sunday Masses.

Please call 903-839-1280 or

email us at

for information about our Masses.

Daily Masses

Monday - Friday

6:45 am

The Mother of Compassion Shrine
remains open daily for

prayer and reflection.

news

CLASSES AT

WELLSPRING

All classes at Wellspring
are postponed

at this time

due to COVID-19.

2021 REFLECTION THEME AND WELLSPRING PRAYER

We reflected on “stillness” as our theme in 2020. Our theme for reflection in 2021 is the virtue of “gratefulness.” This year, we want to strive to learn to “be grateful.” We want to let “gratefulness” become our way of being, living and acting.

While there may be many things wrong in our world, many people unfaithful to their commitments, many projects incomplete and imperfect, there definitely are many things right with our world, many people doing the best they can, many projects contributing to the growth and stability of our communities. We often take for granted things that work properly most of the time and people who live decent and virtuous lives. It is easy to take things for granted, especially some things like our jobs, families or friends. It’s easy to forget how blessed we are for just about everything in our lives. That is why it is good and important to count our blessings, be thankful and show gratitude.

first sunday of lent

REFLECTIONS FOR PRAYER AND WORSHIP

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we celebrate the First Sunday of Lent. The first reading (Genesis 9:8-15), tells us the story of the great flood and the appearance of the rainbow, as a sign of the covenant and the promise of new beginnings. The second reading (1 Peter 3:18-22) speaks of participating in the resurrected life, in the new of life through Baptism. The Gospel (Mark 1:12-15) speaks of Jesus going into the desert, being tempted, rising above the temptations to a new power and strength and coming to call people to repentance and new life in the Kingdom of God.

I invite you to join me in reflecting on the first reading from Genesis 9:8-15. It is the story of the great flood and the appearance of the rainbow, hung colorfully across the sky as a sign of the covenant that God made and the promise of new beginnings. In the Hebrew Bible, the rainbow is a symbol of the Covenant between God and man, a covenant that will never be broken. The rainbow is the sign of the promise of God’s unconditional, invincible, unconquerable, enduring, everlasting, unfailing, covenant Love - the symbol of God’s steadfast and all-embracing love.

There is much to learn about the rainbow and its symbolism in the history of world religions. Rainbows occur when sunlight intersects with water droplets – whether that’s rain, mist, waves, or a waterfall. Bright sunlight and moisture create a bright rainbow that stands out against a dull, rainy background. A rainbow isn’t a solid object – it’s a combination of light and moisture. Take a moment to reflect on what this could mean for our spiritual journey.

Native Americans speak of the spirituality of the most heart. Reflect on what can happen to us with the moist heart and the light of Christ! Lent calls us to have a moist heart – a heart of repentance and sorrow for our failures, sinfulness, and shortfalls. Lent leads us to the light of Christ, the Paschal light – the light that dispels darkness and heals our brokenness.

We are facing different types of darkness and brokenness these days – the pandemic, lockdowns, political and social unrest, inclement weather, canceling services in churches, etc. During this Lent, let us keep the rainbow, the symbol of God’s steadfast love as our symbol of hope. Let us renew our confidence in God’s Promise to send us light into our dark moments, healing for our brokenness, forgiveness for our sinfulness and freedom from our restlessness.

I encourage you to find an image of a rainbow or make one yourself or get one of your children to draw or paint a rainbow and keep it in a place in your house that is easily visible. Let the rainbow inspire you to renew your confidence in God’s steadfast and all-embracing love.

God bless you and your family.

Fr. Gus Tharappel, msfs

SUNDAY REFLECTIONS

Weekday Reflections