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
All retreats at Wellspring are
postponed
until August 1, 2020
due to COVID-19.
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
until August 1, 2020
due to COVID-19.
I
Thirteenth week in ordinary time
REFLECTIONS FOR PRAYER AND WORSHIP
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today, we begin the thirteenth week in ordinary time. The theme of hospitality runs through the scripture readings of this Sunday. Civilized people of the ancient world appreciated hospitality and felt it a sacred duty to provide for the needs of the stranger. Hospitality has always been an essential characteristic of Judeo-Christian traditions. Jesus was a sojourner who depended upon the hospitality of others. Jesus is presented as the supreme host when He washes the feet of the disciples and breaks bread with them at the last supper.
The places where the early Christians gathered to worship were characterized by “domestic” hospitality, which included washing of the feet, care of the sick, welcome to strangers, sharing of food, and the care of widows and orphans. In the early Church, hospitality was the responsibility of missionaries, bishops, priests, and deacons. In the middle ages, its duties extended into the traditions and rules of religious communities and monasteries.
Hospitality is graciousness between friends and strangers. To be hospitable is to make space for each other, to create a space where the friend can enter and feel comfortable and the stranger can enter and become friend. Dispositions of hospitality include a willingness to listen to the needs of others, to be sensitive to the stranger and acknowledge the gift that the stranger brings and welcome the stranger and make him or her feel at home, comfortable and safe.
Hospitality has become a very difficult and troublesome virtue in the modern world where a culture of suspicion has been developing over many years. We are no longer encouraged to welcome strangers. On the contrary, we are often taught to be suspicious of strangers and aliens and keep them at a distance.
A stranger is someone whose heart we have not met yet. There is a friend and a stranger in all of us – we remain friends and strangers all at the same time. But we strive to embrace the best that each one brings and tame the stranger into a friend. Hospitality enables us to welcome each other with all our imperfections.
During the coming week, try to notice the stranger. Speak a kind word to the stranger that you notice. Think well of strangers and send them a blessing. Have good and noble thoughts and speak kind and blessing words. Be hospitable and be a friend of the world around you.
God bless you and your family.
Fr. Gus Tharappel, msfs
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT DURING DIFFICULT TIMES
Do not anticipate the unpleasant events of this life by anxiety; rather anticipate them with the perfect hope that, as they happen, God, to whom you belong, will protect you. He has protected you up to the present moment; just remain firmly in the hands of His providence and He will help you in all situations and at those times when you find yourself unable to walk, He will carry you.
St. Francis de Sales
daily meditations
Click on the date to read Fr. Gus' meditations
on the daily readings of the church.
