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BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.  

PSALM 46:10

Wellspring is a Catholic spirituality center, located in Whitehouse, Texas, 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

OUR MASSES

RETREATS

JOIN US FOR OUR

 RETREAT ON PURPOSEFULNESS

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Saturday, February 8, 2025

9:30 am - 12:30 pm


God not only created us with a purpose but
also endowed us with a direction and the
power to fulfill our purpose.

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Join us at Wellspring as Fr. Gus inspires us

with ways to grow in our God-given purpose.  

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Fr. Gus Tharappel will guide the retreat. 
To register, please email  retreatsatwellspring@gmail.com

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  2025
Reflection theme and prayer

Learn more about our reflection theme, Purposefulness,

and read Fr. Gus' prayer for 2025

here

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masses

SUNDAY MASSES

9:00 am and 5:00 pm

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DAILY MASSES

Monday - Friday

7:00 am

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The Mother of Compassion Shrine

is open daily for 

prayer and reflection. 

Second Sunday in ordinary time

REFLECTIONS FOR PRAYER AND WORSHIP

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Today, we celebrate the second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Scripture readings  of today’s mass remind us of the new name that God has for us.  A new name means a new identity. We have a new name…we are called children of God, children of light! We are called to rejoice and celebrate our new identity and be faithful to this new identity! Fidelity to the new identity means fidelity to Christ because we have been immersed into Christ and our identity is in him. St. Paul reminds us,  “In him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) “I live, no longer I, but Christ, my Lord, lives in me.” (Galatian 2:20)

 

In the first Scripture reading of today’s mass, the sixth century B.C. prophet tells us that the people of Judah were being given new and endearing names by God. These names give us images reflecting God's special love for his people. They also reflect a change of status…."you shall be called by a new name…." says the Prophet - the exiles who were "Forsaken" and "Desolate" would soon be free to rebuild their home, temple and country and return to their own way of life. They will be newly named “My delight” and “espoused”.

 

God was claiming Judah as a groom claims his bride. A new relationship was emerging between God and his people. They were gaining a new identity. They were going to be God’s people and God’s delight! The exiles were going to be forgiven and healed and that was going to be so complete that Judah would still be in a virginal state, untouched and untainted. So, the prophet says, "I will not be silent.” He must sing and shout about what God was doing for His people.

 

In today’s first reading (Isaiah 62:1-5) the prophet's imagery is about a conversion from gloom to joy and confidence. Isaiah compares the dispirited people to a woman who thought herself unmarriageable (a much more dreadful situation in the ancient Middle East than it is in the modern West). But she suddenly finds a suitor before her, proposing marriage! It is the land of the Jews that the Lord proposes to marry and make fertile. And the prophet's real goal was probably to get the hopeless people to plant crops in the land, despite their "Why bother? What good will it do?" attitude. You can see that in the above referenced verses where the land is described at first as "Desolate," then "Espoused."

 

Another feature of Judah's reversal of fortune is that she will be able to hold up her head again among the other nations, which shall see her vindication. All kings shall behold her glory. This is something that Isaiah can't be quiet about. “I will not be silent”, he says (verses 1 & 2). What else can one do but sing and shout and celebrate when such transformation of people happens? Lonely, desperate, forsaken, and scared people are becoming free and unafraid and new life is emerging for them. They are becoming a new people with a new name and new identity – they are God’s chosen people in whom God delights.

 

To read more of this Sunday’s reflection, please click on the link below.....

daily meditations

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