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Women at the Well

Meeting Jesus at the Well

Published 27 days ago • 4 min read

Dear Friends,

This Sunday we hear the beautiful and personal encounter of Jesus with the woman at the well, St Photini.

Third Sunday of Lent
Gospel: John 4:5-42

This passage formed and shaped the apostolate, but it continues to form and shape each one of us every time we join in mission to grow in Faith and build community.

The passage begins so simply:

"Give me a drink"

Jesus is tired and thirsty. He comes to the well at noon - the hottest part of the day. A woman arrives alone, and instead of ignoring her, dismissing her or correcting her, Jesus begins a conversation.

He SEES her

He KNOWS her story - broken relationships, disappointments and longings.

He LOVES her - what begins as a simple request for water becomes an invitation to something deeper:

"Whoever drinks this water that I shall give will never thirst."

We all come to the well with something:

  • fatigue
  • loneliness
  • unmet expectations
  • old wounds
  • spiritual dryness

And Jesus meets us there, just like he did St Photini, not after we fix ourselves, but right in the middle of our need and our mess.

Being SEEN, KNOWN, and LOVED, the Samaritan woman changes direction - she leaves the water jar behind and runs to tell others about this man.

For us, this week, let us return to the well to meet Jesus. Lent invites us to pause, to sit, to let Jesus encounter us. The five pillars of Encounter are:

  • Eucharist -- Mass
  • Eucharistic Adoration
  • Confession
  • Sacred Scripture
  • Deepening a Devotion to Mary

May this week you have a genuine encounter with Jesus where YOU can be SEEN, KNOWN, AND DEEPLY LOVED.

With Prayer daily for you and your families,

Natalie + W@W Team

This week in ministry

  • Power of a Praying Woman retreat -- one more opportunity before we retire for 2026 -- we will return in 2027 with fresh content
  • Easter Book Club Pick -- planning ahead pick up this Easter Devotional to journey with by yourself or with a group
  • March Rhythm of Prayer to St Joseph

Power of a Praying Woman Retreat

There is one more opportunity to join us for retreat in 2026:

March 27-28

St Michael's in Central City, NE

This retreat will focus on the lives of Saints who were women and highlight Marian devotions that will guide us in praying for our families.

We would love to have you join us!!

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Easter Book Pick

Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection

by Laura Kelly Fanucci​

Living Easter will help you fulfill the vision of St. John Paul II, who said, “We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song!”

As the most significant season of the Church year, Easter deserves to be lived well and celebrated fully, and few voices speak more compellingly about Christian joy than Laura Kelly Fanucci, celebrated author and creator of The Holy Labor newsletter and the Mothering Spirit platform. “Living Easter celebrates joy itself as our Resurrection practice,” Fanucci writes. “Taking up joy as a daily discipline teaches us about feasting as a companion practice to fasting: an intentional sacred act that draws us closer to God."
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March is a special time in the liturgical calendar, as it often aligns with Lent. During this time Catholics are encouraged to deepen their prayer life and engage in fasting and almsgiving. Who better to model this to us as Christians than St Joseph.

St Joseph, the earthly father or Jesus and the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is revered as a model of humility, obedience and fidelity to God's will.

This month for the Rhythm of Prayer we will pray this prayer to St Joseph as we prepare to celebrate The Solemnity of St Joseph on March 19th.

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The Lenten Encounter Event was a beautiful evening of Grace + Reflection. There were 10 parishes joining from across Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado. There is something special about gathering together for ONE NIGHT on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday -- to pause, to listen, and to open our hearts to the Lord.

We are especially grateful for the message that was shared by the Virtual Guest Speaker Mallory Smyth and the invitation to each of us to go deeper this season and dwell with God. Our prayer is that what began that evening continues to unfold in your daily prayer and throughout the rest of Lent.

If you missed the event -- or would like to revisit the message -- you can watch the replay here:

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If you want to use this for your small group discussion you can download the DISCUSSION GUIDE HERE​

As we continue toward Easter, may we remain attentive to God's voice, faithful in prayer, and open to transformation.

If this evening blessed you, consider sharing the replay with a friend who might need encouragement this Lent.

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Blessings,

Natalie & Kristin

With Gratitude + Grace for the community found in the Women at the Well apostolate

PO Box 132, Hays, KS 67601
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