…whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” – John 4:14
In ancient Samaritan villages, the water well was an important gathering place. Often centrally located, the well provided the basic sustenance for life. It was a place where women encountered one another to draw water and share their lives. Most importantly, as described in the Gospel of John, Chapter 4, Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman at the well and spiritually healed her. It is in this spirit that The Well was born.
The primary focus of The Well is on cultivating a “culture of encounter.” In this culture of encounter, we are all encouraged to do as Jesus did: encounter others in community through our participation in the Body of Christ. Little by little, these encounters have the have the power to become apostolic. A friend leads a woman toward Christ. That woman then helps more friends grow in the life of the Church. Those friends then go forth and do more of the same. Collectively, these women help evangelize and sanctify the families, neighborhoods, and communities in which we live. Think it can’t be done? We have the example of the woman at the well who once upon a time started a similar movement and serves as The Well’s inspiration.
The Well is guided by three core values:
- Faith: Just as the Samaritan woman encountered Jesus at the well, The Well opens doors to a deeper and sustained encounter with Jesus for women who participate in its events and programming.
- Fellowship: The Well provides women an opportunity to experience a culture of encounter, one that fosters spiritual friendships and builds up the local Catholic community.
- Fun: The Well encourages holy leisure, rest, and celebrating femininity and beauty – all in a festive environment.
These core values are shared through a variety of events and programming such as our annual summer gathering and seasonal events such as “Advent at The Well” and “Lent at The Well.”