Prince of Peace

About Prince of Peace Parish

Prince of Peace Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler, located on Main Street in Whitehouse, Texas. The administration and pastoral care of the community is entrusted to the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (M.S.F.S), also known as the Fransalian Missionaries, an international religious congregation with headquarters in Rome and the USA Provincial House in Atlanta, Georgia. The parish describes itself as 'a vibrant, caring, and diverse community that seeks to pray, worship, and serve together in the building up of the Kingdom of God,' and worships in both English and Spanish.

History and the Fransalian Mission

The parish was established on July 14, 1996, in the Diocese of Tyler. In May 1996, Fr. Augustine Tharappel, MSFS — commissioned by the Superior General Fr. Emile Mayoraz — began Fransalian ministry in the Diocese of Tyler as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Eighteen months later he founded Wellspring, the Fransalian Center for Spirituality (January 24, 1998), which moved to its present Whitehouse property in September 1998. When the Fransalian USA Region was elevated to a Vice Province on July 3, 2013, with Fr. Augustine installed as the first Vice Provincial, the Vice Province formally took up Prince of Peace as its first long-term parish on July 1, 2013. Fr. Thomas Olickal, MSFS, was named the first Fransalian Pastor; Fr. Augustine Tharappel later took over the role and served as Pastor until April 30, 2019, when he was granted retirement and Fr. Luke Kalarickal, MSFS, was appointed the current Pastor by Bishop Joseph E. Strickland.

Devotions and Prayer Life

Devotional life is central to Prince of Peace. The Rosary is prayed before every weekend Mass (4:30 PM Saturday, 9:30 AM Sunday in English, and 12:00 PM Sunday in Spanish). Every Thursday at 5:00 PM the parish gathers to pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, either in the church or by telephone conference call, immediately before the 5:00 PM Mass. A Children's Rosary meets at 5:45 PM on Wednesdays when Faith Formation classes are in session. First Friday Adoration and Holy Day Masses (6:00 PM English, 7:00 PM Spanish) round out the devotional rhythm.

• Saturday Rosary – 4:30 PM
• Sunday English Rosary – 9:30 AM
• Sunday Spanish Rosary – 12:00 PM
• Thursday Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet – 5:00 PM
• Children's Rosary – Wednesdays 5:45 PM during Faith Formation
• First Friday Adoration – 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
• Holy Day Masses – 6:00 PM English, 7:00 PM Spanish

Parish Ministries and Groups

The parish hosts a wide range of lay ministries for adults, organized around liturgical service, formation, charity, and community life. The Our Lady of Grace Altar Society meets the first Tuesday of each month, September through May, at 6:00 PM in the parish hall, and all women of the parish are invited. The Knights of Columbus council supports the parish and broader community through service, faith, and fraternity. Other groups include Cursillistas, the Prayer Group, Sacristans, Counters, Ground Maintenance, Proclaimers (lectors), and Eucharistic Ministers.

• Our Lady of Grace Altar Society (women's group, first Tuesday monthly, Sept–May, 6:00 PM)
• Knights of Columbus
• Cursillistas (Cursillo movement)
• Prayer Group
• Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
• Sacristans
• Counters
• Ground Maintenance
• Proclaimers (Lectors)
• Eucharistic Ministers

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Faith Formation is offered for children, with classes that include preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. A Children's Rosary gathers at 5:45 PM on Wednesdays when Faith Formation classes are in session, helping young parishioners grow in Marian devotion alongside their classroom catechesis. Adults seeking to become Catholic participate in the parish's RCIA program, which guides catechumens and candidates through the rites of Christian initiation during the year, culminating at the Easter Vigil.

• Children's Faith Formation (catechesis, sacramental prep)
• Children's Rosary (Wednesdays, 5:45 PM, during Faith Formation)
• RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

Wellspring Fransalian Center for Spirituality

Adjacent to the parish at 16828 FM 2964, Whitehouse, the Wellspring Fransalian Center for Spirituality is a Catholic retreat and spiritual-growth center owned and operated by the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales. It was founded by Fr. Augustine (Gus) Tharappel, MSFS, blessed by Msgr. Joe Strickland on January 24, 1998, and moved to its current Rhones Quarter Road property in September 1998. The name 'Wellspring' symbolizes the belief that deep within every person there is a 'wellspring' — a source of life, energy, and spirit that never dries and yields more the more it is tapped. Wellspring offers daily Mass (6:45 AM Monday–Friday, plus 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on Sundays) and morning Adoration, and serves as a venue for personal, group, and silent retreats, Marriage Preparation retreats for the Diocese of Tyler, St. Vincent de Paul retreats, parish-organization retreats, and a year-round series of seasonal and monthly virtue retreats (New Year, Lenten, Holy Week, Advent, and a monthly virtue retreat every second Saturday). It also hosts a Men's Ministry on the second Monday of each month, spiritual direction by appointment, the biannual publication 'Spiritual Moments,' and weekly emailed reflections. The Shrine of the Mother of Compassion on the grounds is open to the public for prayer and meditation, weekdays 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM and weekends 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

• Address: 16828 FM 2964, Whitehouse, TX 75791 (Mailing: P.O. Box 440, Whitehouse, TX 75791)
• Phone: 903-839-1280
• Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
• Websites: www.wellspringcommunity.net; www.retreatsatwellspring.com
• Founded January 24, 1998 by Fr. Augustine Tharappel, MSFS
• Blessed at present site by Bishop Edmond Carmody on September 13, 1998
• Shrine of the Mother of Compassion (outdoor prayer shrine)
• Daily Mass Mon–Fri 6:45 AM; Sun 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM
• Seasonal retreats: New Year, Lenten, Holy Week, Advent
• Monthly virtue retreats (second Saturday of each month)
• Marriage Preparation retreats for the Diocese of Tyler
• St. Vincent de Paul retreats and parish-organization retreats
• Men's Ministry – second Monday of the month
• Spiritual Direction by appointment
• 'Spiritual Moments' journal published twice yearly

Fransalian Identity and USA Vice Province

The Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (M.S.F.S.) — also known as the Fransalians — are an international religious congregation inspired by the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. The USA Region of the Fransalians was elevated to a Vice Province on July 3, 2013, with Fr. Augustine Tharappel installed as its first Vice Provincial at Wellspring in Whitehouse. Prince of Peace Catholic Church was the Vice Province's first parish for long-term pastoral care (assumed July 1, 2013), and has remained the spiritual and administrative anchor of the USA Fransalian mission. From this base the USA Vice Province has since taken on additional parishes, including St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Sugar Land, Texas (Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston) on July 1, 2014; St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia (Archdiocese of Atlanta) on July 1, 2017; St. John the Evangelist, Hondo; Holy Cross, D'Hanis; and Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission, Yancey (Archdiocese of San Antonio) on July 1, 2018; and Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Jacksonville, Florida (Diocese of St. Augustine) on July 1, 2018. Today, 63 Fransalian confreres serve in 13 states, 26 dioceses, and 13 neighborhood communities in the United States.

• USA Vice Province established July 3, 2013
• First Vice Provincial: Rev. Fr. Augustine Tharappel, MSFS (2013–2016)
• Second Vice Provincial: Rev. Fr. Tomy Joseph Puliyanampattayil, MSFS (2016–present)
• Provincial House moved to Loganville, Atlanta, Georgia (blessed September 15, 2016)
• Prince of Peace taken on as first long-term parish July 1, 2013

Get Involved and Contact

Parishioners and newcomers are warmly invited to participate in the life of the parish through its ministries, devotions, and formation programs. The parish offices can be reached by phone at (903) 871-3230 or by email at [email protected]. The mailing address is 903 East Main Street, Whitehouse, TX 75791. Those interested in supporting the Wellspring Fransalian Center for Spirituality may call 903-839-1280 or email [email protected].

• Parish Phone: (903) 871-3230
• Parish Email: [email protected]
• Parish Address: 903 E Main Street, Whitehouse, TX 75791
• Wellspring Phone: 903-839-1280
• Wellspring Email: [email protected]