The original artwork was painted in acrylic on canvas with gold leaf accents, it measures 3 feet by 4 1/2 feet. It was commissioned by Fr. Justin Hamilton, pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, in St. Mary’s Kansas, for a newly renovated adoration chapel.
Fr. Justin’s vision was that in this chapel, the place of intimate encounter with Our Lord in the Eucharist, The Woman of Samaria’s Encounter with Jesus, and The Young Jesus in the Temple would present sacramental images of Our Lord’s loving outreach to us.
The Woman of Samaria (Woman at the Well) was an outcast in several different ways- she was a woman, she was a public sinner, and she was a Samaritan. We too have been shut out, rejected by others, and cut off by our own sin. In his passionate love and care for this woman and for each of us, Jesus invites us to drink of his living water. He sees into our hearts, into our sin, but also into our best intentions and he draws us out.
This project began as a collaboration with our friends at Studio io, Michael Raia and his team.
Woman of Samaria, by Ruth Stricklin, © 2022 New Jerusalem Studios, LLC.
