St. Francis de Sales’ most famous work is the Introduction to the Devout Life. It is one of the all-time best-selling spiritual classics. In this book, Francis asks us to lead a life of devotion. For ... Read more

I’m so jealous of the Magi in the Gospel. I do not understand how they can see a star, follow it, get to their destination, remember gifts, and not lose the gifts along the way. Me on the other hand, ... Read more

With the release of the new film Cabrini, many people are beginning to learn about the first US citizen to be declared a saint. “Mother Cabrini,” as she was known for decades, was born Maria Frances C... Read more

Long-term recovery from addiction and vital discipleship have something in common. Both take humility to acknowledge powerlessness. There can be no growth, no restoration of the spirit or wholeness of... Read more

I recently had the great pleasure of leading my second communal mural project at Notre Dame University. The first mural project was for the Transformational Leadership Program (TLP) in the main buildi... Read more

Every year I take my sophomore class on a literal field trip to the monastery of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. The Visitation Monastery is located across a field and down a sidewalk from o... Read more

One month ago, Elmo, the little red Muppet from the children’s television series Sesame Street, checked in on everyone. “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” was posted on the Sesame Str... Read more

My roommate and I drove to my girlfriend’s family place in New Hampshire the summer after freshman year. ‘Jennifer,’ my girlfriend, had a cute sister, so we had the perfect long weekend planned. And m... Read more

In the spring of 2020, when the hush of halted activity descended on even a place as bustling as Washington, DC, I believe I experienced what it means to see the world for the first time. With such a ... Read more

I was wisely told by my preaching professor, “Do not Easter my Lent!” In other words, do not rush to the Resurrection, empty tomb, or eternal life. Instead, stay at the foot of the cross for a while. ... Read more

Thanks to being “woke,” our culture seems to have taken the offensive against being offended! In the name of justice, movements seek to “cancel” a host of historical wrongs. The Church, too, supports ... Read more

This past Sunday, as over 100 million people tuned into Super Bowl LVIII, they may have been surprised to find themselves praying alongside actors Mark Wahlberg and Jonathan Roumie. Wahlberg and Roumi... Read more

Cunae Rerum Magnarum Parvae Twenty years ago Fr. Tom Curran, then a member of the Oblates and now a member of the Jesuits, and an enthusiastic young man named Brendan Kennealey came into the Provincia... Read more

Valenash and/or Ashentine’s Day? February 2024 is unique for at least two reasons. First, it is a leap year, so those with a special affinity for February (whatever that’s all about!) have an extra da... Read more

“What’s in your wallet?” This is the tagline we hear in TV commercials for a popular credit card. For St. Francis de Sales, the question may have been, “What’s in your backpack?” In a letter written t... Read more

I get the same question all the time regarding the Sacrament of Reconciliation, “Father, do you remember the sins people confess to you?” I always respond with the same truthful answer, “No, I do not.... Read more

Like everything else in our post-pandemic society, the world of education has undergone major change and evolution. As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, two recent visits to schools formed in Oblate... Read more

In the Introduction to the Devout Life, Francis de Sales identifies ready acts of charity as one of the descriptors of true devotion. As someone who slowly reaches for his wallet when the bill comes, ... Read more

Road Closed Ahead! So, go another way… A softer, easier way I thought for sure was clear, Which offered me assorted denied delights. But roads of selfish choosing are often paved with fear, Revealed i... Read more

Each year on the feast of St. Francis de Sales (January 24), the patron saint of Catholic journalists, the pope publishes a message for the celebration of World Communications Day (celebrated on the S... Read more

Forty years ago, I experienced my first celebration of the feast of St. Francis de Sales. I was a freshman at Northeast Catholic High School for Boys in Philadelphia, PA. When the entire school came t... Read more

Every year as I turn my calendar to February, I think of Margaret Loftus. Growing up, Margaret was a dedicated member of my parish and a part of my childhood experience of what it meant to serve the c... Read more

We are at the beginning of a new year. St. Francis de Sales has a prayer for this time “I pray that God, in his goodness, will grant you a good beginning, a better continuation, and a perfect ending t... Read more

“Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 Ever wonder what happened to the gifts of the Magi after their January visit? A Google search re... Read more

Tomorrow is the feast of St. John Neumann, the fourth bishop of Philadelphia and the first American male saint. John was born in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) and came to the United States in 1836 ... Read more

I’ve been ordained a priest for over 10 years, and I keep experiencing firsts! This past Easter, for the first time, I sang the Exsultet at the Easter Vigil at the Visitation Monastery. If you are unf... Read more

In the book, Cor ad Cor, Bl. Louis Brisson, OSFS, is quoted as saying: “I wish you all the blessings of Easter so that your passing through this world to your heavenly home might be made with Our Lord... Read more

Next week is the 112th anniversary of the sinking of the luxury steamship, the RMS Titanic. Many people know about this historic tragedy because of the famous 1997 film, Titanic. Besides the performan... Read more

Recently a Salesian quote attributed to Louis Sempe, an early biographer of St. Francis de Sales caught my attention. Sempe wrote: “The very name of St. Francis de Sales seems to evoke the secret caus... Read more

You may have heard the expression, “From your lips to God’s ears!” I would like to propose another expression for the spiritual life: “From our ears to God’s heart.” Whether it is the trill of the spa... Read more

"On the seventh day God completed the work he had been doing; he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken." Genesis 2:2 The liturgical momentum from Holy Thursday through Easter S... Read more

The Last Supper is the most revolutionary meal in human history! In the Gospel story for Holy Thursday (John 13:1-15), the term “revolution” does not appear. But that’s exactly what Jesus brings about... Read more

My Grandmother always told me that Lent ended at noon on Holy Saturday. I never understood what she meant until I found out that the Easter “Vigil” Mass was celebrated in the morning on Holy Saturday.... Read more

During my postulancy, I accompanied Fr. Joe Newman, OSFS, to a Theology on Tap talk for the Diocese of Toledo. In an attempt to involve me in the presentation, Fr. Newman tossed me a softball question... Read more

“God is God of the human heart.” These words taken from the Treatise on the Love of God serve as the spiritual bouquet for my Lenten journey. I returned to the bouquet several times this past week. La... Read more

Many of us are familiar with the Salesian phrase “Let us do little things with great love” which is found in both the Introduction to the Devout Life (Part III, chapter 35) and the Treatise on the Lov... Read more

About a year ago the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales, a lay organization for women to grow in their lives as Christians through the teachings of the Salesian tradition, contacted me about accompanyi... Read more

Salesian Sunday Reflection Transfiguration of the Lord Because of the unusual event that the Feast of the Transfiguration this year falls on the 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time, today’s Gospel is the sam... Read more

I have often reflected on this quote from The Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales: “Of a truth, nothing so tends to humble us before the Mercy of God as the multitude of His gifts ... Read more

If we look back on the people in our lives who have helped us most in gradually becoming who God desires us to be, I think we will find that the most meaningful interactions were those of true persona... Read more

When Oblates make their first profession, we are given our profession cross. We keep these crosses for the rest of our lives. They are made of sterling silver, modeled after the bishop cross St. Franc... Read more

This Saturday is Veterans’ Day. In 1991, I found myself with thousands of other soldiers/veterans in Iraq for Desert Shield/Storm. I kept a journal and wrote faithfully in it every day. In 2002-2003, ... Read more

“You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been.” Every time the calendar turns to November, this quote from the late poet Maya Angelou comes to mind. These words remind ... Read more

“Never think, my dearest daughter, that distance of place can ever separate souls which God has united by the ties of His love.” - St. Francis de Sales I write for All Souls, All souls in my mind and ... Read more

Finding a date for the homecoming dance your freshman year in high school is challenging. This is especially true when you attend an all-male high school. This was my case when I was a freshman at St.... Read more

After several years of planning and hard work, the new Stella Maris Chapel on Ocracoke Island was dedicated this morning. This is the first Catholic church on the island. Rev. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS, Pr... Read more

The 19th century German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, once described the autumn months as “the season of the soul.” Even in our modern culture, I think many people would agree with this assessment... Read more

“Be at Peace” was the theme. Attendees gathered in prayer and fellowship while enjoying presentations by Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, Sister Susan Louise Eder, OSFS, and Tom Opfer, Ph.D., Principal of St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, VA. It was beautiful to come together to share in the Salesian Spirit! Thank you to all those who attended and volunteered! Let us all Live Jesus!

A few weeks ago, I found out my barber was closing his business and retiring. Brothers Joe and John Innamorato, who were born in Carife, a town in Southern Italy, had opened their shop in January of 1... Read more

Saint Francis de Sales teaches us: "When you encounter difficulties and contradictions do not try to break them, but bend them with gentleness and time" (LR I 6). It is a nice idea and a worthy goal, ... Read more

Last week, Oblate Fathers (and brothers) Mike and Joe Newman presented the annual parish mission at St. John Neumann Parish in Reston, VA. Entitled “Salesian Spirituality in a Post-Pandemic World,” Fa... Read more

“Be at Peace” was the theme. Attendees gathered in prayer and fellowship while enjoying presentations by Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, Sister Susan Louise Eder, OSFS, and Tom Opfer, Ph.D., Principal of St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, VA. It was beautiful to come together to share in the Salesian Spirit! Thank you to all those who attended and volunteered! Let us all Live Jesus!

Tomorrow, every person of Irish descent and those who wish to be Irish, at least for a day, celebrate the great saint of Ireland, Patrick, and all that it means to be Irish. Being Irish is one of the ... Read more

Now that we are well into Lent and many of us have already broken or fractured at least one of our Lenten resolutions, it is a legitimate question to ask why we make them in the first place. If you wi... Read more

You’re familiar with acronyms: abbreviations formed from the initial letters of other words. One of my favorites is BIBLE (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth). One that I shared with a former col... Read more

I have always been fascinated by history, especially the history of my family. Learning about my roots and the branches of my family tree always interests me. When I discover someone I never knew exis... Read more

This year marks the 800th anniversary of the first “live” Nativity. On Christmas Eve in 1223, Francis of Assisi set up a replica of the original manger scene in the town of Greccio, Italy. Some histor... Read more

On a Christmas Eve, St. Francis de Sales shared this keen insight about the Incarnation: “God has made us see that which otherwise the human mind could hardly have imagined or understood, that is, tha... Read more

By this time each year, Christians are making their final preparations for celebrating the birthday of Jesus. The special foods, expressions of our multicultural society, the family and community trad... Read more

Duc in Altum chapel sits on a bluff overlooking the Sea of Galilee in the town of Magdala. “Put out into the deep.” That’s what “Duc in Altum” means. It was the directive of Jesus to His fishing disci... Read more

If you read these reflections, you know I love using stories! I share this quality with my older brother, Fr. Michael Newman, OSFS. Like many Oblates, we use stories in all of our homilies. Today, I’m... Read more

Immaculate Conception, O Lovely Lady, Bless’ed channel of many mercies! Your pretty face: loved and most loving, Having evaded sin’s aggression, Smiles a path that’s free of worries. Then favor, pleas... Read more

The story of Mobile’s Visitation Monastery is one of devotion, resilience, and sweet, sweet confection. The Visitation Monastery in Mobile is one of 10 Visitation monasteries in the US. The Oblates ar... Read more

Father Francis, Veteran of the Father’s mercies. Turning ever so constant toward the cross, Servant of the crucified on landscapes of pain and loss. Finder of a Will oft unseen in the fever of the day... Read more

The Church celebrated the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 6th. On the feast of St. Nicholas, I was reminded of the ongoing debate regarding the role of Santa Claus at Christmas. Some Christians feel... Read more

The liturgical year begins with the first Sunday of Advent and in a way marks the Church’s New Year. With Advent begins new hope and a new beginning. We focus on the first coming of Christ and the sec... Read more

Having had the privilege of working with Oblates and parishioners in North Carolina, I was often struck by the way some things were expressed with “Southern graciousness.” For example, if someone were... Read more

Love of God has never been easy for me. During formation and my early priesthood, I often felt like an imposter. I kept thinking I should be feeling more or doing more. People talked about being on fi... Read more

Faith, family, and food seem to be the focus for most of us on the fourth Thursday of November. Some people might add parades, decorations, and volunteering to this list. But in many places, football ... Read more

I love gardening and landscaping! Any day when I can spend time with my hands in the dirt is a good day. At the St. Francis Faculty House in Toledo, OH we have an Oblate courtyard in between our chape... Read more

Celebrating Blessed Louis Brisson, OSFS On October 12, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales celebrate Founders’ Day, a day in which we remember the first Oblates beginning their novitiate. On this day ... Read more

Have you ever felt called to do something or start something because your conscience impelled you to do so? Fr. Louis Brisson, OSFS, was chaplain to the Visitation of Holy Mary Convent in Annecy, Fran... Read more

Before I was introduced to St. Francis de Sales, I was acquainted with one of his spiritual daughters, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Before I knew the centrality of the heart in the life of a devout Chr... Read more

Back when I was in college, our campus chaplain, Fr. Jim MacNew, OSFS, introduced to us students how to pray before art. He also taught us how to learn how to spot the symbols hidden within each piece... Read more

It’s wedding season! Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the absolute honor of presiding at a handful of weddings. I have two favorite moments in the wedding liturgy primarily because they give witness ... Read more

In 1995, I was assigned to St. Cecilia’s Parish in Fort Myers, Florida. One of the things I looked forward to was my first spring training. It happened that on a sunny morning in late February of 1996... Read more

Today the Church calendar celebrates the feast of “Good” King Wenceslaus, the tenth-century Duke of Bohemia (current day Czech Republic). Wenceslaus lived in a time of political violence and social un... Read more

During Labor Day Weekend, I spent time with my sister and brother-in-law at the shore in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey and as I observed people trekking back and forth to the beach, walking their dogs, a... Read more

For years my mom and dad invited all the Oblates in the Toledo area to their house for holiday meals. It was always a giant gathering with many carloads of Oblates coming to my parent’s house. My pare... Read more

Last week, 19-year-old American tennis player Coco Gauff won the U.S. Open women’s title. Coco became the youngest American winner since Serena Williams first earned the distinction in 1999 at the age... Read more

Last month, the Oblates Retirement Community in Childs, MD celebrated St. Jane de Chantal, VHM, secondary patroness of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. One of her sayings that is a favorite of min... Read more

“If we wish to serve God and love our neighbor well, we must manifest our joy in the service we render to Him and them. Let us open wide our hearts. It is joy which invites us. Press forward and fear ... Read more

Last Friday, I had fish for dinner. It was a Friday during Lent, meaning most Catholics observe the meatless Friday rule by having fish on their dinner menu. Fridays during Lent are one of the few tim... Read more

Perfection When I was a junior at North Catholic High School (Philadelphia, PA), I remember our Christian Morality teacher began the course by quoting the Scripture passage many of us heard last weeke... Read more

My secrets out! I've been caught. Last week I was on a Zoom conference with several other Oblates, and not wanting my location to distract from the business at hand, I did my best to disguise it. Then... Read more

As human beings we are more alike than we are different. One characteristic we all share is that each of us, at some point in our lives, has made a mistake and, despite our good will and intentions, w... Read more

Even though I attended St. Francis de Sales High School in the late sixties, it wasn’t until I came under the warm magnetic field of the Oblates in the 1980s that I began to fall in love with the Sain... Read more

Over the past ten years, Salesianum School, Padua Acadamy (part of the Oblate parish, St. Anthony of Padua) and Ursuline Acadamy in Delaware have partnered annually to coordinate a powerful fundraisin... Read more

This year, Oblate-affiliated St. Paul VI Catholic High School is celebrating 40 years of growing in grace and wisdom! The school community celebrated with an Anniversary Mass on Sunday, January 29 in ... Read more

While praying on a retreat at Trappist Monastery (Holy Cross Abbey) in Winchester, Virginia, Father John W. Crossin, OSFS, felt a strong calling. A theologian and author, he has two decades of experti... Read more

As we approach the middle of February, we don’t have to look too far to see images of Valentine’s Day in homes, shops and supermarkets. Candy, cupids and flowers are also on display, but it is the hea... Read more

The Direction of Intention. This simple prayer is, for those in the Salesian family, a most powerful prayer for advancing in holiness. In this prayer we essentially do three things. We OFFER our actio... Read more

This past week, on January 24, the entire Salesian family, including the Oblates, celebrated the Feast of Saint Francis de Sales. As our patron, all Oblates revere his goodness, faith and insights int... Read more

Today is World Day for Consecrated Life, and US parishes will mark it this weekend. Begun in 1997 by Pope John Paul II, the commemoration is intended “to help the entire Church to esteem ever more gre... Read more

Father John Dolan, OSFS, celebrates with Father Mathias Kumar, OSFS, and Brother Anand Jerald, OSFS, who made his Perpetual Profession as an Oblate during the Feast Day Mass!

Kathy Wickham: Parishioner of Holy Family Parish, Adrian., MI “Let us think only of living today well, and when tomorrow comes, it also will be today and we can think about it then. In all this, we mu... Read more

I write this reflection from Baton Rouge, LA where I am preaching a Parish Mission at St. George Parish. The parish Music Director, Joseph Smaldino, worked with the parish Director of Adult Faith Form... Read more

This week the universal Church celebrated the feast of Saint Francis de Sales. Next week (January 31), we will remember Saint John Bosco. He was so influenced by the teachings and philosophy of the Ge... Read more

The Arlington Catholic Herald recently ran an article entitled, "Christian unity may not be so far off, says former head of bishops’ ecumenical office.” This features the newest book by Father John W.... Read more

Frank Sinatra made his fans happy when he sang, “I did it my way.” When Old Blue Eyes sang these words: “I planned each charted course, each careful step along the way, and more than this, I did it my... Read more

It takes time to become an effective preacher. I have been preaching weekly for 10 years, and I still consider myself a newbie! It is a great blessing to be part of a community with so many excellent ... Read more

Last Monday, August 28, was the 60th anniversary of the famous “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.” This was a political demonstration calling for an end to racial segregation and discriminatio... Read more

I didn’t enjoy high school very much. Putting aside the standard teenage disposition of angst and immaturity, I look back on my high school years and I recognize that I did not find my experience to b... Read more

Food motivates students. I wish I would have taken a whole class on how to use food to get people to do things. Like any good teacher, I used this principle ad nauseam throughout my teaching career. H... Read more

From my somewhat elevated seat in the sanctuary each weekend, I have a clear view of most of the people in the pews. Regularly am I entertained – actually, edified – by families with children of a sin... Read more

This year’s Wedding of the Sea ceremony at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Cape May, NJ was a beautiful celebration of the Feast of the Assumption in a special way. Following Mass, a statue of the ... Read more

The other day I was in the Washington, DC area for some meetings at our seminary and to visit Bishop Ireton High School (Alexandria, VA). I was traveling with Br. Dan Wisniewski, OSFS, and Fr. Bob Baz... Read more

The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales have been ministering at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Cape May, NJ since 2010. Fr. David Devlin, OSFS, ministered there from 2019-2023. On Tuesday, August 15th, the ... Read more

"Mary arose and went with haste"...this was the theme that echoed throughout World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon, Portugal last week. In Masses, catechesis sessions, and even on the fields of Parque Tejo ... Read more

After a packed Mass last Sunday at Our Lady Star of the Sea and before stepping into the bright sunlight of the Washington Street Mall in Cape May, I looked up. Above the doors of my vacation home par... Read more

In my previous role as an administrator at St. Francis de Sales School, I was part of the team who would review our students’ Candy Grams prior to sending them to our sister schools. As you probably k... Read more

This Sunday, August 6, the Church celebrates a special event in the life of Jesus and some of his Apostles: the Transfiguration. The story goes that Jesus took three of His Apostles and closest friend... Read more

Tomorrow (August 4) is the feast of St. Jean-Marie Vianney, the 19th century French priest who was known for his kindness, holiness, and ministry as a parish priest. Almost 100 years ago, Jean (John) ... Read more

This reflection was written by Sr. Mary Francis Metz, VHM. She is a member of the Visitation of Holy Mary, the religious order of women founded by St. Francis de Sales & St. Jane de Chantal. Sr. Mary ... Read more

As you have probably noticed lately, we have been making a big to-do about the release of an Apostolic Letter, Totum Amoris Est, issued by Pope Francis on the 400th anniversary of the death of Saint F... Read more

The liturgical season of Christmas wrapped up this past Monday with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This feast should remind us of our own baptism. The light that came into the world at Christma... Read more

Father Bob Bazzoli, OSFS, and I were ordained together on June 4th some 34 years ago. His parents and my mom (my dad died too early) would often go out to dinner on Saturday nights when Bob was at St.... Read more

“Follow the star to a place unexpected Would you believe, after all we've projected A child in a manger? Lowly and small, the weakest of all Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl Just a chil... Read more

Those who follow and seek to immerse themselves in the spirituality of Saint Francis de Sales received a gift from Pope Francis on December 28, 2022. On that date, Pope Francis published the Apostolic... Read more

Last week, millions of people around the world watched the coronation ceremony of Charles III as the King of England and the United Kingdom. Charles technically became Britain’s monarch the moment his... Read more

In the life of a school, May is traditionally a month of “lasts” - final meetings and a long stretch to bring projects to closure before we say goodbye to the year. Last week, Georgetown Visitation ho... Read more

Excerpts from Live Jesus! PA Speakers Paula M. Riley Mother of Four I often find myself reflecting on who helps me be a mom. I rely on my own mother’s example daily but also find Salesian Spirituality... Read more

On Tuesday, Father Frank Pileggi, OSFS, celebrated his 90th birthday. While Father Frank was never my teacher, he was a very visible and popular member of the faculty at Northeast Catholic High School... Read more

In 2021, I was both honored and humbled to be invited to deliver the keynote address for the Annual Religious Brothers Conference. It was a virtual event rather than a live one due to Covid restrictio... Read more

For over a thousand years, Christians around the world pray the “Angelus.” Some people pray it every day, some pray it three times a day. This prayer calls to mind the mystery of the Incarnation and t... Read more

Happy Second Week of Easter! We celebrate the great 50 Days of the Easter Season. Lent is only 40 days, but Easter has 50 days. The number is significant. Why? Because we take more time to focus on th... Read more

The Resurrection. This, indeed, is the central mystery of our faith. Jesus, allowing himself to be consumed with passion for righteousness and swallowed by death has, in turn, conquered death once and... Read more

Christ is Risen! Alleluia! Yes, Christ escaped the tomb where death reigns. In the words of the hymn The Lord of the Dance by English songwriter Sydney Carter in 1963: "They cut me down and I leapt up... Read more

Since I was young, I have always looked forward to Holy Thursday and the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The Mass had special elements that highlighted the sacredness of the night. After a long Lent of bar... Read more

Sitting back and thinking today, I realized it has been nearly 10 months since my ordination to the priesthood. Many of my “firsts” were out of the way within a few days: first Mass, first Confession,... Read more

Happy Farch 58th! Yes, Farch. Something looks wrong, but it’s fine the way it is. Let me explain. I was in my first year of theological studies in Toronto. The semester was tough academically and was ... Read more

At the end of May, Fr. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS, reached out and asked if I would be able to help chaperone a small group of students from Father Judge High School (Philadelphia) during Salesian Leadershi... Read more

Every summer we see ads on television, online, and in the papers promoting “Christmas in July” sales and specials. For decades this concept has been used as a marketing strategy by retailers to bring ... Read more

Join us for an evening of casual dining and dancing supporting our seminarians! Chase Center on the Riverfront Wilmington, DE Friday, October 13, 2023 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM Cocktail Attire Purchase a spo... Read more

How often have we heard or said St. Francis' words: “Be who you are and be that well”? If you’re like me, many times. But how often do we focus on the first word, “be”? Be who you are. Be that well. T... Read more

Last month, I had the privilege of celebrating the wedding of a former student and colleague from Father Judge High School in Philadelphia. Shane Dougherty and Christina Wacker were married at St. Mat... Read more

The Toledo-Detroit Province has elected Father Joe Newman, OSFS, to minister as Provincial Superior. Fr. Joe grew up in Toledo and was first introduced to the Oblates at Christ the King Parish where h... Read more

When we think of the Fourth of July, I would venture to say that our Catholic faith does not immediately pop into our minds. After all, it is a secular holiday. Although at daily Masses throughout our... Read more

Whenever I witness an event in Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter’s Square) in Rome, I am struck not only by the sheer number of people in the piazza but moreover the wide diversity of the people gathered. ... Read more

By now, the celebration of summer has begun – with festivals, parades, and seasonal practices that make for fun in the sun. The Church does not celebrate meteorological seasons, but this time of year ... Read more

On Tuesday, Fr. Jack Loughan, OSFS, concluded his ministry as Provincial of the Toledo-Detroit Province. The Oblates are grateful for his leadership and service to our community. Blessed Louis Brisson... Read more

The Friday after the Church celebrates the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated. These two feasts are intimately related. The date of the first appearance of J... Read more

For almost 90 years, the Dominican Sisters of St. Rose of Lima (known as the Hawthorne Dominicans – named for their foundress, Rose Hawthorne) served at a special ministry in North Philadelphia. There... Read more

John “Jack” Gormley, Salesianum School Class President From where we sit at this moment, though, I want to ask you this question. Was it really just the highs and lows that made our Salesianum experie... Read more

My Mother This past Tuesday, my family, many friends, and brother Oblates came together in St. Bernard’s Church in Youngstown, NY to celebrate and bid farewell to my mother. My mother, Florence, died ... Read more

This weekend the Oblate seminarians in formation, various Oblate and lay school ministers, and I will be beginning our annual Salesian Leadership Camp (SLC) at Camp DeSales in Brooklyn, Michigan. This... Read more

Thanks to the vision and generosity of Fr. Michael Doyle, a recently deceased priest of the Camden Diocese who was not only an inspiring mentor but a dear friend, I have enjoyed the use of a row house... Read more

We recently experienced the death of one of our confreres. He wanted to die in community in the midst of his Oblate brothers. His siblings, their spouses, and their families also joined us during this... Read more

As we begin the month of June, many families will celebrate graduations, promotions, and the end of the school year. At most graduation ceremonies, special awards, certificates, and medals will be giv... Read more

When Darnell Vaughn Jr. received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from DeSales University (DSU) on May 20, he joined a small but mighty group of young men whose journey featured 12 years of Salesian educat... Read more

Celebrating Pentecost is fun and even, at times, humorous. In the scriptural account, we find that the Apostles drove a Honda! Yes, it's right there in the Bible. It reads: "When the day of Pentecost ... Read more

Earlier this month I visited a class of third graders to talk to them about the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, recorded so tenderly in Luke 1:39-56. Jenna, my young friend who had invited me, loves ... Read more

Mr. Matthew Trovato, OSFS, is the campus minister at St. Francis de Sales School in Toledo, OH. Matthew first professed vows as an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales in 2019. After several years, Matthew ... Read more

I have to admit, the vast majority of my homilies over the past 10 years were crafted from my experiences at St. Francis de Sales School in Toledo, Ohio, where I was ministering since I was ordained… ... Read more

Tomorrow, as our Christmas celebrations continue, the liturgy observes the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This is a day to remember the special role the Holy Family had in God’s p... Read more

In an address to the early Oblates, on December 12, 1894, Oblate Founder Blessed Louis Brisson shared his dismay at the news that several seminarians from the Diocese of Troyes who had chosen to go to... Read more

Christmas Many things make me smile during the holidays. One is a memory of a nephew when he was about 6 years old. A few days before Christmas, I was visiting his family with my parents. My nephew wa... Read more

To commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the death of Saint Francis de Sales, the Salesians of Don Bosco hosted the international conference “Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622): Posterity – Spiritualit... Read more

When thinking about joy, I distinguish it from happiness. Here, too, I want to distinguish love from like. Because of my own human frailty and temperament, there are some people who I struggle to like... Read more

God’s Presence I was a surgical intern in 1977 when one of my Oblate first profession classmates from the Battle Creek Novitiate came to visit my wife and me in Philadelphia. Now a young priest, Fathe... Read more

Sixth Sunday of Lent: Jn 14:23-29 Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does no... Read more

Francis & Me: Ruth Lahnston, College Counselor at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School "Deal with one another, dear friends, with a care that is genuine, loving, and gentle." - St. Jane de Chantal... Read more

When Judas had left them, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once.... Read more

The Formation Document for the American Provinces of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales articulates the purpose and process by which a young man prepares for Oblate life and ministry. The document qu... Read more

As I reflect on my years at St. Francis de Sales High School, I see a lot of highs and lows in my time here. However, through it all, I see the wisdom of St. Francis de Sales and his many sayings, esp... Read more

Francis’ Mother’s Day Gift On Mother’s Day this Sunday, I will get love from my four teenage children. Their Mother’s Day gifts age as quickly as they do. Gifts have graduated from hug coupons and han... Read more

In one of his sermons, St. Francis de Sales speaks of three ways of carrying Christ: on our tongues, in our hearts, and in our arms. In his view, the first two ways mean very little if the third way i... Read more

Fourth Sunday of Easter: Jn 10:27-30 Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. M... Read more

Spring seems late in coming this year. Perhaps nature is mirroring our messy world. Christians worldwide celebrated the rising of Christ from the dead with shocking images of death on the streets of U... Read more

At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Z... Read more

Richard Leonard: Eighth Grade Teacher at Our Mother of Consolation, Parish School, Philadelphia, PA A nun once praised me in eighth grade for being a perfect gentleman. I was happy there was no one el... Read more

Pam Burson: Administrative Aide, Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, Toledo-Detroit Province It is now two months since my youngest graduated from St. Francis de Sales School (SFS). Ben was the student b... Read more

Pope Francis apologized in Canada last week for the church’s involvement in the “cultural destruction” of the indigenous peoples through the country’s residential schools. The Pope is fulfilling a req... Read more

“I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year. I will live in the past, the present, and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons ... Read more

Think about how many homilies you have heard in the course of your life. How many can you recall? That is not meant as an indictment of homilies. I think preaching has a cumulative effect on forming u... Read more

Eucharistic Adoration, sometimes called a Visit to the Blessed Sacrament, appears to be enjoying a kind of renaissance, especially among the young. Whether it is adoration before the tabernacle or bef... Read more

Patrick Agnew, parishioner at St. Cecilia, Fort Myers, FL “Do not look for crosses. God will provide them.” - St. Francis de Sales Seeing is part of the spiritual life. Nothing enters the soul except ... Read more

This Saturday the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration when Jesus appears transfigured before Peter, James, and John, and appears with Moses and Elijah representing the Old Testament Law... Read more

At some point in our lifetime , we arrive at a liberating juncture. As believers, we recognize that we are here on earth to serve God’s greater purpose, as God is at the center of our lives. This purp... Read more

Last weekend, the Church observed the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the liturgical conclusion of the Christmas season. Although many of us put Christmas decorations away long ago, the trees and ma... Read more

The Christmas season ended this past Sunday on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Or did it? Every January there seems to be discussion among Christians on social media as to when the Christmas sea... Read more

During the month of January, the Church celebrates three Salesian saints: St. Leonie Aviat (January 10), St. Francis de Sales (January 24), and St. John Bosco (January 31). Of the three, St. Leonie Av... Read more

When I was growing up, I would watch some of our neighbors put their Christmas trees on the curb every December 26. By New Year’s Day, more homes would dispose of their trees and the rest of their hol... Read more

In the past few weeks, I’ve heard numerous people say, “I hope this New Year is better than the last.” More often than not, there is a note of disbelief in their voice despite the hope they have in mi... Read more

In June, Maureen Dwyer retired from Father Judge High School after teaching theology for over 35 years. During her time at Judge, Maureen has supported the Salesian community in her actions, her class... Read more

The liturgy this weekend calls us to recognize the unique gifts of Martha and Mary. Seminarian Jonathan Dick reflects on the "uni-diversity" that Francis de Sales reminds us is part of our own unique ... Read more

Walking on the boardwalk, reading on the beach, waiting in line for ice cream or just catching up on our sleep. These are some of the simple projects and pleasures of summer. Answering the call to per... Read more

Never miss an opportunity to do good. Great opportunities do not come every day, recognize and seize them with every chance you get. Realize that the best opportunities are when you can truly help som... Read more

The first three lines from the Rolling Stones song "Time Waits for No One" are: Yes, star-crossed in pleasure, the stream flows on by Yes, as we're sated in leisure, we watch it fly, yes And time wait... Read more

One of my favorite Church hymns is “Morning Has Broken.” The hymn was written in 1931 but, like many of us, I am most familiar with the 1970s recording by Cat Stevens. Last week, as the Oblates in Nor... Read more

Today marks the end of the Oblates 14 years of ministering at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden, NJ. Fr. Mike McCue, OSFS, and Br. Mickey McGrath, OSFS, will continue to live and se... Read more

I have to respond to Fr. Lou Fiorelli’s article in last week’s De Sales Weekly. Fr. Lou informed us that his article would be his last. This week, the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province is electing new ... Read more

The Wilmington-Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales is pleased to announce that Rev. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS, has been elected to a four-year term as provincial effective immediat... Read more

Soon we Oblates will gather as a province to choose our next Provincial. My four-year mandate will then come to completion. The next reflection from the Wilmington-Philadelphia Provincial will be from... Read more

Enjoy selections from Salesian Speeches and Graduate Speeches The Oblates established and continue to minister at DeSales University, Salesianum School, Father Judge High School, Nativity Preparatory ... Read more

This week, sandwiched between the feasts of Pentecost and the Holy Trinity, provides me with much to reflect upon. The main reason is that I have to prepare homilies for both. These two feasts are ver... Read more

Sidonie Becton ‘07, Tri-Chair, Alumnae Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School. “Let us be who we are and be that well, in order to bring honor to the Mast... Read more

I recently had the pleasure of leading a “Sip and Paint” gathering at the brand new Saint Paul VI High School in Chantilly, VA. This beautiful, modern facility replaces the older, smaller school in Fa... Read more

While on his last trip to Paris in 1621, Francis de Sales (1567-1622) committed the care of the first Visitation monastery in that city to his friend and fellow priest, Vincent de Paul. After St. Fran... Read more

God's Language In just a few days, the Church will celebrate Pentecost. I think we can best appreciate the meaning of this beautiful feast if we begin with the fact that we are all made in the image a... Read more

Jn 20:19-23 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be wi... Read more

This weekend, thousands of Americans will travel to vacation destinations across the country. They travel as Mary our Lady so often did throughout her life. Just as Mary did when she visited her belov... Read more

Francis & Me: Ellen Hildenbrand, Religion Department Chair, Salesianum School Given that my whole life has been lived in the context of Catholic education, I have had the good fortune to be inspired b... Read more

Tuesday, May 31, is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast has special significance to the Salesian community because it was this event in the life of our Lady that St. Fra... Read more

Jesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to... Read more

A few weeks ago, I visited one of our senior Oblates residing in a local nursing facility. Due to back issues, he cannot walk or stand for any time, he needs assistance with basic activities. He also ... Read more

This week many students are wrapping up their semester with projects, papers, and final exams. There are websites and media posts dedicated to helping students successfully “cram” for the final weeks ... Read more

In a December 1626 letter to one of her sisters in charge of forming young Visitation sisters, St. Jane de Chantal gives some very wise spiritual counsel that speaks to how we ought to relate to one a... Read more

When I was in high school, I saw a headline in a Catholic magazine for their November issue celebrating the month of All Souls. The headline was “All Saints, All Souls, All Month.” This expression alw... Read more

Unmasked This Halloween we had our usual share of trick-or-treaters at the parish rectory, knocking on the door and chanting in that sing-song way, “Trick or treat!” It’s amazing to me that Halloween ... Read more

Tom Vresics: Founder of Salesian Lay Association of Men (SLAM) “One single day of devotion is worth more than a thousand years of worldly life.” - Saint Francis de Sales What I have always loved about... Read more

The Memorial Dinner Dance Returns to Center City! Saturday, January 14, 2023 Union League, Center City 140 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 This annual celebration is a great opportunity to com... Read more

Margaret Emerson: Parishioner and Assistant Preschool Teacher at Saint John Neumann (SJN) Catholic Community I was first introduced to the teachings of Saint Francis de Sales in 1995 when I joined Sai... Read more

Last week I was on the 45-minute drive from my home in Adrian, MI, to my office at St. Francis High School in Toledo, OH. That afternoon I presided at the funeral of Brother James Dorazio, OSFS. Broth... Read more

My first assignment after ordination was to teach at our high school in Fort Myers, Florida. Shortly after arriving, our principal and the Oblate pastor across the street went for a drive to look at a... Read more

The Daughters of St. Francis de Sales are vital members of the Salesian family. They are lay Catholic women (whether single, married, or widowed) who live their lives grounded in the Gospel and the sp... Read more

Although a native of Toledo, Ohio, and a 1967 graduate of St. Francis de Sales School where the seeds of his Oblate vocation were first planted, John’s ministry in parochial leadership has spanned the... Read more

Traditionally, each Oblate community has a designated library in their local residence. In an Oblate library, you will find many different types of literature. However, I would say that the majority o... Read more

Elisabeth Showalter: Mathematics Teacher, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Washington, DC "If you contemplate the Lord frequently in meditation, your whole soul will be filled with Him, you w... Read more

CJ Capen: Director of Music at St. John Neumann Parish, Reston, VA "Nothing is so strong as gentleness; nothing is so gentle as real strength." - Saint Francis de Sales Gentleness is not typically a q... Read more

Saint Margaret Mary and me... have nothing in common! She was a Visitation nun, living in a cloistered community, in a small town in rural France. I am an Oblate priest, working in an active seminary,... Read more

“Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul, except sin. God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry.” - Saint Francis de Sales Who can’t worry? You worry when you see a massive hur... Read more

Earlier in the week the Church observed the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. This simple friar from a little town in Italy has inspired Christians from every continent and almost every denomination f... Read more

Celebrating Blessed Louis Brisson On October 12, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales celebrate Founders’ Day, a day in which we remember the first Oblates beginning their novitiate. On this day in 187... Read more

A phrase that pops up rather frequently in the conferences Blessed Father Louis Brisson, OSFS, gave to the first Oblates is “ayez bon courage” or “ayez grand courage.” This is one of those phrases whi... Read more

The Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 honored the memory of beloved FOP Chaplain, Father Steve Wetzel, OSFS, with a Memorial Plaque Dedication last week. Father Steve, who passed away in... Read more

Last week I was visiting my soon-to-be 99-year-old mother. Of course, like people around the globe, the two of us spent way too many hours watching Queen Elizabeth’s extended funeral in all its pagean... Read more

The Direction of Intention is a special prayer inspired by Saint Francis de Sales. There are different versions of the Direction of Intention depending on where you hear it prayed. I use the one that ... Read more

A member of the Provincial Council of the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province, Brother Dan Wisniewski, OSFS, Ph.D., has dedicated his ministry to education. After Brother Dan first professed his vows as ... Read more

I was shaking hands outside after Mass one Saturday evening when I was pleasantly surprised to see my old friend Reese walking out of our church doors. He is a 27-year-old gentleman who came from Chin... Read more

Patrick Lonergan: Father Judge High School, Class of 2022 Every saint has some significance to Christians as a guide or patron. Francis de Sales is a saint whose life and legacy are valued by Father J... Read more

Gospel Jn 20:19-31 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peac... Read more

I like bottom lines. St. Paul provides our faith with a very clear bottom line: No resurrection, no faith! He writes, “If Christ has not been raised then our preaching is useless, and your believing i... Read more

Today we begin the Triduum - The Great Three Days. As the Church concludes Lent, we journey through the final moments of Christ's life, leading to his resurrection. These moments are rich in meaning a... Read more

Maureen Furletti: “My Friend, Jane” It’s Monday evening. Another chaotic family meal is over. My teenage kids begrudgingly cleaned the dinner dishes and retreated to their rooms. While they pretend to... Read more

Holy Week begins this Sunday with Jesus’s solemn entrance into the City of David. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, the humblest of animals. That is his way of indicating that he has chosen to b... Read more

Meditation by Oblates in Formation: Fifth Sunday of Lent Fifth Sunday of Lent Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people starte... Read more

For the last two weeks, the people of Great Britain, and much of the world, have been mourning the loss of Queen Elizabeth II. The impressive display of flowers, tributes, and memorials outside Buckin... Read more

God's Patience Waiting is not something we Americans do well! The long lines at an airport security checkpoint are an excellent example. If the person before us is slow getting laptops prepared, shoes... Read more

Last week this newsletter published a few photos of Deacon Joe Katarsky, OSFS, beginning his temporary ministerial experience with the Jesuits in Alaska. Joe is spending a year as a transitional deaco... Read more

Growing up in a very Catholic neighborhood in Philadelphia, PA, in the 1970s, my family belonged to the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “Nativity,” as we called the parish, was more... Read more

They call it “A common field one day, a field of honor forever.” This past week, as I was traveling through western Pennsylvania, I made a stop that has been on my list for a long time. I journeyed to... Read more

When Father Judge High School (Philadelphia, PA) and Nativity Preparatory School (Wilmington, DE) started the school year, students were greeted by new principals with wonderful plans for this year an... Read more

Today, September 1, and next Monday, Labor Day, mark the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of fall. Often this is a time in which people set new goals and begin new adventures. Students start... Read more

Below are excerpts from Oblate Father Mike McCue’s reflection on his pilgrimage to Mexico City. You can read the entire reflection here. At the beginning of August, I traveled to Mexico City with Brot... Read more

Exceptions Some of my musings have centered on language and the importance of language. With this musing, I’d like to look at the theme of exceptions. Many of us grew up with rules, “I” before “E” exc... Read more

Father Mike was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. The oldest of three boys, Father Mike is one of several North American Oblates whose brother is also an Oblate priest (Father Joe Newman, OSFS). Father... Read more

The founder of Contemplative Outreach, Father Thomas Keating, OCSO, often said “Silence is God’s first language.” This maxim is more a statement of proximity than linguistics. When someone is far away... Read more

The Assumption of Mary is celebrated at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Cape May, NJ, in a very special way! Oblate Fathers David Devlin, Jim Dever, John Dolan, and Mathias Kumar, accompanied by Monsignor J... Read more

On Saturday, August 6, Joe Kochendoerfer professed, for the first time, the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales. He will renew his vows annually until he deci... Read more

Last week I attended a meeting of the major superiors of male religious orders and communities. The title of the conference was “One in the Mission of Christ: Co-Responsibility in Religious Leadership... Read more

“Let us walk on the Way with our brothers and sisters gently, peacefully, and amiably.” -Saint Francis de Sales Recently I organized a religious pilgrimage with my parishioners to Rome and other relig... Read more

Join us in celebrating one of our patrons, Saint Jane de Chantal! Saint Jane, a widowed mother of four adult children, co-founded the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary with Saint Francis de Sales... Read more

Lisa Lickona, STL: Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at Saint Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry in Rochester, New York. Lisa works for the Mother Seton Shrine in Emmittsburg, MD. “Sai... Read more

As I write this, I’m waiting with the rest of the world to see if Russia will invade Ukraine. Maybe I’m naive, but this potential act of aggression does not reflect what I hope for in the nature of wo... Read more

With Ash Wednesday less than two weeks away, Fr. Michael Murray, OSFS, offers us a Salesian reflection on how to prepare our hearts for the coming season of conversion. If you ask people the question,... Read more

Tomorrow we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Have you ever noticed that it is usually children to whom Mary appears? At Lourdes, for instance, it was to Bernadette Soubirous, a fourteen-yea... Read more

A couple of times I have heard people joke about statues or pictures that portray Mary holding rosary beads. They take a humorous view of what it must be like for the Blessed Mother to pray the rosary... Read more

I want to share one bit of advice from St. Francis de Sales that is part of every Oblate's life. We call it the Direction of Intention. De Sales tells us: "They who wish to thrive and advance in the w... Read more

On January 2, our neighbor, Fr. Dave Hudgins, pastor of Saint Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn, MI marked his 53rd birthday. His brother Jim, a priest and pastor in Washington, D.C. had flown into Detroit Metr... Read more

In less than a week (on February 2nd), on the day the Church celebrates the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, we Oblates of St. Francis de Sales throughout the world -priests, brothers, and sisters... Read more

The Feast of St. Francis de Sales (January 24) invites Oblates to reflect on our vocation especially since we celebrate World Day of Consecrated Life the following week. Simply put, we all, Oblate and... Read more

We are in the liturgical season named Ordinary Time. This time is the part of the liturgical year, which falls outside the two great seasons of Christmastide and Eastertide, or their respective prepar... Read more

Lindagale Dube: Parishioner at St. John Neumann Parish, Reston, VA; Former librarian at Bishop Ireton High School, Alexandria, VA; Member of a Live Jesus! Community in Virgina. When did I first meet S... Read more

I do not know a person who does not want to be happy. After all, who wants to be sad or miserable? At the same time, we recognize that we cannot always be happy. Happiness is a feeling that can easily... Read more

“Every ‘yes’ is God’s coming into the world.” My dad retired from the grocery store Kroger’s about 10 years ago after spending almost 45 years working there in the grocery and dairy departments. After... Read more

Gentleness Recently I read the Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on Saint Francis de Sales presented following the 300th anniversary of his death on January 26, 1923. Pope Francis is to issue a letter to mar... Read more

Miranda Clark-Binder: Art & Art History Educator, Our Mother of Consolation Parish School, Philadelphia, PA “Be who you are and be that well.” - Saint Francis de Sales As an artist, educator and mothe... Read more

On Saturday, December 3rd, the Oblates hosted the first Live Jesus! Delaware at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Newark. “All through love, nothing through fear,” was the theme for Live Jesus! Delaw... Read more

Dr. Olga Rasmussen: Parishioner of St. John Neumann Catholic Community, Reston, VA I have been privileged to teach at two Visitation high schools – Visitation School and Convent in Mendota Heights in ... Read more

Hope is the sense that what we desire or long for is possible. It’s an ardent feeling that things will turn out for the best. With this in mind, hope is the great motivator that keeps us going in diff... Read more

No other season quite brings as much excitement and anticipation as Christmas does. No other season seems to be as busy as the Christmas season. Even though many of us have been shopping, decorating a... Read more

The practice of the Little Virtues is a large part of the reason I became a Daughter of St. Francis de Sales. Focusing on these virtues freed me from the need for absolute perfection and allowed me to... Read more

“Marvel at God’s goodness: how good God has been to you, on your behalf! Lord, how rich is your heart in mercy and how generous is your good will. My soul, let us always recall the many graces he has ... Read more

An Advent song by Father John Foley, SJ, has this refrain: “Patience, people, till the Lord is come.” Patience is one of the Little Virtues of Saint Francis de Sales, the other virtues include gentlen... Read more

For me, faith has always been confidence or trust in another. I have faith in the mechanic who works on my car, the nurse to give me the correct medicine, the driver approaching who will stop at the r... Read more

Marge Van Lierde: Parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Vienna, VA I stumbled onto Saint Francis de Sales for the first time in 1984 when my husband and I registered at the parish around the corner... Read more

Mekong Delta, rice paddy, South China Sea, Viet Cong, Viet Minh, Tet Offensive, Saigon, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh Trail, agent orange, DMZ, hamlet, napalm, Pentagon Papers, draft lottery, deferment, Indochin... Read more

Maureen A. Furletti: Graduate Student, Loyola Institute for Ministry, Loyola University New Orleans; Parishioner, Our Mother of Consolation Church, Philadelphia, PA “Counting Our Blessings: Francis & ... Read more

Milestone birthdays are always special and celebrated with a little extra excitement. This past Sunday my family pulled out all the stops as we came together for my dad’s 80th birthday. My dad always ... Read more

Autumn began on September 22 and we went from days in the 80s and 90s to temperatures in the 60s and 70s, and the 50s a few weeks later. One could see leaves beginning to change color, ever so slightl... Read more

Choices In our lifetime we make millions of choices. Some of them are simple like choosing between decaf or regular, chocolate or vanilla, whereas some are very serious and even life-changing. Should ... Read more

Claire Burchell: Parishioner of Saint John Neumann Catholic Community, Reston, VA When I returned to church in the late 1990s, I did not know anything about Salesian Spirituality. Even after sitting i... Read more

Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, “Go into the village opposite y... Read more

A few days ago, I had dinner with good friends, a couple who had just returned from a three-week vacation in Florida. Naturally, they spoke about their trip and quickly recalled a highlight at what th... Read more

Meditation by Oblates in Formation: Fourth Sunday of Lent Fourth Sunday of Lent Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, sa... Read more

“Fiat” and “Nunc” are Latin for “Yes” and “Now.” Together, they are the story of the Annunciation. They are also the story of our participation in its mystery. The Angel declares to Mary that she is i... Read more

Third Sunday of Lent Gospel Lk 13:1-9 Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that beca... Read more

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today everything is green, rivers are dyed green, people wear green, green carnations are worn, leprechauns are everywhere, parades, parties, dinners, and more are scheduled. ... Read more

Meditation by Oblates in Formation: Second Sunday of Lent Second Sunday of Lent Lk 9:28b-36 Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in... Read more

“Before every person there marches an angel proclaiming, ‘Behold, the image of God’.” When I was very young and in Catholic grade school, the sisters taught us about angels, especially our guardian an... Read more

One morning a little over a week ago, well before the sun rose, I was doing what thousands of other Michiganders were doing - scraping ice and snow off my car. It was windy and cold; I couldn't find m... Read more

First Sunday of Lent Lk 4:1-13 Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during t... Read more

Next Wednesday Lent begins as it always does, with the imposition of ashes. Why ashes? The Old Testament speaks of three important spiritual attitudes associated with ashes: mortality, repentance, and... Read more

Sunday afternoon, around 2 pm, the doorbell rang at the rectory. Now, we have front and back doors that are relatively distant, and the doorbells sound the same. So, when the bell rings, it’s a toss-u... Read more

The Church has only formally declared as dogma the Assumption of Mary, but St. Francis de Sales, a Doctor of the Church, saw the same possibility for St. Joseph, the spouse of Mary and foster father o... Read more

This past Sunday was the first celebration of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Fr. Steve Shott, OSFS, shares the history behind this celebration. Many countries have holidays honoring grand... Read more

A little over a month ago, Craig Irwin, OSFS, and Joe Katarsky, OSFS, professed their final vows as Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. You may remember when I reported on this event, I quoted the follow... Read more

The Feast Day of Saint Peter Claver leads some among us - perhaps most especially Black Catholics - to reflect on what our patron Saint Francis de Sales described as unidiversity. The universality of ... Read more

Since 1950 when the dogma was solemnly declared, every year the Church celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, body and soul, into the glory of heaven on August 15. Although there is no such sol... Read more

August 12th is the feast day of St. Jane de Chantal, wife, widow, young mother, friend, founder, and saint. Like the valiant wife and mother of Proverbs, St. Jane was a woman whose feet were very firm... Read more

In the Gospel for this coming Sunday, Jesus proclaims to the people, “I am the bread of life.” (John 6: 24-35). Pope St. Leo the Great affirms that, by partaking of the body and blood of Christ, we ar... Read more

Some years ago, while paging through the American Heritage Collegiate Dictionary of the English Language, I was startled to discover that our own Francis de Sales – described as a “French ecclesiastic... Read more

Recently, I saw a short presentation of why our nation celebrated Juneteenth a few weeks ago. The video noted that even though there has been great progress for African Americans over the years, the o... Read more

As Fathers’ Day approaches, it is natural to wish the dads out there a “Happy Fathers’ Day.” For our Oblate friends and my mentor Father Guerin, they are referred to as “Father” every day. Does one wi... Read more

Transitions In our culture we use hours, days, months and years to mark time. However, in our everyday lives we often use key moments to frame our experiences. June is one of those key times of the ye... Read more

Around the feast of St. Joseph this year, the well-known spiritual writer, Matthew Kelly, described St. Joseph as having the best supporting role in salvation history. Obviously, Jesus ranks first and... Read more

Christians around the world will celebrate Pentecost this Sunday. This major feast recalls the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Virgin Mary and the Apostles following the Crucifixion, Resurrection, a... Read more

Grant Ferris is a retired Oblate Brother living in Delray Beach, FL. Originally from Lockport, NY, Grant moved to Florida thirty-one years ago to teach at a Catholic high school in Fort Lauderdale. Du... Read more

Whenever the feast of the Ascension is celebrated, I always think of the church of the same name in my childhood Philadelphia neighborhood. Raised in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, I alway... Read more

On occasion throughout this year that is dedicated to St. Joseph, I will reflect on that very special saint and universal patron of the entire Church. In grade school, I was taught by the St. Joe Sist... Read more

St. Francis de Sales wrote, “The one who can preserve gentleness amid pains, and peace amid the worry and multitude of daily life, is almost perfect." My mother, Marleen Brown Riley, is almost perfect... Read more

Every time I hear the word “remnant,” I think of my sister and her husband. The two of them own a floor covering business, or carpet store, in Western New York. They always have remnants of carpet the... Read more

“Endowed with a spiritual soul, with intellect and with free will, the human person is from his very conception, ordered to God and destined for eternal beatitude.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, ... Read more

Throughout Easter Season, we have several appearances of the resurrected Christ presented in the Sunday and daily gospel readings. In these Resurrection appearances, Jesus reveals Himself to one or mo... Read more

We find ourselves in the octave of Easter, during which we spend some days reflecting in wonder on the reality, the beauty, the power and the meaning of the Resurrection of Jesus for the first discipl... Read more

We begin the high point of our Church liturgical year today. What a Sunday is to the week, the Triduum is to the whole year. Today, Holy Thursday, tomorrow, Good Friday, and Saturday at the Easter Vig... Read more

Today’s feast of the Annunciation recalls the moment the angel announces God’s intentions regarding the birth of his Son and God’s invitation to Mary to become the Mother of God. Between the invitatio... Read more

Relief Relief from the pandemic is something all of us have yearned and prayed for this past year. It is a hope shared by every man, woman, and child on the face of the planet. I know what it feels li... Read more

March 19 is the feast day of that Saint Joseph. We often hear about “the strong silent type,” in describing a man of great character. That description fits Saint Joseph perfectly. He does not say one ... Read more

At 8:45 a.m., our Social Studies chair came into my office to let me know that a plane had gone into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Just 18 minutes later he returned to tell me another pla... Read more

Last week (Thursday, August 12) the Church celebrated the feast of St. Jane de Chantal. But for the last fifty years (after the calendar reforms of the Second Vatican Council), her feast has been cele... Read more

“From time to time, one must recreate and relax in mind and body.” -St. Francis de Sales This summer I followed this wise and holy man’s advice and went “down the shore” – as we Philadelphians say – t... Read more

Every morning I receive an email from CNN with the "5 Things" that day that the folks at CNN believe all of us should know. Buried in Tuesday morning's briefing, down in the Breakfast Browse section, ... Read more

In a few days, on July 3rd, the Church will celebrate the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle and, a day later, we as a nation will celebrate Independence Day. In this reflection, I would like to say some... Read more

“Lord, give us strength in temptation, endurance in trial, and gratitude in prosperity.” This short but powerful prayer is from a Morning Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours. “Lord, give us strength in... Read more

Each year as May ends and Americans begin the season of graduations, vacations and summer fun, our nation pauses to remember the fallen and honor their sacrifice on Memorial Day. Throughout the countr... Read more

I became the pastor of St. Alphonsus Church in Deerfield, MI, in 2000. In participating in the village observation of Memorial Day, I deepened my appreciation for the real reason we observe this holid... Read more

“Cordial love of the neighbor does not consist in feelings. This love flows not from a heart of flesh but from the heart of our will." These words from St. Jane de Chantal speak to the character of “l... Read more

Last July, in the aftermath of the upheaval that followed the killing of George Floyd, a large tent was erected in Minneapolis, in a parking lot along our northside business corridor. For 30 days peop... Read more

Because the vast majority of U.S. states have eliminated Covid 19 travel restrictions, CNN recently announced that it would no longer routinely update this story. The consequences of the lifting of re... Read more

Enjoy selections from Baccalaureate Salesian Speeches and at our high schools and university Joseph Morace (Father Judge High School) Throughout my four years at Judge, the “27” have been a perfect re... Read more

This past weekend I celebrated mass at St. Perpetua Parish in Lafayette, CA. I’m here to help out another Oblate, John Kasper, as he recovers from ankle surgery, which keeps him off his feet. It was t... Read more

Yesterday (July 22nd) was the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. For centuries, she has been venerated as the “Apostle to the Apostles” for her role on Easter morning in recognizing the risen Lord and procl... Read more

The scene for this coming Sunday’s gospel follows upon last week's reading when Jesus sent his disciples out on their first missionary activities. They are back now, overjoyed by their successes but e... Read more

This past Saturday, July 3, I had the privilege of receiving two young men into the Oblate Novitiate. The novitiate is a canonical year of training and preparation that the novice undergoes before tak... Read more

Simone Biles, considered by some the best woman gymnast in history, invited a wide range of responses following her decision to withdraw from parts of the Olympic competition. Upon announcing her deci... Read more

Dorothy Day died on November 29, 1980. For many people who consider her a saint, this day would be her feast day. I am very confident that Dorothy Day was directly involved in my decision to move to C... Read more

Hope is that sense that what we desire or long for is possible. It’s a conviction that things will turn out for the best. With this in mind, hope is the great motivator that keeps us going in difficul... Read more

SAVE THE DATE! For the next Rev. William A. Guerin, OSFS Memorial Dinner Dance: Saturday, Jan. 14th Union League. Center City, Philadelphia, PA We hope to see you there! About the Guerin Dinner Dance:... Read more

In a few days, we will celebrate the end of the liturgical year with the feast of Christ the King and, a few days after that, the Thanksgiving holiday. For me, these two celebrations are deeply connec... Read more

St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal developed a practical, positive and heart-centered spirituality that has been a part of the church for over 400 years. Since the foundation of the Visitati... Read more

In each of the gospels, we hear Jesus invite men to follow him and it is by the example of these men that we may learn how to respond to the invitation He offers each of us. We really don’t know much ... Read more

My house arrest just ended. I just got my car keys back and have permission to drive no longer than one hour distant from my home. You might think that, along with Richard Nixon, I might say, "I am no... Read more

Imagine what it was like to get an enthusiastic invitation to come to Alaska and have access to dream-come-true fishing? I could hardly believe it. And after all these years, I can still hardly believ... Read more

Today is the feast of St. Charles Borromeo. Shane Flanagan, a seminarian studying for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, reflects on the similarities between St. Charles... Read more

Next week is Vocation Awareness Week, a time to prayerfully reflect on one’s vocation in life, the vocation to which God has already called us or the vocation to which God is perhaps now calling us. O... Read more

In our popular culture, the month of October has evolved into a four-week celebration of Halloween. These autumn days are filled with constant images of ghosts, zombies, witches, and werewolves. The m... Read more

Without a doubt, the best Halloween costume I ever had was the uniform I wore at my first job. I was 15 years old and lied about my age to get a job as a tourist attraction. I love telling people my f... Read more

This Sunday, we will hear the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar whose sight Jesus restored. For the evangelist, St. Mark, the story of Bartimaeus is meant to be the story of every Christian. Barti... Read more

I’m annoyed and frustrated. I’m recovering from foot surgery and am supposed to stay off my feet. Two weeks into a five-week sentence of sitting in a chair is feeling ridiculous. Yesterday, the doctor... Read more

October is the month of the Rosary. For that reason, it is also the month of Mary. The mysteries of the rosary depict moments and memories in the paschal mystery of Jesus and, thus, also of his first ... Read more

This week is my birthday and it’s a big one! I just turned 70! Although, it’s not as big as my mother’s who turns 98 the same day. She’s a pro at this aging stuff. Like many people, I don’t think of m... Read more

St. Francis Assisi, whose feast day is celebrated this Monday, is perhaps one of the best known and most beloved Catholic saints. He’s one of my favorites, and not just because October 4th is my birth... Read more

When you first encounter a place like Camden, NJ, a small city with large issues of poverty, homelessness, addiction—-seeing these issues all out in the open, it is natural to look for solutions. That... Read more

Jokes Growing up, I learned many different jokes. Some of them were clever and also harmless. They made us laugh; they helped us to poke fun at ourselves and others. But they also could be used in a n... Read more

This Sunday is the third Sunday of Lent. In three weeks, we will begin Holy Week. We are halfway through this season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. So, how are you doing? Have you kept up with th... Read more

Every year on August 6 the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration. So why is that special event in the life of Jesus also recounted every year on the Second Sunday of Lent? Certainly, one ... Read more

You might remember a commercial for Prudential Insurance that contained a picture of a huge rock. Their motto was “Grab a piece of the rock.” When we bought their insurance we would feel protected and... Read more

“What are you giving up for Lent?” I can’t tell you how many times I have heard this question over my many years of putting ashes on people’s heads for Ash Wednesday. For many of us it involves abstai... Read more

Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life; rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot st... Read more

A priest friend of mine writes a weekly blog, in which he provides a brief reflection on the Sunday scriptures. This past weekend he grabbed a line from the second reading from the first letter to the... Read more

This Sunday’s Gospel reading is from the first chapter of Mark’s gospel, the gospel which is the special focus for Year B. It describes what must have been a powerful and frightening scene. From the m... Read more

I am writing this reflection a few days after the stunning and unimaginable attack on the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., leading to numerous deaths and extreme mayhem. By the time you read this... Read more

We are into a brand-new year. I doubt that any of us are sorry to see 2020 in the rearview mirror! I know I’m not. At the beginning of 2021, this prayer of St. Francis de Sales is my prayer for each o... Read more

Recently, I was looking through reflections by St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane DeChantal, and Blessed Louis Brisson, the founder of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. My search was to find something ... Read more

Today’s world is absolutely wrought with conflict. I often find myself muttering the trite question “Why can’t we all just be nice to each other?” as I try to live my day-to-day life, ducking out of h... Read more

Majestic fireworks light up the night sky; a huge and brilliant crystal ball drops in Times Square; horns sound and strangers embrace one another- all this in welcoming another New Year and the promis... Read more

Oblates across the Provinces celebrate Christmas around the country.

Dear Friend, Many years ago, when I was the pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Denver, CO, a good friend, songwriter, and fellow priest, Joe Raffa, wrote the following poem on the feast of Christmas... Read more

Last year, when Fr. Stephen Shott, OSFS, became pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle Church he brought with him a Christmas tradition. Like many special traditions, this one has been years in the making. ... Read more

Isn't it ironic that the season of Advent, which calls us to patience, creates such impatience in so many? I remember one of my nephews, who at that time was five or six years old, plopping down in a ... Read more

No doubt you have seen shirts or art with words containing Blessed and/or Grateful. For many of us, they can summarize our lives especially in the way we have been embraced, welcomed and loved. I don’... Read more

Every November, as my family was cleaning up from Thanksgiving dinner, my mother and her sisters would start talking about Christmas. They would discuss gifts, dinners, decorations and donations. At s... Read more

I laughed when I first read the definition of peace as the “normal condition…or state of affairs” for a people, group, or nation. There is not a lot of normalcy in the world these days. I wonder if th... Read more

Three Advent saints speak to me in a special way: Andrew, Mary, and John the Baptist. St. Andrew, whose feast is November 30, brought his brother, Peter, to Jesus. How richly blessed the faith and the... Read more

St. Francis de Sales says that gratitude is the beginning of humility because it recognizes that all we have and are gifts from a loving and generous God. Today the people of the United States celebra... Read more

Sitting at my desk last Thursday, I spent some time pondering the focus of my reflection for this issue of the DeSales Weekly. After a few moments, I realized that everything that came to my mind was ... Read more

The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary has always been a day for special blessings. The feast takes place at the highest point of summer when all the crops and fruit trees are filled w... Read more

This summer, I decided to return to the city of Pittsburgh for my July vacation. I have been there twice before, and I continue to be captured by Pittsburgh’s big city feel like that of Philadelphia w... Read more

Many countries celebrate International Workers’ Day on May 1 (May Day). Throughout the 20th century this day became associated with the rise of communism and atheism. Pope Pius XII wanted to counter t... Read more

A little over a week ago, on August 21st, Craig Irwin and Joe Katarsky made their perpetual profession of vows as Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in the Toledo-Detroit Province. The celebration took p... Read more

Alex, one of Nativity Prep’s first graduates, arrived at the Prep just as I pulled up. Recognizing me, he jumped out of his pick-up truck and enthusiastically greeted me. Since his Nativity graduation... Read more

Every year for as long as I can remember on December 12th, as a church we unite to celebrate during the time of advent, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This celebration commemorates the appear... Read more

This past weekend, our nation commemorated the twentieth anniversary of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Nearly 3,000 Americans died that day, while thousands of others suffered injuries, and peo... Read more

We are approaching the 4th Sunday of Advent, which means Christmas, the celebration of the Birth of Jesus, is just days away. For just about every person reading this reflection, there is something ab... Read more

Last Saturday, I went to visit someone at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in a congested and busy part of Philly where parking is always problematic. I saw a sign that read “no valet,” but it ... Read more