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I remember how excited I was to read my acceptance letter to Salesianum in the spring of 1952: I would join the ranks of the illustrious fraternity known as the “Fighting Sals.”
This new world I entered immediately began to change my outlook and my life direction. First of all I was introduced to the larger Wilmington Catholic community. I met nationalities other than Italians. You have to understand: having grown up in “Little Italy” - and in particular, St. Anthony’s National Italian parish - my world was pretty much defined by those boundaries. We rarely entered other ethnic neighborhoods except to play sports. But at Salesianum I sat next to the Irish from “Forty Acres”; I ate lunch with the Polish kids from Hedgeville; I cheered at football games with Germans from “Happy Valley.” We all got along and were gradually forged into one under the |
banner of the “The Boys from 8th and West; Not afraid to face the best.” Regardless of our ethnic and cultural differences – perhaps, even through them – we became a student body united by the pride that came from attending Salesianum School. (I might add many of these freshmen are still my close friends since those long ago days at “8th & West.”)
The second important gift Salesianum gave me was its Oblate faculty. I can’t say I liked them all equally, but I was uniformly impacted by the view of life they taught and modeled. They not only introduced me to academics and sports, but to other things like theater, the arts, writing, imagination, creativity, and a firm and positive view of life. Everything the Oblates did was all about shaping the whole person.
This was a different message from the men I knew in my family. My Dad and uncles were busy about making a living, providing family with the bare essentials of survival with little time to pursue anything more than simple family needs and celebrations. My Oblate teachers were into more, and I loved it. I saw a larger world with opportunities sprouting everywhere.
I took advantage of their teaching and their mentoring. I discovered talents and a self-confidence that insured my ability to grow in the best way I was able: for these reasons I decided to join the Oblates and become like them.
Salesianum has left me with an immeasurable abundance of gratitude. I deeply appreciate the Oblates who taught me, the students who became my friends and the life I have led because of them. In the words of De Sales Salesianum and all it entails have allowed me “to be who I am and to be that well.” And for this I am daily grateful.
(Rev.) Richard R. De Lillio, OSFS is a 1956 graduate of Salesianum School. He presently serves as the president of Nativity Prep School in Wilmington, Delaware.
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