To “microwave the process” is to want things instantly and expect real transformation to happen that quickly. But the work the Lord does in our hearts and minds is not microwave work. How can we put in the spiritual time this Advent?….

There is much to pray for peace; the list can seem never-ending. How can internal peace be that formidable assurance that God has a plan? How can living in the present moment help us to receive inner peace?...

From a Salesian perspective, the Advent message is to be “watchful” for the coming of the Messiah. How can we be “on the lookout” for opportunities to bring Christ into our lives? How can we bring about ordinary Advents?…

There is much to pray for peace; the list can seem never-ending. How can internal peace be that formidable assurance that God has a plan? How can living in the present moment help us to receive inner peace?...

The U.S. “Santa Tracker” kicked off its 70th season of following Santa's travels. This accidental tradition is a great example of the positive effect one person can have on others. How can we track our spiritual journey this Advent?...

In Advent, we prepare for “the light that shines in the darkness.” In darkness, we search with hope as our light. Many believe that our world sits in “darkness and the shadow of death.” Enter hope, a powerful gift during the tough times of our lives…

A recent visit to the cemetery reminded me of a poem by Robert Frost in which he wrote of the beauty and stillness of stopping in the woods. How can this time of year be a reminder, as St. Francis de Sales tells us, to embrace the silence of this season and connect with the Lord?...Read More

Each November 21, Visitation Sisters around the world renew their vows. The same words first offered decades ago — The Sisters’ vows don’t set them apart so much as illuminate what’s possible for all of us. How can their vows be a spiritual road map for all?...Read More

I recently heard a song on an oldies radio station called “A Song for You” and was reminded of our Christian belief in the communion of saints. How does our celebration of All Saints and our the faithful departed tell us that we are not alone in our faith life?

Life can be taken unexpectedly. But the fact is that each day is a preparation for death. How can we prepare every day? How can Salesian Spirituality and St. Francis' teachings guide us?…

I recently walked the same path St. Francis de Sales once took. As I stood, I watched a cow straining to reach the grass just beyond the fence, while ignoring the field around her. Do you know that feeling of fighting the fence and forgetting the field? How often do we look past the blessings God has in front of us?

At Salesianum School, students don’t just wear a tie; they earn it. Freshmen go through a formation that begins on the first day of school, and it culminates on Founders’ Day. How does this tradition shape students to be Salesian gentlemen and strengthen their bond as brothers?

I had never experienced a communal rosary for the dead on such a large scale last week in Fort Myers, for Fr. Stanley Dombrowski, OSFS. During October, the Church asks us to pray the rosary as much as we can. how can this practice help us to see God in our lives?

In May 2024, I attended a Colloquium in Rome marking the 350th Jubilee of the Apparitions of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. What could a centuries-old devotion, born from the words “Behold this Heart which has so loved and only received ingratitude,” have to say to us today?

There’s nothing quite like hearing that someone has been digging through trash and thought of you! St. Francis teaches us to find “God’s goodness in all things.” How can we apply this to not the people we encounter?...

Newly canonized, St. Pier Giorgio Frassati exemplified the call to everyday holiness and “heart to heart” love. How is his life a reminder to strive to the heights of holiness even while fully immersed in the world?…

The Industrial Revolution transformed the way humanity understood work, but what does that mean for us as people of faith today? How can rediscovering the Salesian vision of “loving labor” help us see work once again as a path to holiness and joy?…

In the early 1960s, President John F. Kennedy and Pope John XXIII shared a vision of hope, service, and peace. Both became symbols of light during turbulent times. What might their legacies teach us about being channels of peace today?...

The calendar year 2025 is a Jubilee Year of Hope, emphasizing renewal of hope in the risen Lord despite challenging circumstances. How does Salesian optimism help you find joy and hope in everyday life?…

Salesian joy is not shallow optimism. It does not ignore suffering or pretend that everything is easy. Rather, it springs from courage. How did a recent retreat remind Fr. Joe of this, and how can we practice Salesian joy in our lives?...

The love that Jesus practiced both comforted and challenged, but always had the conversion of heart as a primary desire. This must start with our own conversion. How can we speak the truth of this love in our lives?...

Angels, spirits, and the afterlife all seem to fit in with the mood of autumn. How might we open our eyes to the angels who walk with us and the ways we are called to be angels for one another?...

Our Novice Director, Fr. Tom Helfrich, OSFS, is well known for his love of the outdoors. He often draws from this passion to create meaningful formational experiences for our novice, Chris Allen. His most recent lesson is one I didn’t know I needed…

Elizabeth, a parishioner and OMC parent, reflects on how the school community shaped her family’s journey. Find out how the tragic fire revealed the true heart of this Salesian home...

St. Francis taught that “we have not bond, but the bond of love.” September is a popular month for weddings, and I recently officiated a wedding that exemplified this Salesian bond, not only of the couple but friends and family as well...

We are a few weeks into the new school year, and I always find this season rejuvenating. Last week, someone stopped me after Mass and asked, “What are young people like nowadays?” I answered with a story…