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…

Parishioners of the Oblate apostolate, St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Newark, DE, led by Fr. Ed Ogden, OSFS, bonded through faith, fellowship, and adventure throughout their journey. Read Fr. Ed’s account of their travels. Perhaps his reflection inspires you to learn more about the birthplace of the Oblates!

Many Oblates serve in parishes, and leaving can be a difficult transition, as this means leaving a community that has been home for many years. Learning to graciously embrace life's transitions is a part of Salesian Spirituality...

Yesterday the Church honored St. Monica, and today her son, St. Augustine. Their closeness would continue after the death of Monica, and for all eternity. How does their story remind us to remember and pray for our loved ones who have gone before us?

Ovens are instruments of permanent transformation. If you’ve ever baked something, you know this to be true. How does this metaphor remind us of the permanent transformation that is the work of the Lord?

No single word in English can capture what a profound act it is to “be-with” someone. How can our words and presences impact others, especially during moments of suffering, loss, and hardship

The Feast of the Assumption is nestled right in the middle of a month that is historically violent. How does this great feast call us to remember and trust in God’s promises of glory and renewal?...

God's creations can teach us new lessons and offer valuable. reminders. How did three unexpected friends help Bro. Mickey and how can the animals in our lives support our spiritual journey...

What can we do when the flame of our spiritual journey dims? When a heart that was on fire with love now pulses with duty, responsibility, and weariness? Let us turn to the wisdom of St. Francis de Sales...

Have you ever felt connected to a distant relative you've never met? While on a summer trip to Annecy, France, I caught up with St. Jane de Chantal. Find out what I learned from walking in her footsteps...

What do you get when the major superiors of Oblate provinces and regions from around the world come together in St. Francis’ hometown of Annecy, France? The answers can help you, our readers, come to know the Oblates better!

Every day, I read something from the words of our Oblate founder, Blessed Fr. Louis Brisson, OSFS. I recently read a quote that, although directed towards Oblate life, also applies to our lives together as human beings

The heat and humidity of a Washington summer rarely surprise the locals, but despite knowing the discomfort will come, it still tests their strength. How does this reflect the challenges of spiritual life, and our reliance on the grace of God?

Through a brief exchange with a teacher, I discovered that a student hesitated to approach me about discernment. How did this prompt me to reflect on how I am perceived and the importance of leading with honey, not just in words, but in presence