How do we grow in love of God and neighbor? This week, Oblates gathered for a retreat to examine this question. When considering your own vocation, how do you answer this question…

Life can make us aware of our limitations, as I experienced when exhaustion set in upon arriving in France for the Major Superiors Meeting. We often look for ways to push past our limits, like coffee for example, but St. Francis does not encourage us to seek a limitless life. What does he teach instead?…

From a young Oblate professing vows for life to a veteran Oblate reflecting on decades of religious life, one truth remains constant: God is never finished with us. How is God continuing to shape and transform us, no matter our age or stage of life?…

God asks us to let go of what is familiar and trust Him with what comes next. When change stirs fear, nostalgia, and hesitation in our hearts, will we keep looking back—or will we allow God to lead us forward in faith?...

What is your heart whispering? When we quiet our thoughts, we are better able to hear God's whispers. St. Francis gave us several tools to practice throughout the day to help us make time for these moments to happen...

The cardiac muscle exists only in the human heart. One fascinating characteristic that it does not fatigue. In the Incarnation, Jesus shares with us a human heart. A heart fashioned to beat without ceasing. How can we work to put our hope in the Sacred Heart, where love never grows weary...Read More

We welcome summer with festivals, parades, and seasonal traditions. How do our devotional festivities during this time express an essentially “apostolic” vision of life in this world? ...Read More

A recent check-in made me reflect on the Holy Spirit working in my life. What if the places we thought were finished, doors perhaps closed by death, are the very places where the Holy Spirit is still quietly healing?…

It was such a relief when my spiritual mentor told me, “A balanced life is a myth.” Even throughout the Gospel, Jesus’ plans are constantly interrupted. What did St. Francis teach when it comes to balance?…

It’s time to tend the garden again! Persistent weeds, particularly thistle, give me a chance to reflect on God's love. How can these unyielding weeds represent God's love for us and His presence in our lives?...

The smallest acts of love can quietly transform an ordinary moments and deepen our faith. What if the path to holiness isn’t found in doing more, but in yielding more? Here is a lesson I learned from my parents and practice in daily life...

I hesitate, but here it is: I start projects and don’t finish them. At this point in our Lenten journey, many of us may feel like unfinished projects. So what now? What can we do for the remainder of Lent?…

Sometimes something as simple as a set of dinner knives can teach us great lessons. Fr. Joe shares what happens when he eight knives turn to seven…

“Return to me with your whole heart,” the Lord says at the start of Lent. Sometimes my heart feels like a misplaced baking dish, tucked away and hard to find...

Every summer, Oblates from around the world gather in Annecy, France, the home of St. Francis. During this time of year, many of us have recently traveled to see loved ones. How can we keep that sense of togetherness with us throughout the year?...

On the site of the former Novitiate in Bangalore stands DeSales Academy, whose motto is “Learn to Love.” This simple motto stood out to me. How can we make learning to love our prayer, and who are our teachers?...

Every summer, Oblates from around the world gather in Annecy, France, the home of St. Francis. During this time of year, many of us have recently traveled to see loved ones. How can we keep that sense of togetherness with us throughout the year?...

While understudies are essential on the stage, God does not cast understudies. I don’t believe God had understudies for Mary or Joseph. When God thinks of us, He doesn’t plan a replacement...

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?….

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?

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?...

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?...

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…

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…

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?

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

Some reminders don’t come from books or sermons but from the ground beneath your feet. How does the daily walk on the heart-shaped path from the Novitiate house to the chapel become a daily invitation to choose God and serve Him?