Reflections
Search Articles
Salesian Leadership
As new school leaders begin their ministries, read how the spirit of Francis de Sales helps guide and promote a holistic approach to education for all of us who care about our children...
Meet Our Oblates-in-Formation
September marks the start of a new year of formation. This year, we are blessed to have a man in every stage of formation. Discover what each stage looks like and the men walking this journey...
The Maple Tree and the Dumpster
When a beautiful tree grows behind a functional dumpster, it makes for an unlikely scene. How does this contrast offer a very Salesian lesson?...
A Field of Honor
As we continue to remember the lives lost and we honor the heroes on the 25th anniversary of September 11, we share a special piece written by Fr. Ed Ogden. This past June, Fr. Ed had the opportunity to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It was his first visit, and it left a lasting impression...
Lessons from Pope Leo's Visit to Spain: “Be the Spark of a New Humanity”
In June 2026, Pope Leo visited Spain. Filled with powerful moments, the Pope shared many messages with the youth. What three stood out, what can we learn from them, and how can you be the spark?...
God Is With Us
This year marks twenty-five years since the terrorist attacks happened around the country on 9/11/01. As we still work for peace and reconciliation, how do the words of St. Francis de Sales offer comfort and hope?…
Importance of Encounter
A group of four rising sophomores at Notre Dame spent eight weeks of the summer volunteering with DSW. How did this experience shape them, and what did they learn from their encounters?...
What Fear Reveals
Every year at St. Francis de Sales School, we choose a Salesian theme for the school. This year’s theme is from St. Francis: “We must not fear fear.” What can we learn from fear when we stop fearing it?…
Back to School, Back to Prayer with Saintly Moms
As summer draws to a close, parents prepare to send their kids to school. What can patron St. Monica and St. Jane, teach us about trusting God with the people we love most?...
Christ’s Presence
Have you ever felt unqualified to do something that was asked of you? Has it ever happened in a foreign country? Check out Bill's experience and lessons he learned...
Enter Into Life
As summer draws to a close, parents prepare to send their kids to school. What can patron St. Monica and St. Jane, teach us about trusting God with the people we love most?...
Tradition of Faith and Hope
At the Jersey Shore, the Wedding of the Sea brings faith, hope, and community together to honor Mary and connect with the Oblates. Whether you're by the water or not, how can this inspire you?…
Nothing is Small in the Service of God
This week my young niece and nephew will be performing in a youth version of the Broadway musical Seussical through their summer camp. How does this Dr. Seuss classic connect to Salesian Spirituality and the wisdom of St. Francis de Sales?
Fifty Years Ago at Childs
This August marks the fiftieth anniversary of my entering the Oblate novitiate in Childs, MD. Childs is holy ground to me. I have always considered it the land of my spiritual birth, the home of my Salesian identity. As the years have brought change, loss, and new beginnings, how can the places and memories that shaped us continue to call us forward with hope?...
Inside the Cloister
During my visit to Annecy, France, I was given the unusual privilege of visiting the cloistered community of the Sisters of the Visitation. There was something both challenging and beautiful about witnessing women who had placed their entire lives in God’s hands...
Serving and Encountering Christ
When we see brokenness around us, people living on the street, or drug addicts in a daze, we may think there is little we can do. How can the practice of encounter make a difference…
Capacity to Love
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…
The Language of Love: Sisters of the Visitation
When Sr. Clare Chantal, VHM, arrived in Annecy, France, she didn't know she would find her true calling. What changed her life and what happened when she encountered Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal?...
Summer Sunflowers & Salesian Spirituality
Sunflowers are a symbol of the summer but also of our spiritual life. How can this strong and towering flower help us in our spiritual life?…
No Limit
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?…

