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Rosary and Eternal Rest
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?
Behold this Heart
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?
The Stone Rejected
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?...
New Saint: A Model of Salesian Spirituality
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?…
Industrial Revolution: Work from a Catholic, Salesian Perspective
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?…
Channels of Peace
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?...
Salesian Optimism and the Jubilee Year of Hope
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?…
A Lesson on Love
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 of September
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?...
Rebuilding
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...
Salesian Bond
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...
Love of My Life
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…
In Our Patron's Footsteps
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!
Transitions
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...
Remember Me at the Altar
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?
“To Be-With” - Reflections on Hospital Chaplaincy
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

