Charism Shared and Cherished

Jun 24

Jim and his wife Diana in front of the new graphic at Our Mother of Consolation School.

Jim has been a parishioner at Our Mother of Consolation for 15 years, 12 before I became pastor. Yet, I’ve known him since I registered him for classes at Salesianum School to begin his freshman year so long ago. He and his wife Diana, are co-chairs of our capital campaign that encompasses a complete rebuild of our school lost two years ago by a devastating fire. He called me this week saying he was passing through and I told him to meet me at the school. I wanted to show him the recently installed graphics that display the charism and culture of the three religious orders (Augustinian, Sisters of St. Joseph, and the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales) who have served here these last 165 years.

When we got to the top floor, the electrician, Joe Narducci, was taking a picture of the graphic (see photo). He told us that this was the saying they always used when a student at our school North Catholic. Without hesitating, I replied, “And you could read it?’ Jim told him that I had gone to Father Judge (another Oblate school and rival of North), and that he had gone to Salesianum, our school in Wilmington, DE. Immediately, there was a bond, a connection. It was the optimistic charism that formed us to be the people we are today that we jointly share and cherish. The taunting between Joe and I have continued these last few days, and I am delighted that he, an ’04 graduate of North, a good man, husband, and father of three, is a special part of this marvelous rebuild. Schools and institutions can come and go, but charism, such as the Salesian/Oblate charism, lasts forever.

Every summer, students from our various schools attend an Oblate leadership program at Camp DeSales in Michigan. When they gather as strangers for the first time, they are surprised when one of the staff asks them to pray the Direction of Intention, and they all respond in unison. The students are amazed that their peers from these other schools also know this special prayer of asking for God’s grace, offering up the activity to God, and accepting all that may come from it. No doubt, they share much of the Salesian Spirituality/Oblate charism that week (Live + Jesus, do the ordinary, extraordinarily well, present moment emphasis, bond of love, gentleness, and humility). Our parishioners pray the Direction of Intention before every Mass and parish activity in unison with all those sharing and cherishing the Oblate charism throughout the world.

For the longest time, for a potential religious order to win approbation from the Holy See, it had to offer a unique charism to the Church. The Oblate charism is spreading the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal, our spiritual founders, which we fondly call Salesian Spirituality. We have been blessed with so many friends, former students, parishioners, and coworkers who have shared and cherished this charism throughout the years. Many lay associations and groups continue to meet around this charism. Even the ministries we have left, due to the shortage of Oblates, have kept the Salesian charism alive in the example, efforts, humility, and gentleness of our lay colleagues and friends.

“Live Jesus” is a greeting among Salesians that resonates with “Go Birds” for Philadelphia Eagles fans. It inspires us to “be who we are and to be that well.” I don’t have many weddings of former students anymore, but it was such a joy to gather with them and their fellow alumni to pray the Direction of Intention before the liturgy. With smiles, conviction, and connection, they prayed that prayer, “their prayer” with pride and fervor for it has sustained them to “Live Jesus” by doing the ordinary, extraordinarily well in the present moment. The charism calls them to a devout life of holiness in their individual state of life, impacting the world for the better with humility and gentleness. May it continue to enrich all our friends and “fellow Salesians.” The Oblates thank you for teaching us to live well this charism and for helping us to spread it.