Salesianum:Where a Tie Means Something
Students at Salesianum School show off their new ties!
On a regular weekday, when you see a teenage boy in khakis, shirt, tie, and jacket, you may assume he attends a private school, and more often than not, a Catholic private school.
During September and October in Wilmington, DE, you may want to look again. Among those young men in their dress clothes, you’ll find many who aren’t wearing ties. This is no mistake. They didn’t leave their ties at home or lose them in the car. These are the freshmen students at Salesianum School, where you don’t just wear a tie, you earn it.
Earning a tie is a demonstrative way to show that you have been formed in the Salesian brotherhood. At this Oblate school, new students actually look forward to wearing a tie every day! However, earning this privilege is a process that takes not a few hours or days but rather seven weeks of formation!
“Freshman Formation is something that eases us into the Saleisanum brotherhood and teaches us what the school’s traditions are,” said freshman Sebastian Panula-Beck. His classmate Graham McFadden added, “I learned everything about Sallies - when it was founded, where the building was, what the old school was called, what the traditions are, and the desegregation of the school.”
Click above to watch video coverage of the tradition and celebration!
This formation begins on the first day the freshmen arrive, and it culminates on Founders’ Day. With the support of a big brother, their other ‘house’ members (cross-grade groupings of students), faculty, and Oblates, the freshmen learn all about the school’s history, culture, and traditions. They are also given a version of St. Francis’ Spiritual Directory designed for high school students. This is an adaptation of the guidebook our founder created to help incorporate prayer and reflection throughout the day. This helps the boys learn about Salesian Spirituality and the wisdom of our patrons.
These first-year students come in early every Wednesday for the first six weeks of school, they meet in their houses two mornings a week, and participate in school-wide PREP - a morning period of prayer, reflections, announcements, and sharing. With so much time dedicated to this formation effort, it is not surprising that the freshmen truly believe in the bond of brotherhood by Founders’ Day, which is generally celebrated on or around October 12 (Feast of Bl. Louis Brisson, OSFS).
This year’s Founders’ Day celebration began with an assembly featuring motivational speaker, alumnus, and former NFL player, Kevin Reilly. Later, the freshmen were brought into the theatre and were quizzed by upperclassmen and alumni to demonstrate their knowledge of the school’s traditions and brotherhood. They are tested on their knowledge of the Oblate founders, St. Francis’ teachings, the pillars of being a Salesian gentleman, the school motto (Tenui nec dimmittam), and much more!
After answering the questions correctly, the boys had to sing the alma mater and finally got their Spiritual Directory officially signed. The next step was the tie ceremony.
With 40+ alumni lining the steps into the school, the Class of 2029 processed through the front doors, holding a tie in their hands (a gift from their upperclassmen big brother.) Once outside, alumni helped them fix their ties for the first time as Salesian gentlemen. They offered tips, made large loops to slip over their heads, or mimicked the steps by fixing their own ties in unison. Freshmen then processed into the Founders’ Day Mass of the Holy Spirit, each one proudly wearing his tie!
At the Mass, concelebrated by many local Oblates, the class stood in a circle and took the freshman pledge, formally accepting the responsibilities and obligations of Salesian gentlemen. They celebrated this by embracing their arms as they swayed and sang the words of the alma mater together, as one united class of Salesian gentlemen.
The ties may be the outward sign of the brotherhood, but in their hearts and minds, these young men truly appreciate that they represent so much more. “We are now Salesian gentlemen, and so we all expect that we uphold ourselves and the people around us to a higher standard,” explained Panula-Beck.
When asked if it’ll be hard to have a tie tight around his neck for the next four years, Graham McFadden smiled, replying, “I think it’s an absolute honor to be able to carry the tradition that has been going on for over a hundred years.”
Paula M. Riley
Oblates Communication Team