Arrival in the States

The Oblates first came to White Plains from France, at the request of the Sisters of Divine Compassion. The Oblates later returned to New York to minister in education.

Salesianum School

Established in Wilmington, DE for high school boys, Salesianum School is the first educational institution founded by the Oblates in the US. The school remains a strong presence in the region.

Novitiate Established

A large farm was purchased in Childs, MD for young men to begin their journeys to become Oblate brothers and priests. Today the property serves as the Oblate retirement center and is home of the Oblate cemetery.

St. Anthony Parish

The first Oblate parish in Wilmington, DE, is established to serve the Italian immigrant community. The Oblates still administer in the Diocese of Wilmington at St. Anthony’s and St. Margaret of Scotland.

Northeast Catholic High

The Oblates came to Philadelphia when they were asked to found what would become the largest all-boys Catholic high school in the country. Although North closed in 2010, the strong Salesian spirit lives on.

DeSales Catholic School

Established in 1946 by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales as an all-boys secondary school, it became co-ed in 1958. The high school closed in 1989 but re-opened as a regional Catholic elementary school in 1993.

Camp de Sales

The Oblates came to Michigan at the invitation of the bishop. They established Camp De Sales on Vineyard Lake which is host to youth and leadership camps. Today the Oblates staff Holy Family Parish in Adrian, MI.

Salesian High School

The first Oblate school in the mid-West was established for boys in Detroit, MI. The school taught hundreds of boys from working-class communities in the Salesian tradition until it closed in 1970.

Bishop Duffy High

The Diocese of Buffalo asked the Oblates to take over the administration of an all-boys school in Niagara, NY. The Oblates stayed at Duffy until 1975, when the school became co-ed and was rebranded as Niagara Catholic.

Parishes in Toledo, OH

The Diocese of Toledo asked the Oblates to teach at Central Catholic High School and to be the founding pastors of St. Pius X Parish. Today the Oblates administer Gesu Parish, Our Lady of Lourdes, and St. Piux X.

Father Judge High School

With a growing Catholic population in Northeast Philadelphia, the Oblates were asked to establish another all-boys high school. Today the school continues to teach in the Salesian tradition, offering college prep and vocational training.

St. Francis de Sales School

The Diocese of Toledo asked the Oblates to found an all-boys high school in Toledo, OH to support the growing Catholic population. Today the school educates young men from grades 7 to 12.

Parishes in Virginia

As the Catholic population grew after WWII, the Oblates are invited to administer Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Vienna, VA. Later, in 1970, they began to administer St. John Neumann in Reston, VA.

Judge Memorial High

The Oblates were one of the first religious communities to minister in the Diocese of Salt Lake City in Utah. For 35 years the Oblates served at Judge Memorial. In 2022, the school celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Bishop Ireton High School

The Oblates accepted the administration of this high school in Alexandria, VA. After serving there for 37 years, the Oblates left in 2008 but they remain involved and the Salesian traditions continue.

Allentown College

Known today as DeSales University, the Oblates were asked by the Bishop of Allentown to establish a Catholic college in Center Valley, PA. In the 1970s the Bishop asked the Oblates also to staff a number of parishes.

Toledo-Detroit Province

The Oblates in America expanded and the Toledo-Detroit Province was formed for the western and central states. The Wilmington-Philadelphia Province serves the East Coast.

Parishes in North Carolina

The first Oblates came to the south and served at St. Barnabas Parish in Arden, NC. Today the Oblates administer seven parishes in the Dioceses of Raleigh and Charlotte.

Lumen Christi High School

Following the hopes and fervor of the Second Vatican Council, the Bishop of Lansing asked the Oblates to administer Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Michigan. The Oblates stayed there until 2018.

St. Mary’s High School

The Oblates accepted the administration of St. Mary’s High School in Stockton, CA. Today Oblates from Indian Region minister at the school. Over the years, Oblates ministered at parishes in Northern CA.

Parishes in Pennsylvania

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia asked the Oblates to administer St. Joachim Parish. Today the Oblates administer Our Mother of Consolation and St. Thomas the Apostle Parishes in the Archdiocese.

Parishes in Florida

When the Diocese of Venice asked the Oblates to administer their high school in Ft. Myers, they also asked the Oblates to administer St. Cecilia Parish in Ft. Myers. Today, the Oblates administer three Florida parishes.

Bishop Verot High School

At the request of the Diocese of Venice, the Oblates began administering Bishop Verot High School in Ft. Myers, FL. While the Oblates are no longer at the school, they are good neighbors and support the school.

Pope Paul VI High School

The Oblates accepted the administration of Pope Paul VI High School in Fairfax, VA. Today, known as St. Paul VI and located in Chantilly, Salesian Spirituality remains alive in the community.

Annecy Hall

To meet the needs of the growing Oblate aging population, the Wilmington-Philadelphia province built an assisted care facility on the grounds of the former novitiate in Childs, MD.

DeSales Service Works

The Oblates established DeSales Service Works in Philadelphia to serve the community and provide service opportunities for high school and college students. Today DSW operates in Camden, NJ.

Nativity Preparatory

A tuition-free middle school for boys established by the Oblates, Nativity supports boys in the inner-city from middle school to high school. The school was founded 100 years after Salesianum School.

Parishes in New Jersey

The Oblates began their administration of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Camden. Later in 2010, the Oblates began administering Our Lady Star of the Sea at the South Jersey shore.

Cristo Rey High School

With the close of North Catholic, the Oblates wanted to remain connected to inner city education in Philadelphia. With the IHM Sisters, the Oblates endorsed this high school with an innovative Work-Study Program.

Francis de Sales is born on August 21 in the Diocese of Geneva in Savoy, France.

Jane Frances Fremyot was born on January 23 in Dijon, Burgundy, France.

Francis de Sales was ordained a Catholic priest at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Annecy, France.

Francis de Sales was consecrated the Bishop of Geneva at the church of St. Marice in Thorens where he was baptized.

The Introduction to the Devout Life, written by Francis de Sales, is published.

Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal founded the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary in Annecy, France.

Francis de Sales published Treatise on the Love of God.

Bishop Francis de Sales died in Lyon, France, at 55 years of age.

Jane de Chantal died at Moulins, France, at 69 years of age.

Margaret Mary Alacoque born in Lhautecour, Verosvres, France.

St. Francis de Sales was canonized by Pope Alexander VII.

Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque received the first apparition of the Sacred Heart.

Sister Margaret Mary Alcoque died in Paray-le-Monial, France.

St. Jane Frances de Chantal was canonized by Pope Clement XIII.

Louis Brisson met Mother Mary de Sales Chappuis.

Louis Brisson is ordained to the priesthood.

Father Brisson was appointed Confesor of te Visitation Monastery at Troyes, where he met Mother Mary de Sales.

Leonie Aviat is born in Sezzane, France.

St. Francis de Sales is named Patron of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired.

Father Brisson asked Leonie Aviat to help him establish a group of religious women to work with poor working girls.

Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales are established.

Pope Pius IX approved the Constitutions of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.

St. Francis de Sales is declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX.

Pope Leo XIII asked Father Brisson to help with the mission work of the Church.

The first three Oblate missionaries arrive at Pella the Orange River of South Africa.

Father Joseph Marechaux, OSFS, arrived in New York and was the first Oblate to work in the US.