The new academic year brings about faculty/staff retreat days. After attending several of these retreats, I was brought to reflect on how much the Salesian Spirituality cultivates and supports human interaction and engagement needed in schools and communities...

After completing my internship as a hospital chaplain, I wanted to share one of my biggest lessons. How can we release the need to control and instead show up in a way that Christ has shown up for us? How can we be present in our lives in a way that serves both God and others?...

As a child, I received my love and support of the Blessed Mother from my parents. As my devotion to Mary has increased over the years, I have been able to honor her through my travels. How can visiting Marian shrines strengthen your devotion?...

Like Francis de Sales and many of the great saints, we may struggle with disappointment, sorrow, and anxiety. We need encouragement and hope to help us find true peace and joy. How can turning to Mary help us?...

Over this week I met with the Oblates who are directly involved in our vocation and formation programs. Everyone has their own unique stories and experiences of their vocation journey. As I prepare to celebrate 15 years as an Oblate, here is mine…

Recently I visited Oblate apostolates that are experiencing change, building and rebuilding, to expand their future. As I toured these places, I was brought to reflect on how we continuously build and rebuild our spiritual lives…

St. Jane de Chantal is an inspiration for patience. Leading through both example and wisdom, she asks that we pray for "patient endurance." Learn about the beauty of patience…

It is in our nature to want to avoid failure, but that very failure can lead to and help us succeed, this is especially true in spiritual life. How does St. Francis de Sales encourage us to embrace and love our flaws and failures?…

Participating in two recent events broadened my view of the future of religious life in our country and our world. Meeting young people who are willing to be witnesses to the Gospel in the world today renewed my call to live as a religious and gives me hope in the future...

Like many of you, I am fortunate to have an incredible travel experience this summer that I will not soon forget. I have spent the past weeks in Annecy, France with brother Oblates from around the world. There are many stories and insights to share, but I want to focus on the lessons I learned from the gathering table...

Sometimes we find ourselves thinking, talking, and acting from our heads rather than our hearts. Fr. Paul shares a few lessons he has learned about heart to heart speaking and how it leads to deeper connection…

For the last two weeks I have been in Annecy, France attending the General Chapter of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, I cannot help but reflect on their deep symbolism, their references in the bible, and their connection to Salesian Spirituality...

Fifty-five thousand Catholics attend the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis to revive enthusiasm for Eucharistic and culminate the three-year Eucharistic Revival. Why did the American Church need this revival and how can we revive the Eucharist in our souls...Read More

In his many ministries, including working with suffering veterans through the Fort Freedom program, Fr. Joe strives to see God in all people and circumstances. How can we learn from Fr. Joe and apply the motto of his ministry to our lives as a tool to help make God visible in our world?...

For a long time, I believed that my older brother and I were nothing alike, aside from both being Oblate priests. However, in his major works, St. Francis de Sales makes the point that we become like what we love. How is this reflected in our lives and how can this teaching help us be more like Jesus…

St. Benedict’s “rule of life” was written to help the monks, however, following his guidelines is not just for religious orders. How can we apply it in our lives to help create a balanced and simple strategy to embrace faith and live Jesus? …

We live in the ordinary and many of us thrive with routine. Salesian Spirituality reminds us time and again of the power each ordinary moment holds. How can we make our daily lives and routines moments to praise God?…

When I was a senior at DeSales University I joined the cycling team. I enjoyed the sport but quickly learned that even the best cyclists fail. How can the classic saying “get back up and try again” be applied to our spiritual lives?

Fr. Mathias Kumar, OSFS, shares his spiritual journey that led him across continents and cultures culminating in a profound encounter with Pope Francis in Vatican Rome.