Father Jack celebrating the Fouth of July with his cousins ( July 4, 2022).
This week the universal Church celebrated the feast of Saint Francis de Sales. Next week (January 31), we will remember Saint John Bosco. He was so influenced by the teachings and philosophy of the Gentleman Saint, that when he founded a religious order, he named it the Society of St. Francis de Sales (popularly known as the “Salesians” of Don Bosco).
Cousins celebrating Easter in 1972. Father Jack is the little guy in the suit jacket!
Because we share a common patron and were founded around the same time, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and the Salesians are often confused. While there are some similarities and connections, we each have our own charism and mission. Using a metaphor we are all familiar with, I tell people that our two religious communities are like “spiritual cousins.”
I grew up in a large Polish and Irish family with lots and lots of cousins. I still see many of them on a regular basis and I consider them not only family, but friends. Many memes and social media posts remind us of the importance of our extended family. One image reads, “Cousins are like the stars – you can’t always seem them, but you know they are always there.” Another quote reminds us that, “cousins are a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.” But my favorite poem states, “side by side or miles apart, cousins will always be connected by the heart.”
I like this saying most because Salesian Spirituality is all about the heart. When we invite Jesus into our lives, he begins to live in our hearts and in our actions. Our devotion to the Lord and our faithful friendship with others help us to put the Gospel into practice. In all of our relationships, we can connect as sisters, as brothers, as cousins. We can see in all people a common humanity and dignity that helps us to love God by loving one another.
The many religious orders that follow the spirit of Saint Francis are all focused on his call to live like Jesus (Vive Jesu). Like cousins who are related but also unique, each group will emphasize a different aspect of the life, example and teaching of the gentle bishop of Geneva. Each community will point to a particular virtue or message of our spiritual father.
All of the followers of Saint Francis – lay, religious and clergy – are connected by the heart. All of us respond, in our own heart, to the call to holiness. Each, in our own vocation, try to live the devout life. Like any family, we are not always successful. We may argue and struggle and sometimes not get along, but we recognize our common bond. Saint Francis told us “we have no bond but the bond of love.” May all of our bonds – those of family and friends – sustain and strengthen us in our journey through life.
Reverend Jack Kolodziej, OSFS
Provincial
Wilmington-Philadelphia Province
