— Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

DeSales Service Works (DSW) is a ministry sponsored by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales which focuses on sharing Salesian Spirituality with people in struggling communities through direct personal service and the advancement of peace and justice. Volunteers do much-needed practical service. The DSW experience fosters the Christian worldview of St. Francis de Sales and brings the power of gentleness, humility, and optimism to a world that can be poor, hard-edged, and harsh.

What we give. Bag lunches, cups of coffee, cool water, clothing, and socks that service groups share with addicts and people who are homeless are important. But deeper than those necessities, these are encounters with people who are not out for some advantage and who approach their neighbor with respect. Without a doubt, you can observe comradery, kindness, and dignity on the street, but survival and the need to feed the addiction can trump all of that. So giving respect, kindness, listening, and patience make a big impact. St. Francis de Sales puts it this way: “Nothing is small in the service of God.” His spiritual practice emphasizes the value of “little virtues” (patience, humility, and gentleness) that seem minor but have real power.

“So what?” We always thank students for coming here to help this community and to pray and learn. And we also ask, “What can you take from this experience back to where you live?” Without fail participants will share that they come away from service and encounters with people in Camden (NJ) and Kensington (PA) with a renewed sense of appreciation for their own circumstances and gratitude for blessings. That is real, and so important.

But, we still go deeper. Zach Ryan has been bringing student groups to DSW for more than a decade as part of Salesianum School’s awesome Christian service efforts and has been part of countless hours of service, near and far. He is great at leading discussion to conclude a service day. Recently, he used the question, “So what?” To get students to reflect. What are you going to do differently because of this valuable insight? How are you going to make a difference? The phrase “So what?” challenges us to take insight to the next level. This could be some sort of attitude adjustment or action back home. Without doubt, it also directs us to look at systems and structures that could be changed to benefit the common good and in particular to reach people at the margins.

Where we serve:

Cathedral Kitchen

Holy Name School

Joseph House Shelter

Last Stop Camden

Last Stop Kensington

Joseph House, Camden NJ — Joseph House, Camden, NJ