Celebrate Saint Francis de Sales

Join us in celebrating our patron, St. Francis de Sales!

Feast Day: January 24

St. Francis de Sales was a bishop who believed that all people were called to a life of holiness, regardless of their state in life. Here, he foreshadowed the vision of the Second Vatican Council. From his writings, preaching, and ministry grew what is known as “Salesian Spirituality.” He is a doctor of the church and best known for his practical, down-to-earth approach to living the Gospel.

Salesian Spirituality is a way of living the Gospel as learned, lived, and shared by St. Francis de Sales (1567 – 1622) and St. Jane de Chantal (1572 – 1641). Its first disciples were the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary, a community of contemplative women established by these two saints in 1610. Their vision continues today, lived by people of all walks, states, and stages of life. Learn more about Salesian Spirituality and Oblate vocations below.

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An Exercise to Live the Salesian Now

I suggest this prayer exercise to help us live this Salesian Now. Each day make time to:

1. Use a comfortable space or go to your Prayer Place.

2. Light a candle or turn on a batteried candle.

3. Place your feet on the floor.

4. Become aware of your breathing:

• Breathing in God’s life-giving breath.

• Exhaling what is not of God: anxiety, stress, life-taking thoughts.

5. Think about where you’ve seen God.

• Picture that good and hold your heart to appreciate and thank God for it.

• Then place that thought in a gratitude bag or box, in your mind and heart, or in an actual bag or box that you create.

6. Think about any losses that you grieve.

• Picture that person or situation and hold your heart again, now for healing.

• Then honor each of these events and let them go.

• They will remain until you can honor them in new ways.

7. Now become aware of your breathing again.

• Thank God for your time together, or name whatever you are feeling.

• Ask God to help you live into each “Now” today.

Christmas Prayer

Dear Friend,

Many years ago, when I was the pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Denver, CO, a good friend, songwriter, and fellow priest, Joe Raffa, wrote the following poem. It has always been a source of spiritual nourishment for me and a reminder of who I am in the heart of God and in the church which I carry with me through the Christmas season. Joe graciously gave me permission to share this with whomever I wish. 

Re-Member

Long ago and so far away
When time began in stillness stood.
The Word leapt forth from God to Shine
And re-member stony hearts
like yours and mine.

 Long ago and so far away
In memory of God our names were known,
Now bonded with the Word
We journey day and night
In hopes to trace our way back home.
To loose our bonds of fear
and re-member our hearts of light.

 And still today the Word is heard
Is seen and felt and still leaps forth
In lights that shine in humankind
And strikes the note in the memory of God
of names like yours and mine.

And so we wait this day -
We in cold and stillness stood
With glimmers of the Word - it is heard -
Who once came and
spoke the memory of God.
Will come again
And re-member each of us by our name.

By Joe Raffa 

This Christmas season, my prayer for you and your family is one of hope and peace. I pray that the light of the Christ, born in each of our hearts again, will leap forth and be a beacon of hope, compassion and love in your family, your community, and in our world. 

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Fr. Jack Loughran, OSFS

Former Provincial

The Art of Presepio: Not Just a Nativity Scene

This article is about the manger scene set up at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Glen Mills, PA. Pastor Steve Shott, OSFS, has set up this scene at the many parishes he has ministered in over the years.

The presepio, derived from the Latin word presepium, meaning manger, has been the de facto symbol of Christmas for Italian families for dozens of generations, and in the South, perhaps as long as a thousand years. Of course, most Italians also have a modern Christmas tree, but the presepio in its simplest form is a tradition of devotion representing the birth of the baby Jesus. These nativity scenes typically consist of a structure to represent the simple barn where Joseph and Mary were forced to give birth to the Son of God. An ox, donkey, angels, and perhaps the three Wise Men are typically represented. But the presepio is often much, much more, showing village scenes from everyday life. Its components are mostly handmade from a variety of materials: wood, ceramic, cartapesta (Papier-mâché), terracotta, and fabrics. Some scenes include small waterfalls or fountains, houses, buildings, mountains, trees, grottos, livestock, and vendors of all sorts. The presepio in the Social Hall belongs to Fr. Steve and is the work of over 30 years of collecting pieces. Many of the pieces were donated over the years from people in the parishes where Fr. Steve has served in the past. The display has been added to by people from Virginia, Delaware, Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. The presepio will be on display through the Advent and Christmas season. It will be taken down after January 8. The Church is open from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays and during scheduled Mass times on the weekends."