Crossin-Oblate Family Partnership

Honoring Rev. John W. Crossin, OSFS, Ph.D
1947-2023
Oblate Priest, Theologian, Ecumenist

What is the Crossin-Oblate Family Partnership?

The family of Fr. Crossin, together with his Oblate brothers and colleagues in the ecumenical world, have joined together to honor his life’s work. Since Fr. John’s passing, a partnership has been formed to promote his publications and continue the ecumenical dialogue to which he dedicated this life.

We look forward to sharing Fr. John’s work through these initiatives:

• Regular book reviews and distribution of Fr. John’s most recent book, Moving into the Ecumenical Future (purchase here)

• Featuring Fr. John’s work at a The Ecumenical Future: Symposium at Washington Theological Consortium (April 18, 2024)

• Oblate high schools’ ecumenism and unity essay contest

• Establishment of a grant for seminarians to host an ecumenical program at the parish level

• Publication of a Festschriff containing academic articles focused on key themes of Fr. John’s research

“Fr. Crossin, ecumenical expert and US bishops' former advisor, dies at 75,” National Catholic Reporter,

Articles by Fr. Crossin

“What is Salesian Friendship?” A series of essays on Spiritual Friendship

“Will Christian Unity Come Sooner Than We Think,” Ecumenical Trends, 51/1 (January/February 2022):18-23,

“Moving into the Ecumenical Future,” Louvain Studies 44(2021): 152-172.

“Moral Actions: The Person Acting and Pope Francis,” Ecumenical Trends 47/5 (May 2018): 7-10, 14-15.

“Occasional Reflections on the Declaration on the Way,” Ecumenical Trends 46/6 (June 2017): 1-3.

“Ecumenical Reflections on Moral Discernment,” Journal of Ecumenical Studies (Fall 2015): 561-82.

“The Church: Towards a Common Vision,” Ecumenical Trends 43/10 (November 2014):2-4.

“Prudence and the Future: An Ecumenically Shaped Ethic,” Journal of Ecumenical Studies 45:3 (Summer 2010): 426-32

“Christian Identities: Necessary but not Sufficient,” Ecumenical Trends 38/2 (February 2009):17-18, 30.

“Ecumenical Relationships and Dialogue Today: Insights from the Salesian Tradition,” in Human Encounter in the Salesian Tradition (Rome: International Commission for Salesian Studies, 2007): 409-424.

“What Does God Want Us to Do? A Meditation on Discernment,” Ecumenical Trends 36/10 (November 2007):145-149.

“Love for the Poor: God’s Love for the Poor and the Church’s Witness to It” co-authored with Shaun Casey, Eric H. Crump, A. Katherine Grieb, Beverly Mitchell and Ann K. Riggs for the National Council of Churches of Christ, 2005.

“Virtue as an Ecumenical Ethic,” Ecumenical Trends (February 2005): 28-31.

“Salesian Mysticism,” Review for Religious 62/2 (2003): 144-52.

“Reflections on Salesian Anthropology” in With Mind and Heart Renewed: A Festschrift for John F. Harvey, OSFS (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2001).

“A Meditation on Humility,” in We Are All Brothers-3: A collection of essays in honor of Archbishop Vsevolod of Scopelos, Ed. Jack Figel (Fairfax, VA: Eastern Christian Publications, 2007): 181-91.

“The Holy Spirit: Ecumenical Reflections,” in Seminary Ridge Review (Autumn 2006):5-11. [This is an address given at the Opening Academic Convocation of Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary.]

[19th Annual] Bernardin Lecture on Jewish-Catholic relations

Article on Fr. John’s newest book: Christian unity may not be so far off, says former head of bishops’ ecumenical office

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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PROVINCE PRAYER LIST

Please find the Provincial Prayer List below. If you would like a new intention or your prior intention included listed, please email info@oblates.org. Intentions stay active for three months, afterward, if you would like to keep the intention, please resubmit. Thank you!

Healing

• Michael Sheridan, Heart (severe problems)

• Richard Ream, Post-op total recovery

• Kate Hildenberger, Bone fracture in right foot

• Dennis McCrossen, healing cancer

• Eddie D

• Linda McCue, To cure my daughter’s cancer

• Lottie Blackmon, 3 month old with Downs syndrome and a heart defect that must be repaired soon

• Brady Cotler, 28, amputation of three limbs and stroke

• Kathy Fanning - healing after Surgery

• Jim Rentner - Cancer

• Carol Raphael - Knee replacement surgery

• George Sheridan - Major health problems

• Richard E. Durham - Cancer of lungs and pancreas

• Fr. Stan Dombrowski, OSFS - Full recovery from knee replacement surgery

• Kelli King Jones - young mother - breast cancer

• Richard Ream - Successful Cervical surgery and recovery

• Dave Crowley, serious health issues

• Meagan T.

• Michael Love - Cavernoma disease

• Shirley Dechant mother of Fr. Paul Dechant, OSFS - Health

• Delores Atkinson- Cancer surgery and recovery

• Matthew Lakofsky - cancer

• Mrs. Hanlon - Severe health issues

• Alejandro González Repiso - Lung cancer

• Marty Bonnes - Lymphoma Cancer

• Barbara Herbetko - Health Issues

• Dennis and Rowena mendoza

• Mary Schoenberger - Breast, bone and brain cancer

• Rowena and Dennis

• Remegio Mendoza

• Jim and Pili Reaves

• Rose and Jeff Ring

• Annie and Stephen Taliaferro

• The Austin Prayer Group

• Annie Schnells and Friends

• Gabe Dominelli- 38, stroke

• Jinny Rininsland

• Marguerite Hull

• Louie Iaquinto - Lumbar fractures, liver diagnoses

• Robert Glenn- Healing

• Chase Beasley- Mental Stress

• Lillian Goldsmith - emergency surgery for pacemaker

• Shirley Smith Simon

• Barbara Lyons

• Victor Lake- Abdominal aortic aneurysm

• April Rivenberg- 19-month-old undergoing treatment for leukemia.

• Wanda Feletski - Make a health decision

• Thomas Tiffany - Stage 4 throat cancer

• Sarah Grillo - Severe concussion

• Kim Si Basmayor Lu

• Baby Ben- Born with brittle bone disease

• Loyes Spayd- Shoulder surgery

• Katherine Reilly

• Cynthia Lavalle-Lake - Pancreatic cancer will not return

• Victoria Reilly

Prayers for Miracle to Blessed Louis Brisson

• William Ciccarelli - Inoperable Cancerous brain tumor

• Tony OConnell - Stage4 Cancer/COPD

• Jim Rentner - Pancreatic Cancer

• Lucy d - stage 4 gastric cancer

• Greg Sendi - Cancer

• Becky Fisher - Cancer

• Jimmy Becket- 8 year old boy in the hospital with cancer

• Wendy Wright- lung cancer

• Allan and Nancy Paul- on-going medical problems

• Joseph Hanlon- inoperable cancer

• George Dove - Serious heart condition

• Corinne Bristow - Heart conditions

• Chelsea Ebner - Anxiety, recovering addict

• Joseph Campitelli, blood disease

• Jeannie Gabriel, brain tumor

• Ava Maria Cashman, 3 year-old with kidney disease

Eternal Life

• Rev. William N. Dougherty, OSFS

General Prayers

• Mr. Manuel A. Medina

• Brigid Quinn, To be able to conceive life, and have safe, healthy pregnancy.

• Diane Gebicke, Family Relationships for my son, wife and my grandchildren to come back to our family

• Atlas Ashton, 3 year old unable to speak, much doctoring required

• Sue R, Please pray that the lord will transform my heart more and more into the image of his sacred heart.

• Timothy James, For healing and hope, and for a blessing in the outcome of his court hearing.

• Bill and Carol G - Prayer for Peace

• Carol Raphael - Knee replacement surgery

• Dolores Meredith

• James Storey - Safe travel and renewed marital fire.

• Julie Rogan

• Anita DiSimplico - Peace and health

• Steven Rogus

• Ashley Cretul- Healthy baby

• Brooke - Conversion of heart

• Cherie, Linda, and family - protection

• Ryan Fioravanti- POTS, Connective tissue disorder

• Joe Larkin - For relief from pain and anxiety

• Tim Eilers - Intercession to find employment

• Rob Cowen - Conversion of heart

• Joe McBride - cancer

• Lenex Belton - Waiting for a Kidney donor

• Jack and Michael Stinger - US Army. US Air Force

• Ben Post -US Marine Corps Recruit Program

• Kate DiGuilio - Breast Cancer

• Walter Goering

• Safe trip home for Stephanie, prayers for everyone amid these trying times

• Marie Wood - For my children, their spouses, and children to return to Holy Mother Church

• Kate DiGuilio - Breast Cancer

• Kris and Bill McLain - Care partner

• Rose Armstrong - recovery from serious fall

• Mark - be the person Jesus wants me to be

• Lily McCaffrey, relapsing

• Aidan Evans Gartley - To find a job in his field

• Kathy McCaffrey - anxiety

• S.A. F. - Turn away from sins and lead his family

• Harmony Perkins - Anxiety and headaches

• Matt Strohminger - Acceptance and sobriety

• Tonia Graf

Intercession Prayers to St. Francis de Sales

• Michael Simpson

Intercession Prayers to St. Jane de Chantal

Canonization Prayer for Blessed Louis Brisson

God, Father of tenderness and mercy, we thank you for having given us in Blessed Louis Brisson a priest of lively faith and inventive charity. Empowered by your Spirit, he walked in the footsteps of Christ, announcing to the poor and those struggling on the road of life that you love them. Come to our aid and grant by his prayer the favors we ask for, particularly... Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

THANK YOU!

Thank You for Joining the Business Network

The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Business Network offers opportunities for spiritual and professional growth for Gospel-minded people in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales. You will receive our quarterly digital newsletter and enjoy Networking Breakfasts, Happy Hours & the Rev. William A. Guerin Memorial Dinner Dance!

Save the Date -Network Breakfast

Friday, April 19th

The Union League at Torresdale

Join the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Business Network

JOIN US!

The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Business Network offers opportunities for spiritual and professional growth for Gospel-minded people in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales. When you join the Network you will receive our quarterly digital newsletter and be invited to Networking Breakfasts, Happy Hour & the Rev. William A. Guerin Memorial Dinner Dance!

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Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Business Network

Continuing the work of Fr. William A. Guerin, OSFS, The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Business Network offers opportunities for spiritual and professional growth for Gospel-minded people in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales.

Networking Breakfasts

Held in April and October, Networking Breakfasts feature a guest speaker and time to network! Held at The Union League at Torresdale, the Breakfasts also wrap up by 9AM so you get to your next venture.

Happy Hours

Our Happy Hours are very informal, casual opportunities for Network members to come together, share stories, meet new folks and experience Salesian friendship.

Join us for the next Happy Hour!

Thursday, May 16th

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Harvey’s Burger Bar at Gallo’s

8101 Roosevelt Blvd. Phila, PA 19152

Fr. Guerin Memorial Dinner Dance

Held in January at The Union League in Philadelphia, this black-tie gala raises funds for retired Oblates and is a very fun night of dinner, dancing, and Salesian friendship.

Mission of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Business Network

To honor the memory of Fr. William Guerin, OSFS, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Business Network will offer engagement and social opportunities for spiritual growth for Gospel-minded people in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales to fuel the grace that, in the words of Fr. Guerin, “gets you to heaven."

VIEW SLIDE SHOWS OF PAST NETWORK EVENTS

“Friendship requires great communication.
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— St. Francis de Sales

Sponsorship Levels

$ 20,000 St. Francis de Sales Sponsor 

• Two tables of 10 (20 guest tickets) dinner & admission

• Promotion opportunities: 

  • 30-second promotional ad/greeting during the gala 

  • Name/logo/website appears on an exclusive video frame during the gala

  • Name/logo/website and link (URL) appears on gala website page

  • Name/logo/company information appears on a printed card with gourmet dinner

 $ 10,000 Blessed Louis Brisson Sponsor 

• One table of 10 (10 guest tickets) dinner & admission

• Promotion opportunities: 

  • Name/logo/website appears on an exclusive video frame during the gala

  • Name/logo/website and link (URL) appears on gala website page

  • Name/logo/company information appears on a printed card with gourmet dinner

 $ 5,000 Fr. Guerin Sponsor 

• Six (6) guest tickets dinner & admission

• Promotion opportunities: 

  • Name/logo/website and link (URL) will appear on gala website page

  • Name/logo/company information appears on a printed card with gourmet dinner

 $ 2,500  Cocktail Hour Sponsor  

• Four (4) guest tickets dinner & admission

$ 1,000 Entertainment  Sponsor  

• Two (2) guest tickets dinner & admission

$ 500 Program Sponsor  

• Two (2) guest tickets dinner & admission

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.

Live Jesus! Virginia Speakers - 2024

“Bloom Where You Are Planted”

March 9, 2024

8:00 AM - 12:45 PM

Bishop Ireton Catholic High School, Alexandria, VA

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Speakers

Keynote Speaker - Rev. Kevin Nadolski, OSFS

Topic: “Life in God’s Garden”

Familiar with the expression, “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence,” we counter with a Salesian spirituality that beckons us to “bloom where we are planted.” We will explore the common sense and uncommon challenges that both St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal experienced in living the life of a Christian disciple. How can their wisdom ground us to live well in the places and spaces we find ourselves every day?

Fr. Nadolski serves as the Vice President for Mission, DeSales University

Rev. Matthew Hillyard, OSFS

Fr. Matthew Hillyard, OSFS

Topic: “Salesian Blooming: Here and Now”

Fr. Hillyard is Pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Vienna, VA

Ms. Kathleen McNutt

Topic: “Repotting to Bloom”

Sometimes we move, have life changes, or simply outgrow our current container! How can I thrive and bloom in different soil, different pots, and with different plants?

Ms. McNutt is the Head of School - Bishop Ireton Catholic High School, Alexandria, VA.

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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