Rev. John M. Mokluk, OSFS, passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024, at the age of 83. Fr. Mokluk was a professed member of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales for 61 years and a priest for 53 years.
Cultivating “Real” Intelligence
Francis and the Fabric of Our Lives
Rev. Richard Yost, OSFS (1947-2024)
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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Devotion
Lost and Loved
Rev. Robert D. Ashenbrenner, OSFS (1926-2024)
Living in the Now
Humility, Humility, Humility
Journeying with John Neumann
Salesianum's First Annual Christmas Lunch
For the first time, Salesianum will open its doors from 12-3 PM on Christmas Day to welcome residents from numerous Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA) locations for an afternoon filled with food, song, and cheer. The event is a nod to a tradition that began in 1982 with the Sant’Egidio community in Rome. Today, Christmas Lunch is celebrated in more than 600 cities worldwide, and Salesianum is thrilled to be bringing a version to the Wilmington community.
The event is completely student-led and is expected to unite more than 100 WHA residents with hundreds of Salesianum students, families, alumni, and friends. The event helps to ensure that no one is alone on Christmas, and it directly aligns with Salesianum’s patron saint, Francis de Sales’ teachings: “It is to those who have the most need of us that we ought to show our love more especially.”
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."
