Fr. Tom Hagan Writes from Haiti - Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

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Gentle
Strength
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in the News
…Fr. Roberto Balducelli
was featured in Delaware’s
Out and About magazine for
his 2009 Man of the Year
honor by the Christopher
Columbus Monument
Committee.
…Fr. Jack Kelly, in
his ministry as pastor of
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Church in High Point, NC,
helped to secure a donation
of $2 million, the largest
single gift in the history
of the diocese, for the
development of the parish
school.
…Bro. Dan Wisniewski
was awarded a doctorate
in mathematics from
Bryn Mawr College and
was chosen to deliver the
graduation speech at the
commencement exercises.
…Delaware Governor
Jack Markell visited
the Oblates’ Nativity
Preparatory School in
Wilmington to deliver
a citation that declared
May 18, 2010 Reverend
Richard DeLillio, OSFS Day
throughout the state. Fr.
Dick is preparing for a
sabbatical after his six years
of service at the school.
Oblates Of st. francis de sales
Wilmington–PhiladelPhia Province
Spring/Summer 2010 • Volume 23, Number 1
Fr. Tom Hagan Writes from Haiti
On January 12, the earth began to shake at about 4:45pm, and it would
last for 38 seconds. I remember being pulled from the building before
it collapsed. For several minutes I was disoriented, and I found myself
confused and frightened. I had a terrible pain in my back, and my head
was bleeding. I did not realize all that was happening then, but I can say
now that my life would never be the same again.
For the next 24 hours, I would sit at the bottom of the hill of rocks and
stones that were once the building that housed our volunteers, visitors,
street orphans and Oblate aspirants. I would continually beg God to
help those who were buried under the building. And, each time when
one of them was pulled from beneath the rubble, I would cry out,
“Thank you, God!!!”
The next day we were able to recover the bodies of the two Oblate
aspirants who had died in the building, and we buried them in a little
garden space behind the rubble.
As the days and weeks passed by, it would become increasingly clear how
tragic and devastating the quake was and how it claimed the lives of 15
percent of the city. So many people whom I had known had died or were
missing. Almost every building in Port au Prince was destroyed. It would
be particularly painful for me to see the destruction of all our buildings
and projects that represented over 20 years of hard work .
After the first day, I suddenly realized that I had lost everything, and I
had only the clothes on my back. It would be those items that had no
real monetary value but were valuable to me, like the photograph of my
parents, that I would miss greatly.
My typical day now in Haiti after four months begins with my waking up
in a small tent that has become my residence. It is just a few feet from
the two graves of the Oblates. I usually now stay inside my tent until the
sun comes up because of all the rats that have claimed the right to all our
space each night. I then leave and walk to the Missionaries of Charity
(the community of religious women founded by Mother Teresa) and celebrate
Mass with them. They, too, have lost their building that housed
about 300 orphans. The faith of these wonderful women has been a great
comfort to me over the past three months.
Most of my days are occupied by my organizing the distribution of food,
water and medicine. Our water truck carries at
least five large tanks of drinking water to the tent
cities that house thousands of displaced people.
We have a mobile clinic that moves from one
location to another each day with our own doctors
as well as volunteer doctors form the United
States. Frequently, I see Sean Penn, the movie
actor, joining his volunteer team with ours at one
of our clinics.
We also deliver each day dry food to about 40,000
people a day. In Port au Prince, we purchase
the food, which consists of rice, beans, cooking
oil and some fish. We try, whenever possible, to
target the elderly poor who have difficulty secur-
Praesidium Accreditation publicly demonstrates that the Wilmington-
Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales has achieved the
highest industry standards in abuse prevention and response.
Pillarsof Gentle Strength
(Oblate Fr. Tom Hagan has worked in Haiti for more than 15 years. He founded a mission organization, Hands Together,
after he and a number of students from Lafayette College visited this impoverished nation on an alternative spring break trip.
In response to the generosity of so many friends of the Oblates, the editor of DeSales World thought our readers would appreciate a firsthand account
of life in Haiti after the devastating earthquake. Fr. Tom submitted this piece for our reflection.)
This aerial view of Cité Soleil before the earthquake shows the extreme levels of poverty that
had been the norm prior to the devastating tragedy.
ing food and who are not assertive enough to stand in line for the food
distribution.
We also have been working each day to get our schools opened and operating
again. Before the quake, we had over 8,000 children in our school,
which had the reputation of being the only free school in Haiti. Sadly,
only over a thousand have returned. We have built makeshift classrooms
that hopefully will only be temporary.
The most difficult part of every day is
trying to deal with the people who come
for help and assistance. They have suffered
so much, but we often simply do
not have sufficient food or medicines to
give them.
The hardest part for me is to experience
so much death and suffering and feeling
helpless and overwhelmed by the
enormous problems of bringing relief.
Yet, I experience the presence of God.
I could not exist—or even function at
all— without the realization that there
is a loving God who never abandons us. Whenever I gather for Mass
with the people, it is always outside. Holy Week was very special. Our
services were a bit unorthodox, but they were powerful and alive. At
Holy Thursday, we served a hot meal outside during the service, and we
washed hundreds of feet. Afterwards, we walked in procession carrying
the Eucharist walking past the skeletons of once-proud buildings.
I am deeply grateful to all the wonderful people from all over the world
who have contacted my organization called Hands Together with financial
and material assistance. I am most especially grateful to my own
Oblate family and our network of friends who have been most generous.
The cost of medicines especially antibiotics and pain relievers has been
well over $3,000. One distribution of food costs a little over $10,000; this
includes 150 sacs of rice,
100 sacs of beans, and 40
cases of cooking oil, fish.
We have been distributing
food almost daily averaging
about $60,000 a week.
I am also deeply inspired by
the young Haitian Oblates
who have been working
each day to serve the poor
and the suffering. Some of
them had been buried for
hours under the rubble. I
am humbled whenever I see
Doug Campbell and Fr. Tom, in front of the man in the
yellow shirt, inspect the destruction of the mission center.
Doug Campbell, executive director of
Hands Together, and Fr. Tom Hagan
lift sacs of food to be distributed after
the earthquake.
This Chapel of Our Lady of Haiti, as well as the mission
center in which it was located, was destroyed during the
earthquake.
them reaching out to their own people with a gentle smile or touch.
I see our Oblate motto “Live Jesus” become powerfully real.
I have learned so much from the people
of Haiti. I can’t help but to admire how
resilient they are and how they can deal with
such suffering. They still can laugh and sing.
I pray that the laughter and singing
never stop.
Please pray for Rochelor Louis Jus and
Visny Luchso Inocence, Oblate aspirants,
who were killed in the earthquake.
e

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Vision Statement
The members of the Wilmington/Philadelphia Province
are a group of priests, brothers, and seminarians who live in
community, gather once a year as a whole to pray, study, and
learn; embrace Salesian spirituality as our
mission; serve as representatives of the Catholic Church who
preach and teach well; welcome at least two postulants a year;
and deliberately commit ourselves to Catholic social teaching.
DeSales World
Editor
Rev. Kevin Nadolski, OSFS
Director of Vocations and
Communications
2200 Kentmere Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19806
302-656-8529
knadolski@oblates.org
In Memoriam
Please join in the Oblate prayer ministry.
Every Monday, Fr. Jim Greenfield, provincial,
sends to all of the Oblates the prayer requests
we receive from our web page. You are
welcome to benefit from the prayers of the
Oblates through this ministry found on our
home page, www.oblates.org.
Writer
Rev. John Fisher, OSFS
Rev. Tom Hagan, OSFS
Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS
Rev. Kevin Nadolski, OSFS
Bro. Daniel Wisniewski, OSFS
Graphic Design
Frank Downer
Printing
Small Associates, Inc.
DeSales World is published by the Office of Communications of
the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales to share with our friends the
news, events, and spirit of our Wilmington-Philadelphia Province.
It is distributed by the Office of Development. Please submit
questions or comments about its content to Fr. Kevin Nadolski,
OSFS, at knadolski@oblates.org; questions or concerns about
mailing or distribution to Ian Kelley at ikelley@oblates.org.
Dear Friends,
From the Desk of the Provincial
www.oblates.org
DeSalesWorld
June 2010
This issue of the DeSales World has a gravity that exceeds others. Here, we are addressing two events
whose impact leave many, especially us Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, reeling with a sadness and grief
that—while different—touch us deeply.
January’s tragic earthquake in Haiti has impacted millions in that poorest nation in the Western
Hemisphere. As many of you know, we Oblates have had a presence there for a number of years,
beginning with the work of Fr. Tom Hagan and his Hands Together mission. His work has grown into
other Oblates joining him from other provinces in the world and together recruiting Haitian young men
to join us, requiring us to begin a novitiate there to commence a seminary program that was flourishing
until the earthquake.
Along with Fr. Kevin Nadolski, I traveled to Haiti in January to visit with Fr. Tom—Pere Tom, as he is
affectionately known by so many there. We returned to the States just four days before the earthquake.
The mission center, Fr. Tom’s home and residence for Oblate aspirants where we stayed, was destroyed.
In the destruction of this house, two of our youngest Oblates were killed. He reported to me that
informing the parents of these two future priests was among the hardest tasks of his 40-plus years of
Oblate priesthood.
As Fr. Tom continues to minister to the people of Haiti, he lives in a tent, like so many of the other relief
workers. There are problems of clean water and safety and food distribution that would challenge any
society, no less one that is in the Third World after a devastating earthquake. I remain in regular contact
with Fr. Tom. My Oblate brothers and I are very proud of his work, and we are equally concerned. Not
a young man, he works long days, yet he is able to maintain a sense of both hope and humor to pull him
through the unprecedented challenges of his ministry. I am planning to return to visit him along with other
Oblates when he suggests the best time. I suspect that his efforts, supported by the generosity of so many
of you, our Oblate friends, will be shown to have unfolded into great sources of assistance and hope for the
Haitian people. I thank you for helping to raise more then $300,000 to help the people of Haiti.
The loss of lives and homes and schools and medical and feeding centers there depleted the already-weak
infrastructure. Yet, the prayers and the generosity of so many are helping in ways that offer glimmers of
hope that can inspire us. I attempted to thank each of you in letters as you responded to our appeal to
assist Haiti. The results of these efforts were overwhelming, and donations continue to come in. It is clear
to me that our hearts were large in response to those in need. In fact, this matches the initial stirring of
Fr. Tom to begin his work in Haiti. Taking a number of students from his campus ministry at Lafayette
College—who awarded him an honorary doctorate in public service in May—to work for an alternative
Spring Break trip, he was moved by the need to help people so poor who were so close to our nation of
wealth. He followed the generosity that was tugging at his heart, and he has since developed a mission that
has built eight schools, countless clean water wells, several feeding centers, and other social service agencies
to help the poorest of the poor. Isn’t this the way the Kingdom gets built? Good people respond to the
movements of their hearts to help, share and love.
I would like to think that the foundation of Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia, where we
Oblates have served for 84 years since it began, started in a similar way. There was a need to teach boys
in a growing industrialized city, and a small band of men responded with generous hearts to help meet
that need. Twelve Oblates and one layman opened a school in 1926, and from their initial efforts nearly
40,000 young men have been formed in the Salesian tradition at this venerable school.
The October announcement by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia that it would close the school at the end of
this academic year remains a source of deep sadness for us Oblates and the students, their parents and our
alumni. We Oblates have been committed to North and hope to continue our pastoral relationship with
our Falcon friends. With them, we lament the closing of a great school and an essential ministry. Within
this issue of the DeSales World, we offer a tribute to those Oblates who have served there and were
graduated from North to enter our formation program in pursuit of their religious vocation.
If you have been following the details of the closing of the school, you may have learned of the enthusiastic
efforts of a number of alumni to begin a new school—based on the Cristo Rey model—out of the tradition
of North. As a Cristo Rey school requires students to work one day in a professional setting, alongside
their four days of classes, with their salaries going directly to the school for tuition, an extensive list of tasks
was too formidable for the new school to open in August 2010. The feasibility study that investigated this
determined that an immediate opening of such a new school would not be possible, given the limits of time
that is necessary to hire a new faculty, recruit new students, find corporate jobs, and fortify an operating
budget with sound and long-standing benefactors. Wanting to maintain a commitment to the original
impulse that brought us to serve at North and responding to our mission to help meet the needs of those
most in need, we Oblates are leading another feasibility study to learn whether it is possible to open a Cristo
Rey school to serve students of families who could not afford a Catholic education in the Archdiocese.
We will keep you posted on these developments.
Our response to the hardship of the cataclysmic event in Haiti and the era-ending closure of a storied school
feel hard to discuss in the same letter. Yet, it calls to mind for me our appreciation of how we Oblates work
closely with our friends to meet the needs of people who suffer, struggle and seek their way through the
challenges of life. Despite the gravity of these difficulties, I am encouraged by your support, friendship and
generosity. Thanks for giving us hope so that we, in turn, can give it to those who need it most.
Live Jesus!
Very Reverend James J. Greenfield, OSFS
Provincial

Fr. Tom Gillespie’s Priestly Year In This Year For Priests
Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated the Year for Priests, which concluded June 11, with
a letter that was inspired by the example of St. John Vianney. In his letter, the pope
expressed a hope that the Year for Priests would help to “welcome the new springtime
which the Spirit is now bringing about in the Church” (Pope Benedict XVI, Letter to
Priests on the Year for Priests, June 16, 2009).
Fr. Tom Gillespie’s humility would have him eschew any sort of comparison to the
saint known as the Curé of Ars, but the Oblate priest’s personality could parallel some
of the inspiration for the themes that the pope hoped to highlight in his calling for
the Year for Priests.
As he was completing a 10-year assignment in Africa, Fr. Tom wrote to the provincial’s
residence to finalize his return to the States and avail himself for whatever
ministry he could serve the Church. While he was generous in offering his service,
without conditions, his letter expressed his preference to return “in late March or
early April in time for the Spring flowers.”
Both Pope Benedict and Fr. Tom have a deep respect for the blooming of new life and
opportunities that come with the ministry of a priest. In a recent interview with Fr.
Tom, he continued to delight in his 50 years as a priest, having worked as a teacher,
guidance counselor, novice director, missionary, hospital chaplain and parish priest.
“It’s been a great adventure!” Fr. Tom said repeatedly. “I have loved my time as a
priest, and I can’t wait for what is next,” he said from the rectory where he presently
lives and works as a parochial vicar at the parish
of St. Ann in Naples, Florida.
Calling his ministry an adventure during this Year for
Priests could be considered a stroke of irony, but it may
be more inspiration, as the word adventure, derives from
the Latin word “adventurus,” means “about to happen.”
The season of spring, with its “about-to-happen”
blossoming of flowers, is a central image for the pope and
this parish priest.
“Yes, these 50 years have been a great adventure,” he
said again. “I praise the Lord, and I would not change a
thing. And, it is still not over; there is still something to
learn,” he said with a lilt of hope in his voice for what is
to come.
For this 78-year-old Oblate priest, his bright expectations
are grounded in his appreciation for what he has
already been given as a gift during his years of priestly
ministry, especially in his recent assignment at St. Ann
Church, where he also works daily at Naples Community
Hospital.
Fr. Patrick O’Connor assists Bishop Frank Dewane at the groundbreaking for
a new church building at Jesus Obrero (Jesus the Worker) Mission where
Fr. Patrick serves as administrator in Florida’s Fort Myers area.
Fr. Joe Campellone, president of Father Judge High School, blesses the
hometeam Phillies’ baseballs at the beginning of the season. Fr. Joe is a chaplain
to a number of the city’s professional athletic teams, including the Philadelphia
Flyers and Eagles. (Photo by Alejandro A. Alvarez, Philadelphia Daily News)
By Fr. Kevin Nadolski, OSFS
Pictures From The Province
“There is always something to learn when you are working so closely with people in
need. I am so grateful to pray with people when they are sick,” he said of his work as
a hospital chaplain. “It seems that our prayer gives them such confidence during their
time of great need. Seeing this is such a gift to me, particularly because it keeps me
praying.”
“I feel that it is such a great blessing to be able to bring the Lord Jesus to people,” Fr.
Tom said. His work at the southwest Florida parish where he celebrates Sunday and
daily Masses, sharing this ministry with his confreres, Fathers Mike Vannicola and
Steve Shott has quickly become his favorite assignment.
“No, it’s not just the weather,” he quipped. “I feel that my ministry is having a real
impact. Here I am late in life, and it’s a real adventure,” he said as he reflected on
how his expectations of the priesthood have developed since he was ordained. “We
are always changing. To live is to change. Here is the adventure, growing in the
Lord. The basic expectation is to be present to people and lead them in prayer. I am
grateful that after all of these years, I am a little more confident now,” he admitted.
Young Tom Gillespie met the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales at Northeast Catholic
High School when he was a student. He was impressed with by their spirit. “They
were good people; there was just something good about them,” he said about his
Oblate teachers. “I wanted to be like them, to share in their presence.”
Barbara Donahue
places a flower
at the grave of
Oblate Father Bill
Juergens after the
Annual Memorial
Mass in May.
Bro. Ed Ogden takes a
moment in prayer at a
confrere’s grave.
His advice to young men who are considering a vocation to the priesthood is simple
and clear: “Pray and do it! Give it a shot! Talk to
someone you trust. Be as honest with yourself as you possibly
can be. It is the Lord’s work that a young man is doing,
not his own. He works through the priest,” he said.
Once again, Fr. Tom reflects the spirit of the St. John
Vianney, whom the pope quoted in the letter announcing
the Year for Priests: “The priest utters a few words and the
Lord descends from heaven at his voice.”
Fr. Tom will keep uttering words, gathering people in
prayer, and anointing the sick in the hospital. It is his
clear hope that this year that offered a springtime for
priests is really a blossoming for the people priests serve.
“The priesthood is really a holy opportunity to help
people,” he said.
This is why he calls his life as a priest a great adventure!
Fr. Tom Gillespie greets parishioners after
Mass at St. Ann Parish in Naples, FL.
e
Mrs. Pat Bossie of St. John Neumann Parish in Reston, VA, enjoys a tour through the Oblate Heritage Room
at Childs, MD. Here, various memorabilia, from vestments and chalices to photographs and diplomas of
deceased Oblates, are on display. Pat recently joined a group from her Oblate parish for a visit.
Famous for his prom-chauffer talents, Bro. Joe Schodowski stands with his students before their Big Night.
Previously working at Salesianum School for 25 years where Bro. Joe was a favorite bus driver—among
many other ministries, he was recently assigned to the Facilities Department at DeSales University.
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DeSalesWorld
Oblates Who Served at Northeast Catholic High School Robert Ashenbrenner = William Auth = John Bailey = Joseph Baird = Ruggerio Balducelli = Robert Bazzoli = John Beattie = James Behan = John Birkenheuer = Gregory Birkenstock = Francis Blood
Philadelphia Archdiocese Closes North Catholic After 84 Years
The faculty and staff of Northeast Catholic High School
assembled on Thursday October 8, 2009, for an afternoon
emergency meeting with officials from the Office of Catholic
Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to learn that,
due to declining enrollment, Cardinal Archbishop Justin
Rigali had decided that the school would close its doors at the
end of the academic year, along with another similarly situated
school, Cardinal Dougherty High School.
At one time, North was the world’s largest all-male Catholic
high school with over 4500 students. In this our final year, we
had 520 students. Dougherty, too, was once the largest coeducational
institution in the world.
Ironically, Dougherty
and North have another
intimate connection. It
was in the early 1920s
when then-Cardinal
Dennis Dougherty, for
whom the second high
school would later be
named, asked the Oblates
of St. Francis de Sales to
found and to staff an allboys
high school in the
fast-growing northeast
section of Philadelphia.
Though the start of this
momentous history was
delayed two years, North
Catholic opened its doors
in September 1926 to
172 sophomores and
277 freshmen guided
by twelve Oblates,
eight priests and four
seminarians.
Former Oblate provincial,
Fr. Buckley, OSFS, who
began his teaching career
at North later remarked,
The pillars of North’s strong, handsome facade would help inspire
the modern “Pillars of Gentle Strength“ logo.
“The acceptance by Fr. Tucker, the provincial at that time, of this school
was the most important step in the growth of the American Province. Not
only was it the means by which the Oblates became known as teachers in
the United States, but, moreover, a number of each year’s graduating class
became candidates for the Oblate way of life.” In fact, in its 84-year history,
North contributed 56 percent of the total Oblate personnel in the
United States. Over 250 Oblates were graduated from North to dedicate
their lives spreading the charism of St. Francis de Sales. Who knows how
many hundreds more joined us only to realize that God was calling them
to minister in some other vocation in the Church? The senior class president
of the first graduation class of 1929, John J. Conmy, would be the first
North Oblate vocation, the first to be ordained, the first alumnus to become
Oblate provincial, and the first to be named president of North’s
alumni association.
Other Oblate “firsts” include Bishop Edward Schlotterback ‘30,
the first bishop, and Very Rev. William J. Ward, ‘32, first to
become the Oblate Provincial of the Western Province and
Superior General. From here, the great history unfolds.
Thousands of students played vital roles in writing this rich history,
whether they performed on stage before a sold-out auditorium
in the most beloved musicals, operettas and dramas, wrote
for the award winning yearbook, newspaper, or literary magazines,
or argued their position as part of the nationally recognized
Model UN. Athletics at North Catholic were another
By Fr. John Fisher, OSFS
NECHS Religion Teacher
THE NORTHEAST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS
PHILA., PENNA.
Often regarded as North Catholic’s
real address, these street signs
define a whole neighborhood in
Philadelphia.
venue of social life for the students and the local community.
In its day, it was common for the football team
to play before crowds ranging from 15-45,000! The
Philadelphia Eagles longed to attract such a following.
Countless athletes helped put North Catholic on
the map with its many championship teams. Though
almost every sporting squad boasted of one or several
championships, North was most successful in its
soccer and wrestling programs. Perhaps no other
archdiocesan school can boast of such success.
Many accomplished graduates would go on to play at the university
and professional levels. Of the many legendary sporting
stories, perhaps the most famous is when the head basketball
coach and school disciplinarian, Jack Friel, benched his
1968 varsity squad for a minor team infraction for the opening
round of the playoffs. The JV squad, whose season was
finished two weeks earlier, was told to be dressed to play that
evening in the University of Pennsylvania’s famous Palestra.
It has become known as the game that “shocked the Palestra,” as the JV
players upset their varsity opponents. Within this long tradition of sports,
the Thanksgiving football games against
local public school rival, Frankford High,
stands tall. In the 82 years of competition,
North notched a winning record
of 43-35-4.
While many will argue which was
the greatest team fielded or the
most exciting game played,
few will disagree that no one
could have written a better
script to the final game
played before 9,000 people at
La Salle University this past
Thanksgiving 2009. Losing
14-0 at halftime, North came
alive in the second half which
saw three lead changes in the
final 2 minutes, 28 seconds.
With just 13 seconds remaining,
North scored on a 20-yard
catch and run to seal the final
victory 28-22.
An 84-year legacy gave birth to
fantastic stories many of which
No history would
be complete
without a word from
Fr. “Knobby” Walsh.
Northeast Catholic’s principal, Fr. Nick Waseline, right,
presents a framed North Jersey to the Frankford co-captains
and head coach Michael Capriotti, center, before the final
Thanksgiving Day game. This was the 82nd time this two
schools played this holiday football classic.
(Photo by Charles Fox, Philadelphia Inquirer)
were captured in Forever Falcons: The History of Northeast Catholic High
School 1926-2010. The commemorative work was recently published. In
these pages, one reads about the progressive curriculum that always defined
North (AP courses, college prep courses, unique courses such as Aviation
and Bachelor’s Survival). Memories abound when Oblates left North to
serve as military chaplains in various wars throughout its years. There was
the initiative of offering returning servicemen the opportunity to complete
their degrees. Later, a night school was established that was as popular
as was the breadth of its courses. The book is replete with famous
pictures that define North and its location: the Harbison’s milk
bottle which served as a landmark to the Grande Mère (as
North was called) of Torresdale Ave. There is the reverent
Our Lady of Fatima shrine that adorns the front entrance of
the school dedicated to our devoted alumni who gave their
lives serving this country. There are the many lists of accomplishments
and awards as well as the tragic moments endured
prayerfully together as Salesian brothers. Many had fathers
who were alumni. Over 300 Oblates had a teaching stint at
North Catholic, some for many years.
Dever = John DiFilippo = Nicholas DiIenno = Joseph DiMauro = Stanley Dobkiewicz = John Dochkus = William Doherty = James Donahue = John Donahue = J. Stuart Dooling = William N. Dougherty = Anthony Dougherty = Charles Dougherty = Francis Dougherty = Joseph Dougherty = John Doyle = Stanley Drupieski = Joseph Duffield = Hugh Duffy = Lawrence Duggan = Joseph Dumphrey = Joseph Dunn = Gerald Dunne = James Durkin = Joseph Eisenbarth = Charles Engelhardt = Thomas Erbrick = Murty Fahy = John Fallon = George Fangauer = Albert Filchner = Dominick Finn = John Finn = James Finnegan = G. William Fischer = John Fisher = Edward Fitzpatrick = Thomas Fitzpatrick = Raymond Fleck = Robert Flecksteiner = Aloysius Flynn = John Foley = Richard Forti = Paul Fournier = Robert Freiler = Edward Friel = Charles Fromentin = John Fu
q
Mahoney = Thomas Malloy = George Martin = Patrick Martin = Joseph Maule = Eugene McBride = William McCandless = Lawrence McCarthy = Louis McCartney = Michael McCue = John McDevitt = Joseph McDonnell = John McElwee = John McGe
= Francis Schimscheimer = Harry Schlight = Edward Schlotterback = Harry Schneider = William Scholl = Robert Schramm = Gerard Schubert = William Seelaus = Charles Sexton = Patrick Shannon = George Shugrue = Edward Simons = Dougla
= Nicholas Koelzer = Louis Komorowski = George Konstanzer = Vincent Kowalewski = George Kroupa = Thomas Landgraff = Charles LaPenta = Anthony Larry = Eric Laudeman = Thomas Lawless = John Lehner = Henry Lemon = James Leonard = Richard Leone = John Lynch = Joseph Lynn = James MacNew = George Mahoney = Willard
Pietrusinski = Francis Pileggi = Francis Quaile = Harry Quinn = Leo Quinn = Joseph Rago = Robert Reece = Richard Reece = Thomas Reidy = Eugene Rickert = Anthony Rifkin = Francis Rinaldi = Willard Rucinski = William Ruhl = Thomas Rush = Richard Russell = John Ryan = Salvatore Sarro = Joseph Scanlan = Anthony Schelich
r = Francis Kelleher = Clark Kelley = Thomas Kelley = Eugene Kelly = John C. Kelly = Walter Kelly = Paul Kennedy = Robert Kenney = John Kenny = Joseph Kenny = Vincent Kenny = Arthur Kerns = Cornelius Kilty = John Kinniry = Lawrence Knebels
edermaier = Francis Norris = Thomas O’Connell = Francis O’Donnell = Edward O’Neill = Thomas O’Neill = Donald O’Neill = James J. O’Neill = James V. O’Neill = Edward Ogden = Thomas Palko = George Palmer = Henry Paul = Albert

i
s
= Leon Bonikowski = Joseph Bowler = James Bradley = Joseph Brand = Fernan Brennan = Stephen Brichta = Andrew Brophy = George Brownholtz = Herman Buckley = William Buckley = Emmerich Buritsch = Paul Burke = Vincent Burke = Joseph Butler = Philip Butler = Thomas Bygott = Roland Calvert = Edward Carlin = James Cassidy = Michael Cavanaugh = Frederick J. Chiappone = Raymond Christ = Francis Christof = Gerard Clarke = John Cleary = Richard Cleary = William Cleary = Edward Conlin = John Conmy = John Connolly = Raymond Connolly = Edward Corcoran = Philip Coyle = John Coyne = George Creswell = Francis Crowne = James Cryan = Thomas Curran = Joseph Curren = Joseph Cutter = Thomas F. Dailey = James Dalton = William E. Davis = William F. Davis = Richard DeLillio = Walter Dean = Robert Del Santo = John Dennis = Jame
ua = Thomas Furphy = Aloysius Gaffigan = John Gaffney = Thomas Gallagher = John Gavin = Henry Geiger = Paul Gillespie = Thomas Gillespie = John Gilvey = George Godley = Albert Gondek = Joseph Gontek = Lawrence Gradel = John Green = Francis Greene = Joseph Griffin = Francis Gross = William Guerin = Thomas Hagan = David Hagan = John Hanley = Francis Hanlon = Robert Hanlon = Walter Hartlove = John Harvey = Peter Harvey = James Harvey = Robert Healy = John Heckel + Henry Hemighaus = John Henley = Charles Herkert = Thomas Herlihy = Harold Hermley = Robert Hermley = Johann Hetzenecker = Amandus Hillman = Robert Hindley = Thomas Hopkins = Joseph Hughes = William J. Hultberg = John Hurley = Mark Hushen = Joseph Jendzura = William Juergens = William Keech = George Keith = William Kellehe
e = Thomas McGee = A. Robert McGilvray = Edward McGinley = John McGoldrick = Joseph McGoldrick = Harold V. McGovern = Michael McGrath = James McGuire = John McGuire = Joseph McKay = Joseph McKenna = Hugh McKenna = Francis
s Smith = Vincent Smith = Edward Smith = Alfred Smuda = William Spaeth = John Spellman = Joseph Stafford = William Stahl = Edmond Stout = John Sullivan = Gerald Sweeney = John Tocik = Joseph Toner = Joseph Toy = Joseph
McKenty =
Travers = J.
Raymond
Many graduates went to serve as priests and religious in dioceses throughout
the world. These vocations were born at North Catholic. They were
Thomas
McKone =
nourished by the students, lay faculty and parents who were part of this
Tucker
faith-filled community. Perhaps the most telling and consistent thread
= J.
William
throughout the commemorative history is the love for and appreciation
of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales—their gentle spirit, their kind and
Francis
generous charity, and their awe-inspiring
McLaughlin
example as men imbued with the love of
=
Tucker
God and the gentleness toward neigh-
=
bor. Thus, it is not surprising that these
John
Richard
Oblates were witnesses to marriages of
Tye
alumni, privileged to bring their children
=
McLernan
into the faith, and with their alumni as
=
Henry
they were dying or mourning the loss of
a loved one.
Daniel
OBLATES AT THE 2010 FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES MASS. First row: John DiFilippo, Nick
Vergeiner
In our shared time as North “Falcons,”
Waseline, Jim Greenfield, Bob Mulligan, Vince Smith. Second row: John Fisher, Jack Koldziel, Michael
=
there are the memories recalled and
Murray, Dave Devlin, William E. Davis. Third row: Ed Ogden, Jim MacNew, Doug Smith, Mark Hushen,
McLernan
Michael McCue. Fourth row: Harry McGovern, Mike Vogt, Barry Strong, Bob Bazzoli. Fifth row: Kevin
=
perhaps embellished of JUG (“Justice
George
Nadolski, Tom Gallagher, Joe McKenna, Ed Rauch, William F. Davis, Frank Danella, John McGinley,
Under God” aka detention) and who
Jim Dalton.
Walsh
Francis
had permanent residence there. There
=
is the hallowed “Direction of Intention”
prayed before each class and every activ-
Thomas
McManus =
ity as is our Salesian tradition. There
are the memories of buzzer-beater games
“Onward! Onward!”
Walsh
John
=
won in the “Pit.” Each of our 38,000+
sing enthusiastic students.
graduates has made his mark. Our talented alumni have served in every
walk of life: policemen, firemen, tradesmen, lawyers, judges, teachers, col-
Lawrence
McMenamin =
lege presidents, doctors, artists, writers, actors and athletes. Hopefully,
Ward
they have continued enriching the world as the Salesian gentlemen they
=
James
came to be while students at North. These men chose “North: the right
direction” (a fitting marketing brand). They embraced Francis de Sales’
William
McNally
motto as their own for the school:
=
Ward
Tenui Nec Dimittam (“I have
=
This billboard on I-95 enthused the city around North’s presence in Philadelphia.
John
taken hold and will not let go.”)
May they continue to do so in
Nicholas
McNally
Falcon tradition.
=
Wherever Oblates celebrate Mass
Waseline =
throughout the world, they are met
Thomas
by a proud graduate who introduces
himself as a North boy from the
Bernard
class of 19??. No more needs to
McNamara =
be said. The pride and intimacy
Wetzel =
of dedicated Oblates, lay faculty
Peter
and staff, confident alumni and
Hubert
McNeill
grateful parents will continue to
=
endure long after its closing. Such
Wetzler =
a legacy and gift will live forever
Matthew
The Oblates’ Centennial Celebration with Fr. in the lives of these people who had
David
Kilty as the main celebrant.
the distinct opportunity to teach, to
McVey =
learn, to pray, to live, and to love
Whalen =
at Northeast Catholic High School for Boys. Their legacy will be handed
John
down to their children and grandchildren for years to come. In so doing,
James
the Church will be enriched and the world will be a better place for we are
Melloy =
“Forever Falcons. We are NC!”
Williams
David
= Daniel
Merchant =
Wisniewski
William
= Leon
Messick =
Wisniewski
William
=
Metzger =
Joseph
John
Throughout the years, these images helped identify the North Catholic community.
Woods
First Administratiors:Very Rev. J Francis Tucker, OSFS, Rev. Charles Fromentin,OSFS, Rev. Thomas
=
Minder
A. Lawless, OSFS, Rev. Joseph F. Butler, OSFS
=
William
Harry
Worff
Minich
=
=
Wrightson
Mark
John
N Joseph = Nees John = Nee Thomas = Naulty John = Muzdakis John = Murray Joseph = Murray John = Murray Michael = Murphy John = Murphy Dennis = Murphy Daniel = Mulligan G. Robert = Morrissey Joseph = Moore Manning = Mokluk
5

Northeast Catholic High School Graduates Who Became Oblates Robert Ashenbrenner = Joseph Baird = Joseph Baraniewicz = Robert Bazzoli = James Behan = John Birkenheuer = Gregory Birkenstock = Francis Blood = Leon Bonikowski = Joseph Bowler = James Bradley = Joseph Brand = Fernan Brennan = John Brennan = Andrew Brophy = George Brownholtz = Thomas Bygott = James Byrne = Edward Carney = Michael Cavanaugh = Raymond Christ = Vincent Cirullo = Gerard Clarke = John Cleary = Richard Cleary = William Cleary = John Conmy = John Connery = Joseph Connolly = Edward Corcoran = Joseph Coyle = John Coyne = Francis Crowne = Joseph Cutter = Francis Danella = Walter Dean = John Dennis = James Dever = David Devlin = Nicholas DiIenno = Stanley Dobkiewicz = John Dochkus = John Dolan = Bernard Donahue = James Donahue = John Donahue = J. Stuart Dooling = Anthony Dougherty = Francis Dougherty = William J. Dougherty = William N. Dougherty = John Doyle = Robert Drelich = Joseph Duffield = Lawrence Duggan = Gerald Dunne = James Durkin = Charles Engelhardt = Thomas Erbrick = Murty Fahy = Martin Fallon = John Fallon = Dominick Finn = John Finn = James Finnegan = G. William Fischer = Edward Fitzpatrick = Raymond Fleck = Aloysius Flynn = Edward Friel = John Friel = Thomas Furphy = Aloysius Gaffigan = John Gaffney = Thomas Gallagher = William Gallagher = Richard Gannon = John Gavin = Anthony Gilborges = Thomas J. Gillespie = Thomas M. Gillespie = George Godley = Joseph Gontek = William Gore = Lawrence Gradel = John Green = Francis Greene = Joseph Griffin = Francis Gross = William Guerin = David Hagan = Francis Hanlon = Robert Hanlon = James Harvey = John F. Harvey = John X. Harvey = Peter Harvey = John Heckel = Henry Hemighaus = John Henley = Charles Herkert = Harold Hermley = Robert Hermley = Robert Hindley = Thomas Hopkins = Joseph Hughes = William Hultberg = Joseph Jendzura = James Keenan = Thomas Kelley = Clark Kelley = Eugene Kelly = James Kelly = John C. Kelly = Patrick Kelly = Walter Kelly = Paul Kennedy = Dennis Killion = Cornelius Kilty = John Kinniry = Lawrence Knebels = Nicholas Koelzer = John Kolodziej = Francis Konstanty = George Konstanzer = Peter Leonard = Joseph Lynn = Gerard Mahoney = Thomas Malloy = Robert Mancini = Patrick Martin = George Martyn = Dennis Mattern = Joseph Maule = Eugene McBride = William McCandless = Edmond McCarthy = Louis McCartney = John McDevitt = Robert McDonald = John McGee = Thomas McGee = Edward Mc Ginley = John McGinley = Harry F. McGovern = Harold V. McGovern = Hugh McGuigan = James McGuire = John McGuire = Joseph McKay = Hugh McKenna = Joseph McKenna = Francis McKenty = Daniel McLernan = Richard McLernan = Francis McManus = Neil McMenamin = John McNally = Robert McNally = Joseph McNamara = Thomas McNamara = Peter McNeill = Matthew McVey = John Minder = John Mokluk = Joseph Morrissey = Dennis Murphy = John Murphy = Joseph Murray = John Nees = William Nessel = Charles Norman = Thomas O’Connell = Francis O’Donnell = Edward O’Neill = John P. O’Neill = Thomas O’Neill = Edward Ogden = Francis Opdyke = George Palmer = Henry Paul = John Pavonarius = James Petrait = Albert Pietrusinski = Francis Quaile = Leo Quinn = Richard Reece = Robert Reece = Anthony Rifkin = Michael Rosenello = William Ruhl = Thomas Rush = George Salzmann = Joseph Scanlan = Harry Schlight = Edward Schlotterback = William Scholl = Gerard Schubert = William Seelaus = George Shugrue = Edward Simons = Albert Smith = Edward Smith = Thomas Smith = Vincent Smith = Alfred Smuda = William Spaeth = John Spellman = Joseph Stafford = Edmond Stout = Gerald Sweeney = Joseph Toner = Thomas Tucker = Joseph Tustin = John Tye = John Ventresca = Michael Vogt = George Walsh = William Ward = Richard Wojnicki = William Worff = James Yeakel = Joseph Zuschmidt
6
DeSalesWorld
Salesian Gentlemen Educating Salesian Gentlemen
By Fr. Michael S. Murray, OSFS
Northeast Catholic High School Principal, 1992-97; President, 1997-98
(As mentioned in the lead article on the closing of Northeast Catholic
High School for boys, many graduates entered the formation program
of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales to pursue their religious vocation.
This program steeped these Falcon men in the spirituality of St. Francis
de Sales, which they endeavored to pass on to their students for the
84 years of the school’s existence. Here, a former principal shares his
reflection on the mission of passing on the spirit of St. Francis de Sales
to young men.)
In light of the closure of Northeast Catholic High School, I recall
the early ‘90s at North Catholic as a time when there was considerable
conversation that a number of high schools administered
by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia would be slated to close.
Instead, the leaders of the Office
of Catholic Education challenged each
school to articulate a specific mission to
assure its future.
This was not a problem for North Catholic.
The single-most important dimension of
North Catholic’s unique niche within the
context of this larger educational entity
was its Oblate, Salesian identity. The
teachings of St. Francis de Sales – and their
applicability to the give-and-take of ordinary,
everyday life today – would provide
both the face and the heart of this renewed
Oblate ministry.
Obviously, the Oblate, Salesian identity of this Catholic school
was not a new discovery. Insofar as Salesian spirituality had been
part-and-parcel of North Catholic since its inception, I think
one could safely say that even the bricks and mortar seemed
imbued with it, especially in the heady days when literally
scores of Oblates of St. Francis de Sales lived and worked there.
However, the challenge to design a specific mission for North
provided the opportunity to rediscover that unique dimension of
our mission and ministry that perhaps (however unwittingly or
unintentionally) we had simply taken for granted over the years.
As some schools scrambled to create
something brand new to distinguish
themselves from others literally
overnight, what distinguished
North Catholic was our willingness
to revisit our longstanding heritage
with new eyes and to promote it
in new, exciting and energizing
ways, beginning with the faculty,
staff and administration—Oblate
and lay person alike. This spiritual
rebirth became the driving force
behind our collective efforts at integrating Salesian spirituality
with each—and all—of the other dimensions of North Catholic’s
“Action Plan,” for it embodied the long-standing image of the
“Salesian gentleman.”
Even as North Catholic struggled to survive and thrive in the
context of all of the changes and challenges facing not only the
Archdiocese of Philadelphia but also the City of Philadelphia
itself during the 17 years that lead to the announcement in
October 2009 of the school’s closing, I firmly believe that everyone
working at 1842 East Torresdale Avenue did their level best
to seize the second chance extended to us in December 1992.
Together, we established a Salesian oasis at which an additional
generation of young boys were given the foundation
to live their lives in the spirit of St. Francis
de Sales: to become good men, good co-workers,
good neighbors, good friends, good husbands,
good fathers…good people.
I left Philadelphia in the summer of 1998.
Although my six years of service pale in comparison
with many of my former Oblate and lay
colleagues who dedicated decades of their lives to
ministering at Northeast Catholic High School,
A Salesian gentleman helps to raise funds
I can still cite many instances that illustrate our
for a service project for the
Student Government Association.
fidelity – and effectiveness – in creating a kind of
Salesian Renaissance in the city’s Frankford
section. With the passage of time, one simple
story continues to say it best for me.
Mr. Bob Fitzsimmons stands with Fr. John DiFilippo after the Feast of St. Francis
de Sales Mass at North Catholic: “Mr. Fitz,” ‘53, started teaching in 1959, and
he is ever grateful for the presence of the Oblates, saying: “The impact of the
Oblate here at North cannot be put into words. It is not ‘something’ that they
have done. It is a certain spirit that they have created. For me, the Oblates
have embodied the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially kindness and gentleness.
I will never forget how they helped me when my wife Mary Jane died. They
helped me in very spiritual and practical ways. Likewise, they have created so
many memories for so many people.”
On one occasion, three North Catholic freshmen attempted to
gain entry into a dance hosted at our sister-school, Little Flower
High School, without bringing their required school-issued ID
cards. Of course, they were apprehended by the faculty and
staff working the doors and were taken to then-principal Marie
Gallagher for questioning. In keeping with the best traditions of
our fighting Falcons, the three young men apparently tried every
excuse and argument they could create in the hope of somehow
talking their way into the dance. Worn down by their almostcharming
persistence, Marie took down their names and home
telephone numbers, and then – just
before finally relenting – she asked
them this question: “How do I know
that once I let you in without IDs,
you won’t be any trouble?” The
three looked at each other for several
seconds in silence and then, as if
speaking as one man, they replied in
unison: “Well, that’s because we’re
Salesian gentlemen.”
Salesian gentlemen, indeed.
The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales are members of the National Catholic Development Conference.
e

The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales have begun a feasibility study
to determine whether to begin a new high school in Philadelphia
to serve students whose families cannot afford a Catholic education
in the present archdiocesan system. If founded, the school
will be fashioned in the Cristo Rey model, where students attend classes four days a week
and work the fifth in a professional office environment with their salary going directly to
the school for tuition expenses.
With the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s closure of Northeast Catholic High School in the
Frankford section of the city, the Oblates perceive a need to continue to educate students
of families from Philadelphia neighborhoods that have experienced the pain of economic
downturns, increases in unemployment, and dramatic drops in housing values. In large
measure, these were the students who comprised the population of North Catholic in
recent years.
“We remain committed to the work that was begun and flourished at North Catholic,”
Rev. James Greenfield, OSFS, provincial, said. “Our mission and our 84-year relationship
to North Catholic impel us to learn whether we can help adolescents
in need. While a Cristo Rey school is wholly different from North
Catholic, the commitment of the Church helping in the great tradition of
Catholic education is the same: We can teach young people to live Jesus in
the example of St. Francis de Sales.”
The study that the Oblates are leading follows the great efforts of a group
of generous alumni who quickly organized to determine whether a new
school, following the Cristo Rey model, could open to maintain the North
customs and legacy and continue to teach the present North students,
beginning in August 2010. That study investigated the details of the Cristo
Rey model, and the study’s leaders determined that insufficient time was
available to establish a new school.
In addition to the standard academic rigors of a Catholic high school, a
Cristo Rey school requires students to maintain employment in a professional
office setting, where they work each week alongside professionals
who supervise them in their clerical work. The salaries earned from these
positions, which is part of the corporate work study program, are sent
The Oblates and the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales have been celebrating some
very good news about their founder, Father Louis Brisson.
Pope Benedict XVI advanced the first Oblate’s cause for sainthood in declaring him
“Venerable” and affirming “the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Louis Brisson
(1817-1908), priest and founder of the men and women Oblates of St. Francis de
Sales.” With this declaration, the pope confirms the positive evaluation given by the
Congregation for the Causes of Saints, passing the initial stage along the process for
sainthood. In this Year for the Priest, this date also marked the 169 th anniversary of the
priestly ordination of Louis Brisson.
When Father Brisson’s cause for sanctity was first formally introduced for consideration
by the Vatican, he was given the title “Servant of God.” Now, with the affirmation of
his “heroic virtues,” the Oblate founder is given the designation “Venerable.” While this
title does not include any liturgical honors, such as special prayers at Mass or a designated
feast day, it marks an important step on the road to canonization.
In saying that a person demonstrated “heroic virtues,” the Church recognizes
the witness of Christian life shown by the person, specifically his intense
relationship with God and his continuous search for evangelical
perfection. Throughout his life, Louis Brisson took on many roles,
integrating the sacred and the secular. On one hand, he was priest,
professor, religious founder and spiritual director, and on the other, he
was administrator, social justice advocate, inventor-scientist and mathematician.
Yet, in the midst of a busy daily schedule in which he met
the needs of people from varied walks of life, Father Brisson embodied
a balance exemplifying how to “live Jesus” in the modern world. He
models the maxim of his patron, Francis de Sales, who calls all people
to do the ordinary extraordinarily well.
On the occasion of Father Brisson’s 60th anniversary of priestly
ordination on December 19, 1900, Adolphe de Pélacot, the bishop
of Troyes in France, compared the Oblate founder to the “just” of
Psalm 92, saying:
…because the just man, desiring to give everyone his due, knows
that to God alone are due all honor and all glory. He also knows
that everything he is, everything he has, everything he can do,
everything that he receives, everything that he does, God alone is
the author… This is what you have done, Father [Brisson].
Oblates Lead Study for New School
By Fr. Kevin Nadolski, OSFS
The Corporate Work Study
Program has students work in
professional settings one day a
week, with their collective salaries
comprising upwards of 85% of the
school’s budget. Here, a Cristo
Rey student files medical records.
directly to the school as part of their tuition payments. In the
other 24 Cristo Rey Schools throughout the nation, revenue
from this program covers close to 85% of each school’s operating
budget.
“Having visited a number of Cristo Rey schools, from Washington, DC, to Los Angeles,
I see that students learn a great deal in the work experiences, Fr. Kevin Nadolski, OSFS,
leader of the feasibility study, said. Their sense of responsibility is impressive and their
investment in their education is deep. They aren’t just working; they are learning, and
this is integrated into their education while in school.”
The genius of the model is the work study program, a common attraction of Cristo Rey
schools; yet, the academic component cannot be forgotten. “In all 24 schools throughout
the nation, nearly 100% of Cristo Rey graduates are accepted to college. This is a
tremendous source of pride for us,” said Mr. Rob Birdsell, president of the Cristo Rey
Network, which has garnered national attention from a feature on 60 Minutes to a recent
article in The Wall Street Journal.
Pope Benedict Declares Oblate Founder Venerable
By Bro. Daniel Wisniewski, OSFS
The Cristo Rey model was begun in 1996 in Chicago as a way to provide
inner-city youth with a Catholic education. The corporate work study
program, with the college prep curriculum, is a essential element for both
financial and formational reasons. In addition to the having the students
provide for the bulk of their tuition through work, they learn skills for professional
careers and are exposed to business leaders and mentors whom
they would otherwise never meet. With the changes in Catholic education
and the challenges at financing it increasing exponentially, a rapid surge in
starting these schools has begun.
As the study advances, the Oblates will need the assistance of volunteers,
benefactors and corporate sponsors. If you—or someone you
know—is interested or has a talent or level of generosity that could assist
with this project, please contact Fr. Kevin Nadolski, at 302-656-8529.
Additional information is available through the Cristo Rey website at
www.cristoreynetwork.org
Called by God… to accomplish a remarkable and fruitful work, you have
passed through this world with modesty and silently so…that only the
action of God…alone can be seen in everything… (Father Louis Brisson
[1817-1908]: A Documented Biography, p. 30, 2009).
This address, along with numerous other documents and eyewitness accounts, comprise
the documented biography, a “positio” submitted to the Vatican for the evaluation of
Father Brisson’s virtuous life. (An English translation of this biography is available
from the Oblate Development Office in Childs, MD; contact Ian Kelley at 410-398-
3057 or ikelley@oblates.org for more information.)
The next step in the process for canonization is to document, both scientifically and
theologically, Venerable Louis Brisson’s miraculous intercession. If this step is achieved,
he would be beatified and designated “Blessed.” Most Rev. Aldino Kiesel, OSFS,
superior general of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, has encouraged the Oblates
“to become more acquainted with the person and life of our founder” and to ask
the people to whom and with whom we minister “to pray for their needs through his
intercession.” A second documented miracle would be needed for him to be canonized
at which point he is declared a “Saint.”
For your intentions, please join the Oblates in praying for
the beatification of Venerable Louis Brisson:
Lord Jesus, you have told us, “Ask and you shall receive.”
We address our prayer to you through the intercession of your priest,
Venerable Louis Brisson.
Attentive to the signs of the times and in obedience to your will, he founded
the double family of the Oblate Sisters and the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.
Confident in your Providence and joyful in hope, he knew, as a good Father,
how to make himself all things to all people.
Grant us, through his intercession, the favors which we ask of you, especially ….
May Holy Church rejoice in glorifying this priest after your own heart,
who gave himself totally to Your Love. Amen.
7

Oblate Personnel Changes
Pillarsof
Gentle
Strength (Since the last listing of personnel changes in the DeSales World, the following Oblates have been authorized for
new ministries by Fr. James Greenfield in his ministry as provincial.)
When you
encounter
difficulties and
contradictions,
do not try to
break them;
bend them
with gentleness
and time.
--St. Francis
de Sales
Bill Mittendorf, a former seminarian with the Oblates from the 1960s, is planning a reunion of men who once
studied for the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales before discerning a call to another vocation. The gathering will
occur at Camp DeSales in Brooklyn, MI, sometime in 2011. Please contact Bill at mittlaw@live.com
if you are interested in helping network guests for this event.
Contact: Sandy Clark at sclark@oblates.org or (302) 656-8529 for information.
Please reference event in email subject line.
Fr. J. Christian Beretta, from principal, Bishop Verot High School,
Ft. Myers, FL, to principal, Salesianum School, Wilmington, DE
Fr. Frank Danella, from director, St. Pius X Spiritual Life Center,
Blackwood, NJ, to administrator, Our Lady Star of the Sea Church,
Cape May, NJ
Fr. Paul Dechant, parochial vicar, St. John Neumann Church,
Reston, VA, to pastor, Holy Cross Church, Kernersville, NC
Fr. John Dolan, parochial vicar, St. Ann Church, Naples, FL, to faculty
member, Father Judge High School, Philadelphia, PA
Fr. John Fisher, faculty member, Northeast Catholic High School for
Boys, to faculty member, De Sales University, Center Valley, PA
Fr. Charles Garst, from parochial vicar, St. Anthony of Padua
Church, Wilmington, DE, to parochial vicar, St. Dominic Church,
Philadelphia, PA
Fr. Anthony Gilborges, parochial vicar, St. Paul Church,
Greensboro, NC, to parochial vicar, Our Lady of Light Church, Fort
Myers, FL
Fr. Donald Heet, from professor of homiletics, Catholic University
of America, to director of vocations, Oblates of St. Francis de Sales,
Washington, DC
Mr. Patrick Kennedy, from faculty, DeSales University, Center
Valley, PA, to faculty, Salesianum School, Wilmington, DE
Fr. Robert Mancini, provincial treasurer, Oblates of St. Francis de
Sales, Wilmington, DE, to parochial vicar, St. John Neumann Church,
Reston, VA
Concert for Haiti: A Nite of Sinatra
Salesianum School
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Oblate Memorial Mass
Our Lady of Light Chapel
Childs, MD
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Philadelphia Dinner Dance
The Philadelphia Union League
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Four Oblate Novices Received into the Novitiate
DeSales Center
Brooklyn, MI
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Please join us in prayer for Ryan Cronshaw,
Bob Killion,
Dave Miser and Jeff Edmonds
Black Tie for White Collars
Dinner Dance
Chase Center on the Waterfront
Wilmington, DE
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Mark Your Calendar
Fr. William McCandless, from principal, Salesianum School, to
parochial vicar, St. Charles parish, Monaco and general coordinator
for Salesian education for the Oblate Congregation
Fr. Thomas McGee, from parochial vicar, Our Lady of Good
Counsel, Vienna, VA, to parochial vicar, Our Lady Star of the Sea
Church, Cape May, NJ
Fr. Patrick O’Connor, from parochial vicar, Our Lady of Guadalupe
Church, Immokolee, to administrator, Jesus the Worker Mission,
North Fort Myers, FL
Fr. John O’Neill, from pastor, St. Ann Church, Naples, FL, to staff,
De Sales University, Center Valley, PA
Fr. William Ruhl, from pastor, St. Paul Church, to parochial vicar,
Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Vienna, VA
Bro. Joseph Schodowski, facilities services, Salesianum School, to
facilities services, De Sales University, Center Valley, PA
Fr. Stephen Shott, to parochial vicar, St. Ann Church, Naples, FL
Fr. Michael Vannicola, from assistant principal, Salesianum School,
Wilmington, DE, to administrator, St. Ann Church, Naples, FL
Mr. Michael Vogt, from staff, Caron Foundation, Wernersville, PA,
to faculty, Salesianum School, Wilmington, DE
Bro. Daniel Wisniewski, from graduate studies, Bryn Mawr College,
Bryn Mawr, PA, to faculty, De Sales University, Center Valley, PA
Mr. Brian Zumbrum, from theological studies, DeSales Hall,
Washington, DC, to faculty, Father Judge High School,
Philadelphia, PA
Address Service Requested
Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales
Office of Communications
P.O. Box 87
Childs, MD 21916-0087