More than 400 years after his death, St. Francis de Sales still remains relevant in the contemporary age. Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Father Michael S. Murray said that after reading the 17th-century saint’s writings, his parishioners always come back with one question: “Why do I feel like he’s speaking directly to me?”
Father Murray, pastor of St. John Neumann Church in Reston, welcomed Wilmington-Philadelphia Provincial Father Jack Kolodziej and fellow diocesan oblates to a special Mass celebrating the order’s 150th anniversary and the feast of St. Francis de Sales at St. John Neumann Feb. 2.
Former parochial vicar of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Father Lewis S. Fiorelli, OSFS, delivered the homily, in which he described the order’s founding by “our reluctant founder,” Blessed Louis Brisson, in 1875. Blessed Brisson, who served as chaplain to the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, was convinced by the order’s superior, Mother Marie de Sales Chappuis, that it was God’s will for him to found an order of men dedicated to the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales. Blessed Brisson was reluctant to start the order, until Christ himself appeared in a vision to him. Due to religious persecution in France, the oblates became missionaries, fleeing France and traveling across the world. Regardless, they persevered, and today the order serves in 18 countries.
“As we conclude our first 150 years and look forward with hope to whatever lies before us, we are called, we are blessed to that same trust, the Jesus who fed thousands with just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. It’s the same Lord who guides our congregation today,” Father Fiorelli said. “Jesus delights in doing much with little.”
At the conclusion of Mass, Father Kolodziej said he received a congratulatory letter from Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, whom he said grew up witnessing the Oblates’ service in Philadelphia. “The bishop often hears from parishioners and students of fond memories of the many oblates who have accompanied them (on their) spiritual journey, and most notably, of the Salesian spirituality that helped them grow closer to Christ,” he said.
The presence of the Oblates predates the Arlington diocese. They served in parishes and schools including St. John Neumann, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Vienna, St. Paul VI Catholic High School when it was in Fairfax, and Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria.
“The Salesian spirit is the teachings, philosophy and way of life … handed down by St. Francis de Sales,” Father Kolodziej said. “We live it here in this diocese. We were teachers for many years. Now, we’re working in parish life.”
Father William J. Metzger, pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Good Counsel, taught at Bishop Ireton 1984-2000, serving as principal for 11 of those years. The order’s charism of education and gentleness pours over into parish life, he said: “People like to go to confession to the Oblates.”
Father Murray agreed. St. Francis’ “great insight is that holiness adapts itself to the gifts, the talents, the abilities, and I’d say even the liabilities of every person,” he said. “It’s not one size fits all.”
St. Francis de Sales’ writings, such as “Introduction to the Devout Life,” are popular for a reason. “They easily fit into the lives of ordinary people,” said Father I. Mathias Kumar, parochial administrator of Our Lady of Good Counsel. “St. Francis de Sales always (said) that holiness is not only (for) the religious or the priests and the nuns; holiness is the universal call everybody can practice.”
