Wednesday: Celebration of St. Francis de Sales
Dear University Community:
As we anticipate the beginning of classes for this semester today, I share here important details about our celebration of the feast of our patron, St. Francis de Sales. You may recall from a recent DeSales Daily and announcements from Fr. Jim Greenfield, OSFS, University president, during last Sunday’s Mass in honor of St. Francis de Sales, that we will commemorate this feast day on Wednesday, February 3, 3 PM, since we will all be gathered on campus for classes, either virtually or in person.
University Prayer Service
The chief celebration will be a prayer service that will include our praise and thanks to God, reflections on our Salesian mission as inspired by St. Francis de Sales, and music to lift our spirits. Due to pandemic safety requirements, the program will be conducted via Zoom at this link. As this event will occur during the University hour when no classes are held, we hope you will join us. In advance, we thank the following community members for their reflections on our University core values:
- Jeff Richter, director of campus environment—Gentleness
- Patrick Mulcahy, professor of theatre & PSF producing artistic director—Humility
- Sarah Starling, associate professor of psychology—Gratitude
- Gabe Moses, senior theatre major—Hospitality
- Sarah Hulse Kirby, assistant professor of theology—Wisdom
For a listing of other events, I ask you to visit this calendar site.
Pro-Life Conference
Finally, I invite us to consider participating in the Twenty-second annual Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life, which is hosted virtually this year on January 30, at Georgetown University; it is the largest collegiate pro-life conference in America. This is held in relation to the national Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children on January 22. Registration is free, although a $10 donation is requested. May our witness to the dignity of human life that flows from our mission inspire our lives of gentleness and hospitality, University core values, that counter all violence and welcomes the presence of God in all of creation.
On this feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, patron of Catholic schools, I conclude with a prayer he wrote:
Grant me, O Lord my God,
A mind to know you,
A heart to seek you,
Wisdom to find you,
Conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you,
And a hope of finally embracing you.
Amen.
We hope you can join us for these special events as we celebrate our Catholic, Salesian mission.
Peace,
Fr. Kevin Nadolski, OSFS
Vice President for Mission