Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
The Oblates of Saint Francis De Sales have administered IHM parish since 1989. The Oblates are a religious congregation of priests and brothers founded in France in 1875 by Blessed Louis Brisson.  The primary mission of the Oblates is to share the spirit of Saint Francis De Sales (Salesian spirituality) with the people they are called to serve.
 
In the United States, the Oblates are divided into two provinces: the Philadelphia-Wilmington (Del.) Province which includes the North Carolina region, and the Toledo-Detroit Province. The Oblates staff De Sales University (formerly Allentown College) near Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Oblates administer Salesianum High School located in Wilmington, DE and serve as pastors, chaplains and campus ministers in many parishes and schools in the Atlantic coast states. In addition to Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Oblates also administer other parishes in the Dioceses Charlotte and Raleigh North Carolina.
 
The word “oblate” means “oblation” or “offering.” The Oblates offer their lives to God in the spirit of Saint Francis De Sales. He is the Oblate “patron” not their founder. He lived in France from 1567 to1622 and ministered as a priest, a missionary, the bishop of Geneva and spiritual director-cofounder (with Saint Jane De Chantal) of the Sisters of the Visitation. Saint Francis De Sales wrote numerous letters, articles and books. His most well-known book on spirituality is the “Introduction to the Devout Life”. The feast day for this bishop and doctor of the church is celebrated on January 24. The Oblate motto “Live Jesus” is taken from his Introduction to the Devout Life.
 
Some key concepts of Salesian spirituality include: ​

• Spirituality is for everyone, no matter what their station in life.
• Salesian spirituality is based on the awareness of God in our life at all times.
• It is a practical, down-to-earth spirituality.
• To be holy means to put our whole heart into everything we do.
• It is joyous, optimistic, flexible, gentle, and well-balanced.
• It is based on living the present moment.
• It includes attentiveness to doing the little things of daily life well.
• It is based on the motto of St. Francis de Sales to LIVE JESUS! This means to let Jesus live in our hearts and to imitate the virtues of Jesus in our daily life.

To find out more about the Oblates and Salesian Spirituality, visit www.oblates.org.

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