Chablais Mission Fund

Background

Named in honor of the Chablais region in the northeast of France where St. Francis de Sales first went in answer to God’s call to mission work, the Chablais Mission Fund has been established to support De Sales Oblate foreign mission activities now and through the future.  With dedicated funds for ongoing projects at our mission sites, as well as an endowment component to provide a secure source of funding for the future, the Chablais Mission Fund represents a congregation-wide, forward-thinking, and comprehensive approach to funding this critical aspect of our Salesian ministry.

Our confreres in the missions are doing God’s work in India, Namibia, South Africa, and Benin.  It is wonderful and very gratifying to witness the sharing and growth of our Salesian charism as others answer God’s call in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales.  We pray for the continued blessings of dedicated De Sales Oblates, strong vocations, a vibrant ministry, and congregational support.  We take very seriously our responsibility as a congregation to do all that we can to support this critical work now and in the future.

Promoting the Salesian Charism Around the World

In addition to the ministries we serve in the United States and Europe, we also answer the call to serve people in need all around the world.  Approximately 125 priests, brothers, deacons, seminarians and novices are working or studying throughout the De Sales Oblate mission territories.  Thousands of people are touched everyday by the work of our missionaries.

Each mission site serves different purposes and meets different needs, depending on the specific challenges presented at that site, but all of our mission activities are inspired and informed by Salesian traditions and the spirit of St. Francis de Sales. 

• In Benin and India, the De Sales Oblates are focusing on the future and helping young men answer the call to the religious life.  In Benin, several men are about to be ordained and our ministry continues to grow.  We are excited about the opportunities for sharing our Salesian traditions and building a ministry of active service here.  We run two seminaries in India where 80 young men in formation are living and learning Salesian spirituality.  Based on the continuing growth and evolution of these sites, the Indian region is presently discerning how they will minister to God’s people in need.

• In Ecuador, Namibia, and South Africa, our missionaries are hard at work running parishes, training seminarians, and working together with the people to meet the most critical needs of their communities.  We educate children in classrooms.  We dig wells to secure potable water.  We help to strengthen communities and provide spiritual enrichment through active and responsive parish life.  We seek to advance social justice through our work with the homeless, hungry and landless.  We strive to meet people where they are in their stations of life and make positive impacts through Salesian-inspired ministries.

How You Can Help

We invite your support of our mission activities through donations to our Chablais Mission Fund.  You may designate your gift to benefit a specific mission activity or site, place it in our mission endowment fund, or allow us to use it where the need is greatest.  You may also wish to include the Chablais Mission Fund in your estate plans.  Please contact the Executive Director of the Chablais Mission Fund, for further information or to make a donation.

Executive Director
Chablais Mission Fund
1621 Otis Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20018
202-529-1640

OSFS India

The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales – India

DeSales-Oblates in Asia
Fr. Sebastian Leitner osfs
Samarpanaram
Hosur Road
Chandapura PO
560 081 Bangalore

Phone: 080 – 78 32 450
Email: [email protected]

Monday, July 5th 2005

Live Jesus!

Dear confrere!

Greetings from Samarpanaram! The academic year has started almost everywhere by now and I want to reach out to you before leaving for Europe.

Let me begin with a word of public congratulations:

I am delighted that Aneesh K. Jose, Asish, Balaswamy G., Jobish, John Gali, Lalson, Paulraj and Sleeva have commenced their novitiate on May 29th. They being the treasure of our Congregation I recommend them earnestly to your prayers.

I wish also to congratulate all who renewed their vows on May 30th. Brothers Chandra, John George, Balaswamy P., Mathias, Jayaraj, Bineesh, Shijo, Rayappa, Bijesh, Christhu Raj, Jomy, Jose Paul, Mandoz and Prasad. Your fervent desire and energy brings life to the Region. Thank you for that.

Of course the biggest celebration was the celebration of the first vows of nine of our brothers. In the presence of the families of our brothers and of Fr. Jim Greenfield and Fr. Kevin Nadolski, who had well prepared the brothers in retreat,  Balaprasad, Biju, Dennis, George, Jijo, Johnson, Joseph Babu, Stanislas and Thambi made their first commitment as Oblates of St. Francis de Sales on May 31st 2005. Their example and dedication is a challenge for all of us, who have been living an Oblate life. We gratefully accept that challenge and rejoice with our brothers about their vocation and decision. Thank you!

I would like to take the opportunity to welcome also in our community in Salespuram our newcomers. 20 young men have decided to start their year of Orientation in Salespuram. Though the heavy monsoon seems to be challenging them health wise, I surely do hope and pray for perseverance in their vocation. I wish a good start as well to our +1 brothers and postulants.

Let me now give you some more information:

1. Br. Pasala Balaswamy has been assigned for his year of Regency to Catholic Mission, Barpeta Road, 781 315 Assam.

2. Br. Rayappa has been assigned for his year of regency to Don Bosco School, Boko Kamrup 783 123 Assam.

3. Br. Mathias I. Kumar has been assigned for his year of regency to Christ the King Church, Sonaphar, Raindo, Nonstong-via, 793 113 Meghalaya.

4. Bala, Rayappa and Mathias are working during their year of regency in the North-East of India (Assam and Meghalaya) with the Salesians of Don Bosco. They have left Samarpanaram on June 1st and have reached safely Guwahati after 60 hours of train. They are now all three working in parishes, schools and hostels. I know that they will enjoy any form of contact from you.

5. Br. Jayaraj has been assigned for his year of Regency to Salespuram. He will not complain about letters either.

6. The start at the hostel has been successful. Six children, Dileep, Prasanth, Sebin, Maninkandan, John Britto and Pradeep have brought new life into our property. The renovation of the former cowshed, now Brisson Bala Bhavan has been completed successfully and the hostel has become a new home for these children. Just take a look at Manikandan doing his homework and you know he enjoys life in Brisson Bala Bhavan. Fr. Shaju is overlooking very well his new area of ministry.

7. Br. John George has started his studies in Mangalore. Though his start was challenging, he now enjoys St. Joseph’s seminary. Deacon Bruzily helped him to get settled the first day and since then John George is fully involved in the seminary life. On the weekends he goes to a parish of the Diocese of Belthangady.