5.17.06 – Fourteen students and three Oblates from DeSales University completed their year-long Catholic Hero’s Journey on Wednesday, May 17, 2006. The cohort is the university’s first to complete the process, which is funded through the generosity of Frank Ryan and the Ryan Family Foundation. The Catholic Hero’s Journey was tailored to the teachings of St. Francis de Sales in order to re-enforce the Salesian charism of the university.
According to Amy Stocker, one of the participants, the experience was more than what she expected. “When I began this journey, I was hesitant. I wasn’t sure what I was going to take from it,” says Amy. “The whole year has been so informative and very helpful in giving me the tools to develop healthy relationships, learning more about the Salesian charism and the Catholic faith in general and preparing me for whatever is next.” Stocker, a Physicians Assistant major at DeSales, will be starting her senior year this August. “I really enjoyed it.”
For Jason Benincasa, another rising senior, the personal discovery that came as a result of the process, was the most valuable. “Between the retreats and the monthly meetings, I was worried about how much time and work the Catholic Hero’s Journey would be.” Students began their Catholic Hero’s Journey with an opening retreat in August of 2005 and then met every three weeks on campus to discuss various leadership topics. The program concluded with a closing retreat in May. “It was well worth the investment.” Benincasa continues. “I learned so much about myself, about what I am capable of, about what God is calling me to be. It was the experience of a lifetime.”
Frank Ryan attended the closing retreat and was impressed by the obvious effect the Catholic Hero’s Journey had had on the fourteen students and three priests. Ryan, whose foundation has committed to funding the program for three years, addressed the students, full of encouragement, at their graduation ceremony. “I had very high expectations for this program, and you have absolutely exceeded them.” said Ryan. “I wish that 50 years ago I could have participated in a program such as this. You are pioneers and you are the leaders of tomorrow. With fewer priests and religious sisters, lay leaders such as you will determine the future of the Church.”
The participation of the Oblates at DeSales was fundamental to the success of the experience. A committee of eight Oblates met prior to the beginning of the experience to integrate the teachings of St. Francis de Sales into the curriculum and three Oblates, Rev. Thomas Dailey, OSFS, Rev. Doug Burns, OSFS and Rev. Peter Leonard, OSFS, participated in the year-long program alongside the students.
Dailey, the Director of the Salesian Center for Faith and Culture, says the program is a great way to pass along the history and charism of the university at a time when the number of religious priests are declining. “The University's patron saint, Francis de Sales, championed the idea that holiness is for every person, not just monks and nuns, and that the devout life can and should be lived in the midst of worldly professions,” says Dailey. “We believe that his saintly wisdom, coupled with the successful dynamics of the CLI program, has and will continue to offer our best students the opportunity to grow in unique and lasting ways.” The Salesian Center for Faith and Culture collaborated with Catholic Leadership Institute to deliver the program.
As part of the program, this first cohort of students has already decided what impact they want to have on campus. Their goal is to increase the awareness of the Salesian identity through a myriad of social and public awareness activities on campus. “If I had to name only one thing I could take away from this experience, one thing that I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” says Amy Stocker, “it would be St. Francis de Sales’ challenge to ‘be who you are and to be that well.’ CLI and the Oblates have passed that message on to us. Now it’s our turn to pass on that message.”
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