Convocation 2026
In Every Age, O God, You Have Been Our Refuge
Honoring Our Past / Looking to the Future
LIVE + JESUS
Rooted in the Constitutions
Our Constitutions are more than rules; they are a 'law of love' for the Congregation. They help us live faithfully our vocation as religious rooted in the Gospel, in the charism of St. Francis de Sales, in the vision of our Founders, and in the rich traditions of the Salesian family.��The section on Common Life (Constitutions 155–167) highlights that our happiness, strength, and perfection as Oblates flow from union with one another in Christ. This union is not automatic; it requires daily effort, deep respect for each confrere, and practices that build fraternity and sustain our apostolic mission.�
Common Life
Recommendations and
Community Discussion
Refoundation for Renewal Reconfiguration for Mission
The Recommendations and Discussions:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
To move us from our Constitutions as rules…….
to concrete practices of fraternity.
Provincial Statutes
Province Policies
Sources: NAP introduction and PS 14; OSFS Constitutions C. 310–318, 338, 353–383.
The Recommendations Propose Province-level Practices
Annual renewal of vows, common prayer rule, fraternal dialogue, and Province-wide fraternity beyond the local house.
Prayer, preparation, listening, discussion, and local commitments around Common Life (Constitutions 155-167).
Provincial Statutes
Province Policies
The Discussion Guide Invites Local Conversation
Prayer, preparation, listening, discussion, and local commitments around Common Life (Constitutions 155-167).
The Discussion Guide:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
The six sessions become one Province agenda
forming the spiritual foundation for the recommendations.
Call to Community
C. 155-157
Union as gift and witness
Respect and Friendship
C. 158
Daily work of trust
Apostolic Community
C. 159
Mission and flexibility
Prayer and Silence
C. 160-161
Common rhythm in Christ
Shared Life
C. 162-163
Conferences, meals, recreation
Wider Fraternity
C. 164-167
Bonds beyond the local house
Discussion Guide Pattern:
Preparation -> Prayer -> Reflection -> Silence -> Discussion -> Action Steps
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
Sources: NAP PS 1–3; TD PS 45, 75; WPP PS 1; Constitutions C. 44–78, 150–154.
Recommendation 1
Renew the Evangelical Counsels through a Salesian and Constitutional Renewal Process
1
Desired Impact
Our common life is sustained by our total consecration to Christ through the Evangelical Councils. The Constitutions give the direction for living chastity, poverty, & obedience, and they root our way of life in the Salesian spirit of charity expressed with gentleness, humility, & optimism. A structured, communal renewal helps members name how the vows are being lived, identify tensions or drift, and recommit to concrete practices that support fidelity and fraternity.
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
Sources: NAP PS 4–10; TD PS 19, 144, 172, 354–361; WPP PS 2–8, 22–25; Constitutions C. 144, 162–172, 353–364.
Recommendation 2
Establish a Province-wide Rule for Community Life and Common Prayer with Local Adaptation
2
Desired Impact
Common life is rooted in a shared life in Christ through intentional communal practices that create culture of mutual respect and accountability: Eucharist, prayer, meditation, examen, community devotional practices, annual retreat.
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
Sources: NAP PS 11–13; WPP PS 9–10; Constitutions C. 187, 209.
Recommendation 3
Strengthen Community Life Through Structured Fraternal Dialogue and Spiritual Conferences
3
Desired Impact
Constitutions insist on deep respect, acceptance of personality differences, & true friendship, noting that success in community is our duty to work at daily. They require a spiritual conference with open discussion and highlight meals & recreation as privileged occasions for fraternal conversation.
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
Sources: NAP PS 14–16; TD PS 251, 313–314; WPP PS 11–12; Constitutions C. 245–259, 310–318.
Recommendation 4
Create a Plan for Province-wide Fraternity Beyond the Local Community
4
Desired Impact
The Constitutions require deliberate effort to visit confreres across communities and to extend fraternal union and mutual help beyond the local house and province. They also recognize the reality of members living outside a house and require clear permissions and appropriate oversight when this occurs.
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
Sources: NAP PS 17–18; TD PS 321, 327 and appendices; WPP PS 13, 16–17; Constitutions C. 321, 327.
An Integrated Rhythm For Common Life
Four recommendations reinforce the same movement: communion, mission, and accountability.
Annual
Renew Vows &
Salesian Commitments
→
Daily / Weekly
Common Prayer, silence, Eucharist
Biweekly / Monthly
Spiritual Conferences,
Fraternal Check-ins
Quarterly
Regional Fraternity Province Events
Prudent experimentation remains essential: apostolic demands affect schedules, but they do not remove the call to shared life.
→
→
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
Implementation Roadmap
Move with Salesian alacrity, pilot wisely, and review annually.
0-30 days
Begin regular fraternal check-ins; appoint/rotate local facilitators.
60-90 days
Begin monthly community meetings, chapters, guidebook sessions.
3 months
Pilot the house schedule and develop regional gatherings.
12 months
Annual review through house self-assessments, and canonical visitation.
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
Measurement: Keeping Ourselves Accountable
Review the practices that make
fraternity visible.
Mutual Accountability
The measure is not a perfect schedule. - The measure is whether structures support fraternity, charity, and apostolic vitality.
Provincial Visitation Discussion
House Self-Assessment
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
Synodal Question
With guidance from the Holy Spirit, what recommendations speak most clearly to our shared call to renewal, and why?