Fr. James A. McKenna, SDB (1951-2026)

Fr. James A. McKenna, SDB (1951-2026)

Father James Aloysius McKenna, SDB, died in Charleston, S.C., on Tuesday, Nov. 10, after a month-long illness that was eventually diagnosed as pancreatic cancer. He was 75 years old and had been a professed Salesian for 55 years and a priest for 46 years.

Fr. McKenna and Fr. John Cosgrove had arrived in South Carolina only last June to inaugurate a new Salesian presence on July 5, pastoral care of Transfiguration Parish in Blythewood and its mission St. Teresa Church in Winnsboro.

Fr. Jim McKenna was born in Jersey City, N.J., on May 9, 1951, the only child of Charles and Marie Coles McKenna. He was baptized on May 27, 1951, at St. Joseph’s Church in Jersey City and confirmed in 1963 at St. Matthew’s Church in Edison, N.J.

Jim attended Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., graduating in 1969. The Prep’s 1969 yearbook informs us that Jim was active as an altar server and in the band; his favorite subject was history and his favorite activity “loafing.” At the Prep he developed a close relationship with the director, Fr. Joseph Tyminski, who would also be his director during Bro. Jim’s theology studies and pastoral ministries in Columbus, leading toward ordination; and yet again at Don Bosco College while Fr. Jim was treasurer.

Dr. James Scanlon, a long-time teacher and administrator at Don Bosco Prep, says (in his inimitable style) that no one was surprised by young Jim’s vocational path: “Many will remember that Jim’s relationship with Don Bosco Prep and the Salesian community goes back to the Kennedy/Johnson administration in the 1960s. I had the chance to teach Jim Latin 2 during my first year, 60 years ago. It surprised no one who knew him that he was interested in religious life and our then-director Father Joseph Tyminski assisted Jim in that period of discernment, spending his four high school years as a resident in Saint John's Hall.”

Jim entered Don Bosco College Seminary in Newton, N.J., in September 1969 as a Son of Mary (at age 18, he was a “late vocation”). He made his novitiate in Ipswich, Mass., where Fr. Theodore Ciampi was his master of novices and his 23 classmates included the future Bro. Bernard Dubé, Fr. Dennis Hartigan, Fr. Mark Hyde, and Fr. Stephen Schenck. They professed first vows in Newton on September 1, 1971. Bro. Jim professed perpetually at St. Anthony’s Church in Elizabeth, N.J., on August 27, 1977.

Bro. Jim graduated from Don Bosco College in June 1974 with a B.A. in philosophy. He did practical training as a teacher at Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa from 1974 to 1976.

Fr. Jim was ordained in Columbus, Ohio, on May 24, 1980, and in June was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, where he had studied theology since 1976 while residing with the Salesian community in downtown Columbus.

Fr. Jim began his priestly ministry as associate pastor at Mary Help of Christians Parish in Manhattan (1980-1982). Then he was given the first of several financial assignments, treasurer of Don Bosco College in Newton and of the Salesian community there (1982-1988). He would later have financial roles as province development director in New Rochelle (1989-1990), treasurer in Tampa (1990-1991), province treasurer in New Rochelle (1991-1994), and assistant at Don Bosco Prep’s development office in Ramsey (2021-2026).

He had a one-year stint back in the classroom at his high school alma mater in Ramsey (1988-1989); he taught religion and also did guidance counseling. For nine years, he enjoyed being a parish priest: four years as a pastor at Corpus Christi Parish in Port Chester, N.Y. (1994-1998), and five as youth minister at St. Philip Benizi Parish in Belle Glade, Fla. (1998-2003). His final assignment was as assistant pastor this year at the Salesians’ new ministry in Blythewood.

After the parish assignments came 2 as director of major Salesian works: Abp. Shaw HS in Marrero, La. (2003-2011) and the Marian Shrine-Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw-Stony Point (2011-2021). In Marrero, he helped the school recover from some administrative difficulties and then from the effects of Hurricane Katrina; he saw to the completion of All Saints Hall (a new classroom building), updated many other facilities, installed new lighting and security, and introduced computer technology to the students.

Fr. Jim (top center) joined the celebration of Fr. Sid Figlia's jubilee in 2008
at St. John Bosco Church in Harvey, La.
Also present: Bro. Joe Tortorici, Bro. Dave Verrett (bottom row with Fr. Sid),
Fr. Lou Konopelski, Fr. Jim Heuser (provincial), Fr. Tom McGahee, and Fr. Frank Carabello.

At the time of his 40th anniversary of religious profession, Fr. Jim testified that his life was centered on “community life, prayer, and celebrating Mass,” and maintained that he had experienced the rich reward of seeing God at work in his Salesian ministry. “40 years of religious profession and 31 years as a priest have given me great joy in contributing to the Salesian mission for the young.”

When his 40th anniversary of ordination rolled around, he found that the years had passed fast, and “being a Salesian priest has been a great fit for me vocationally. The many places being of service have given me a wider view of how God in this world is present in His church and sacraments.”

Fr. Jim occasionally appeared in print. In 1996 he contributed a reflection about the Sermon on the Mount to Catholic New York’s weekly Scripture column. Following the election of Pope Francis in 2013, Rockland County’s Journal News solicited Fr. Jim’s thoughts; he told the paper “that Francis appears to be a man who knows exactly what he wants to do as pope. ‘He is a new-world person and has new-world ideas. He has a way of expressing himself that is for the people. He wants to be with the people and, I suppose, listen to the people.’”

Fr. Jim at the director's desk in Haverstraw

Those who knew Fr. Jim repeatedly cite how welcoming he was. Former Salesian Bob Heilmann states, “He made you feel like you belonged.” Salesian Cooperator Andrea Zimmerman tells us: “Whether at the Marian Shrine or at Don Bosco Prep, whenever I encountered Fr. Jim, he would run over to greet me with a big smile, a warm hug, and the words, ‘If you need anything, just reach out.’ With his constant welcome and generous service, he exemplified the Salesian Home.”

Making people feel at home extended even to their homes, according to Corpus Christi’s Deacon Mike Gizzo: “My wife and I invited the priests of the parish to dinner several times. We always had plenty of food. Each dinner, Fr. Jim would help to serve everyone else and never served himself until everyone had what they wanted. My youngest son has followed that example and has done the same thing ever since.” 

Fr. Jim’s welcome was warm and friendly, many recall. Former Salesian Fr. Roy Shelly says simply that “he was a great friend to all and always with a supportive smile and cheerful word.” Deacon Gizzo remembers that “as pastor, he always came out in the morning and afternoon to greet students as they entered and left the grammar school we had. He did the same after every single Mass for parishioners on the weekends. And he always had a big smile, indicating how much he enjoyed it.”

During Fr. Jim’s years as director of the Marian Shrine, Reborn Young Christ (a Korean ministry) flourished on the property. Simon Song, who eventually joined the Salesians for a few years, fondly recollects: “Fr. Jim was always generous to me and the Korean community at the Marian Shrine and the RYC movement. When I was in initial formation, I consistently observed him checking in on the young men in formation and always encouraging us.”

From a Don Bosco College yearbook
while Fr. Jim was treasurer there

Don Bosco Prep’s Dr. Scanlon stresses that “Father Jim made us all feel important, and that’s what mattered to him.” He cites Fr. Jim’s relationship with the school’s employees: “At one of our luncheons earlier this quarter [Fall 2026], I was talking to some of our cafeteria collaborators and, unsolicited, they told me how much they missed Father Jim—just being among them, helping, particularly as we wrapped up those luncheons on the third floor of Savio Hall.”

Fr. Abraham Feliciano brings together both the welcome and the friendliness: 

When I was a newly ordained priest, I went to Marrero to officiate the wedding of a former student for the first time. Fr. Jim was then the director of Abp. Shaw HS. He could not have been more welcoming, accommodating, and kind: he provided me with lodging and a vehicle, took me out to eat, and, after the wedding was over, sent me off with an ordination gift.

During my time on the provincial council, our annual joint meetings with the San Francisco Province were hosted every 2 years at Stony Point. At that time, Fr. Jim was the director of the community, and he left no stone unturned in ensuring the most welcoming, hospitable, and fraternal reception of our confreres from the West. Those gatherings always featured a festive meal with a full menu spanning savory appetizers to delicious desserts.

Fr. Jim had a gift for welcoming others. So, it was no surprise that during our time together at Don Bosco Prep (2021-2026), the Advancement Office regularly tapped him to receive guests at the school, give tours, or reestablish connections with alumni. Within the Salesian community, his good cheer, affable nature, and lighthearted sense of humor made him a joy to be around.

Blaise Perrello, another former Salesian, affirms, “I thought of Jim as a model Salesian priest.”

Andrea Zimmerman offers a specific priestly example: “I had the pleasure of attending a day of recollection in North Haledon, N.J., organized by the Cooperator unit one Lent, where Fr. Jim was the keynote speaker. I still remember his reflection. He invited all of us, about 75 to 100 people, to come to the front of the altar and choose a character in the story of the Way of the Cross/Crucifixion with whom we identified. He consistently engaged with people. He was a creative teacher and very humble.”

The Salesian Sisters’ postulants from North Haledon provide another example: “There were a few instances when the aspirants would not be at the community for confessions (because of our apostolic experiences or home visits). Fr. Jim was always willing to stay behind after our daily Mass [offered by the Ramsey SDBs] to make sure we had the sacrament of Reconciliation before our travels. We remember his kindness and pastoral care with great gratitude.”

Fr. Jim’s willingness to accommodate sometimes induced him to adopt a new role. For example, Bob Heilmann recalls: “On my wedding day 50 years ago at MHC [Tampa], not only did I have 3 priests preside but I had Bro. Jim [in practical training] step up and be our bartender at the reception. He was good, but he did not have to change any water to wine.”

Fr. Jim helping with Thanksgiving dinner
at Don Bosco College

Deacon Gizzo has an example of flexibility from Port Chester: “When I was teaching 8th grade religious ed, I organized a class trip to a homeless shelter to distribute toys just before Christmas. The students were nervous about it. Fr. Jim joined us and when he stepped into the van with all the students and he noticed their apprehension, he said simply ‘Mary Help of Christians, pray for us. What more do we need?’ You could feel the tension ease, and we had a great time at the shelter.” 

Everyone knew Fr. Jim had a grand, quiet sense of humor. Deacon Gizzo noted a delightful occasion at Fr. Jim’s going away party when he was leaving Corpus Christi. “All the parish priests and sisters came along with several parishioners. Fr. Jim posed for a picture sitting in my brother-in-law’s red Porsche, waving goodbye out of the driver window.”

Fr. Jim’s novitiate classmate Bro. Bernie Dubé, who also lived in community with him several times, sums up: “Jim was kind, generous, cheerful, and supportive; he was a good director and financial administrator. He was all around a wonderful priest, a wonderful Salesian, a good community confrere, and a good friend.”

Funeral arrangements

Friday, November 13, 2026

Transfiguration Church

9720 Wilson Blvd, 

Blythewood, SC 29016

4:30pm - Reception of the Body

5:00pm - Viewing

6:00pm -  Funeral Mass

(Live-stream from Transfiguration Church

https://www.youtube.com/@transfigurationcatholicchu2461/streams

or

https://www.facebook.com/Transfig/videos)

 

Thursday, November 19, 2026

National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians

174 Filors Lane

Stony Point, NY 10980

6:00pm – Rosary and sharing of memories

7:00pm - Memorial Mass

Interment at a later date at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Clearwater, Fla.

 

Homily for Thursday
Week 32 of Ordinary Time

Nov. 12, 2026
Phlm 7-20
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

Paul to Philemon is the shortest of Paul’s New Testament letters and, at the same time, his most personal.

Philemon is a well-to-do householder, probably at Colossae, a good friend of Paul and one of his converts.  He and his family host the church’s gatherings for worship and fellowship.

Paul is a prisoner, possibly at Ephesus.  He’s been joined there, not as a prisoner but as a refugee, by Onesimus, a slave who’s run away from Philemon.

The letter, then, is an appeal to Philemon to receive Onesimus back without a harsh punishment; rather, as a brother because he’s become a Christian.  As Philemon’s father in the faith, the one who led him to Christ, Paul could command this.  But Paul is delicate and considerate, appealing to his friend as for a favor.  With humor, he observes the Onesimus—which translated as “Useful”—has been useless to Philemon but useful to Paul in his captivity.  He offers to make good any loss Philemon has suffered from his slave’s temporary uselessness.

Some commentators read between the lines that Paul’s appealing for the slave’s freedom.  That’s a stretch, I think, given the social structure of the time.  But it does humanize the slave, laying some ground for the evolution of Christian thinking about social justice.  Elsewhere, Paul reminds believers that in Christ there’s neither slave nor free person (Gal 3:28).  Two centuries later, Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, mistress and slave, would die together for Christ.

As for us, we note Paul’s sensitivity toward his disciple friend.  He gives us an example “useful” for our relationships in community and household.

"Young people carry the same hopes in their hearts"

“Young people carry the same hopes in their hearts”

A Good Nite Message from Fr. William Matthews

(ANS – Rome – November 10, 2026) – On the evening of November 9, during the session of the general council, which began on October 26, Fr. William Matthews, general councilor for the East Asia-Oceania Region, addressed the Sacred Heart community at Salesian headquarters. He spoke about the life of the region, geographically the largest in the Congregation, and his recent visits.

A vast and vital region

The region encompasses 23 countries, characterized by different time zones, languages, and cultures, ranging from tropical climates to harsh winters. They are united by the same Salesian spirit and the passion for young people inherited from Don Bosco. Approximately 1,500 Salesians work there, not counting the FMAs and numerous other members of the Salesian Family. New vocations and missionary enthusiasm continue to flourish. A few months ago, a new vice province was created in North Vietnam, with the appointment of its first provincial.

Visits in recent months

• Burma (Myanmar) (August): Fr. Matthews’s native country. He returned there to consult for a new provincial and for the ordination of w Salesians, amid a difficult political situation. He expressed his deep emotion at the suffering and resilience of the people and asked for prayers. The Salesians continue to serve young people with generosity and courage.
• Southern Philippines: He spent 7 weeks conducting an extraordinary visitation, meeting confreres, members of the Salesian Family, and young people. He was struck by their strength of faith and their joyful spirit. Numerous vocations for the Church and the Congregation come from the Philippines.
• Vietnam: In August, he attended the meeting of the Salesian Family delegates; in October, he took part in the consultation for the appointment of a new provincial, who was appointed last Friday.
• Japan: The Rector Major’s visit to mark the centennial of Salesian presence in the country was, he said, a historic occasion and the first time a Rector Major has visited the region in this way.

With a smile, he commented on the widespread belief in Rome that the region is very remote: the farthest country is about a 25-hour flight away. He invited the confreres to visit, promising a warm Salesian welcome.

The hope of young people

In Korea, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia, he observed, young people share the same hopes: a life of meaning, peace, justice, happiness, opportunities, and values that guide their lives. This is not a phenomenon unique to the region, but a desire of young people worldwide. The Salesian mission is to walk with them, listen to them, accompany them, and help them discover God’s dream.

While acknowledging the challenges in the world, in society, and sometimes within the Congregation itself, Father Matthews finds reasons for hope in his encounters with young people: generosity, dreams, and faith demonstrate that God is still at work. He urged them to be messengers of hope, peace, and love, and to trust in Providence: “This is not our work, but God’s.” He concluded by asking for prayers for the region, which in turn remembers the headquarters community in its own.

Don Bosco Fambul Honored Contribution to Peacebuilding and Child Protection

Don Bosco Fambul Honored for Contribution to Peacebuilding and Child Protection

(ANS – Freetown, Sierra Leone – November 9, 2026) – Don Bosco Fambul, a Salesian non-governmental organization based in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, has received a significant recognition from the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion for its extraordinary contribution to peacebuilding, child protection, and social reintegration in the country. The award was presented by the president of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, to Samuel Bojohn, the organization’s deputy director—the only staff member who has been with the organization since its inception.

The ceremony took place on October 26 during the Conference on National Unity and Social Cohesion.

Since its founding in 1998, Don Bosco Fambul has been steadfastly committed to protecting vulnerable children and youths, supporting victims of abuse, rehabilitating minors affected by conflict, and creating opportunities for a better future.

This recognition honors years of dedication, compassion, and tireless effort aimed at restoring hope, dignity, and new prospects to thousands of young people.

Deep gratitude was expressed to the partners, supporters, staff, and everyone who continues to make this mission possible. “Together,” they write, “we continue to protect childhood, restore hope, and build a better future for every child.”

Justification of the Award by the Commission

Don Bosco Fambul has made an exceptional contribution to peace and social reintegration in Sierra Leone, thru its long-standing commitment to former child soldiers, vulnerable minors, and other young people affected by conflict, abuse, and exclusion. Founded by U.S. Salesian missionary Fr. John Thompson in Freetown in 1998, during the civil war, the organization initially focused on rescuing and rehabilitating children who had been recruited into armed groups.

At a time when thousands of minors had experienced violence, displacement, and separation from their families, Don Bosco Fambul provided protection, assistance, and opportunities for recovery.

This work addressed one of the most complex challenges in Sierra Leone’s post-war recovery process: ensuring that minors involved with armed groups had the chance to overcome their trauma and successfully reintegrate into society.

Over time, the organization expanded its services to include children living on the streets, victims of trafficking and abuse, and young people who had come into conflict with the law. Thru initiatives such as Don Bosco Mobil—launched in 2010—the organization has provided outreach services, counseling, healthcare, education, and vocational training to thousands of vulnerable minors.

Its rehabilitation programs have also supported young people in detention, offering educational and psychosocial services designed to prepare them for reintegration into society.

In 2024, Don Bosco Fambul celebrated 25 years of operation, a testament to its enduring commitment to protecting minors and promoting their well-being.

The organization’s contribution to peace extends well beyond humanitarian aid: by restoring dignity, strengthening family ties, and creating opportunities for the most vulnerable youths, it has helped counter the conditions that can fuel exclusion, violence, and the resurgence of conflict.

Homily for Memorial of St. Leo the Great

Homily for the Memorial of
St. Leo the Great

Nov. 10, 2026
Collect
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

Pope Leo meets Attila
(Oratory of St. Philip Neri)

It’s a measure of Christ’s prudence and his kindness that he founded his Church “on the apostolic rock” of St. Peter.  Pope St. Leo was very conscious of being Peter’s successor, and his influence as a trustworthy teacher of the faith was universal.  We remember him particularly for his teaching on the 2 natures of Christ united in one divine Person.

Leo’s apostolic preaching and universal care for Christ’s flock in Peter’s name is one reason why he was the 1st to be called “the Great.”  A 2d reason is his work for peace and the protection of the people of Rome.  That he influenced Attila the Hun to divert his army is well known.  He was less successful later in getting Genseric the Vandal to spare the city, but he did manage to protect most of the people—no small achievement in the violent ancient world.

Popes continue to follow Leo’s lead in seeking to mediate “the protection of lasting peace,” tho the world usually isn’t willing to listen—not to Benedict XV, Pius XII, John Paul II, or Francis.  John Paul did at least avert a war between Argentina and Chile.  Leo XIV was recently partly responsible for the safe evacuation of Oleshky in Ukraine.  The media seem to have given most of the credit for that to Melania Trump.  There’s an old political adage that a lot can be accomplished if you don’t mind who gets credit for it.

We continue to revere Peter’s successors, and we pray they may always teach us well the truth of the Gospel.  We pray, too, that the world will listen to their appeals for peace and a just society based on human dignity.

Good Nite by Fr. Roman Jachimowicz

Good Nite by Fr. Roman Jachimowicz
“A new wind is blowing across Europe”

(ANS – Rome – November 6, 2026) – On the evening of November 5, during the general council session which began on October 26, Fr. Roman Jachimowicz, general councilor for the Central and Northern Europe Region, gave his Good Nite to the Sacred Heart community at Salesian headquarters. Drawing on his extraordinary visitation to Belgium and the Netherlands, and his time in Germany and Austria, he offered some reflections on cultural changes in Europe and the challenges they pose to the Salesians.

Something is changing in Europe

Fr. Jachimowicz spoke of a time of encounters and reflection. The protests sweeping through various European cities – each very different from the other – are, for him, a sign of dissatisfaction, fear of the future, and a need for security and guidance. Hence the question: are the Salesians in Europe able to recognize this change?

One moment in Assel, the Netherlands, has stayed with him: a large group of young people had gathered to pray, the majority of whom had no religious background. They were seeking silence, a moment to pause, something more profound. For the councilor, after years of talking about a secularized society, today we must increasingly speak of a post-secular society: a section of society has lived without God and without transcendence, and now feels a void.

The European paradox

Referring to contemporary art, which is often made up of fragments and has no connection to goodness, truth, and beauty, he described an era with many images, ideas, and freedoms, but one that struggles to find meaning. Europe offers possibilities never seen before: comfortable homes, well-stocked supermarkets, travel, education, healthcare, and technology. Yet anxiety, depression, and loneliness are on the rise. Young people have thousands of contacts but few deep relationships; they receive a vast amount of information but struggle to understand the world.

Using a simple image, he spoke of “information overload”: like fast food, it fills you up but doesn’t nourish you and can lead to “mental obesity,” with a full mind and an empty heart. The model of happiness that’s constructed, planned, or bought doesn’t work entirely, and the fundamental questions return: who am I? Where do I belong? What’s the meaning of my life? Where am I going? Not even artificial intelligence can answer these for us.

A cry for meaning, and the word “listen”

What’s happening today isn’t, in his view, merely a whisper, but at times “a cry for meaning, for belonging” and, ultimately, a cry directed toward God. This doesn’t mean a return to the religious forms of the past, nor that Europe is suddenly becoming Christian, but that many young people are seeking something true and stable. He cited France, where tens of thousands of young people gathered to pray and meet the Pope.

For the Salesians, the key word is listening: not only to what young people say, but also to what they don’t yet know how to say. Perhaps young people are asking their questions in places where the Salesians aren’t present. Recalling Dino Buzzati’s The Desert of the Tartars and Fortress Bastiani, he warned against the risk of having facilities full of young people without hearing their questions. The issue, he said, isn’t merely whether the works are functioning, but whether we’re still listening: can we recognize the young person who doesn’t immediately ask for catechism but seeks silence, and who doesn’t say, “I’m seeking God,” but “I don’t know what meaning my life has”?

A path toward God

The challenge isn’t to stop at social or psychological support, however necessary that may be. The Salesians are called to offer a home, genuine relationships, education, friendship and, “also or above all”, a path toward God. Fr. Jachimowicz expressed his conviction that a new wind is blowing in Europe and that the era in which secularization seemed the definitive answer is coming to an end. “You can’t see the wind. We only see what it moves.” He concluded with the question: are European Salesians ready to see this new wind?

Homily for 32d Sunday of Ordinary Time

Homily for the
32d Sunday of Ordinary Time

Nov. 8, 2026
Matt 25: 1-13
Scout Trek-o-ree, Putnam Valley
St. Francis Xavier, Bronx

We’re approaching the end of the church year, and in ch. 25 of St. Matthew’s Gospel we’re nearing the end of Jesus’ public ministry and his teaching.  Today and the next 2 Sundays, the last 3 of the church year, he’ll tell us 3 parables that advise us to get ready for the end—not the end of the year but the end of time, his own 2d Coming and the Last Judgment of every man and woman who ever lived, the judgment that will decide how we’ll spend eternity.  “Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matt 25:13).

I camp in Harriman State Park a few times a year, and I’m pretty good at planning what food, water, and gear I need.  Four years ago I started to prepare supper and realized I’d forgotten my knife, fork, and spoon.  After saying something I can’t repeat here, I realized I was going to have to eat my ramen noodles with chop sticks—I carry some with me as fire tinder.  But a nearby camper came to my site, just being friendly, and learning of my predicament, provided an extra set of utensils.[1]

My camping predicament and my salvation, as it were—the spare utensils—was quite different from the situation of the 10 young women in Jesus’ parable today.  I don’t habitually forget my utensils, which are one part of a lot of gear.  But these 10 women have just one task—to be ready to light the way for the bridegroom when he arrives.  One task!

You’ve all known people who can’t be depended on, people who depend on you to bail them out of their own irresponsibility.  It happens in school, at work, and in social circles:  “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out” (25:8).

The 5 wise virgins respond sensibly that there’s not enuf oil for all 10 of them.  The bridegroom’s procession home with his new bride will be spoiled if all 10 of the women have their lamps go dark.

The parable isn’t about just any wedding party.  The bridegroom is an image of Christ; we, the Church, are his bride.  The wedding feast is the banquet of eternal life:  “Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb,” the Lamb’s wedding feast, as we acclaim before Holy Communion, the sacrament of that eternal banquet.

By Frans Francken the Younger

In the parable, “those who were ready went into the wedding feast” with the groom.  “Then the door was locked” (25:10).

When St. Paul was writing his letters to the Thessalonians, Christians were expecting the Lord to return at any time.  The faithful in Thessalonica had asked Paul, with concern, about those who died before he returned.  Would they be saved?  That’s what Paul was answering in our 2d reading (I, 4:13-18).

By the time St. Matthew was writing his Gospel, 30 or 40 years later, Christians were facing up to Christ’s delay.  “The bridegroom was long delayed” (25:5).

The problem for the 10 young women with their lamps isn’t that “they all became drowsy and fell asleep” (25:5).  It’s that 5 of them weren’t prepared when the bridegroom finally showed up.

When the Lord returns, or when we’re summoned in death to appear before him for judgment, there won’t be any borrowing of oil nor any time to “go to the merchants and buy some” (25:9).  The lit lamps we’ll be carrying for the Bridegroom, for Christ our judge, will be the light of the Christian faith we’ve lived.  When we were baptized, the priest or deacon presented us—to our parents on our behalf—a candle lit from the Easter candle, and he commanded us, “You have been enlightened by Christ. Walk always as a child of the light and  keep the flame of faith alive in your heart. When the Lord comes, may you go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.”

No one else can hand off to us the faith we will have lived, the virtue we will have practiced.  If we’ve been faithful disciples of Christ, we’ll go into the wedding feast with him.  If we show up empty handed, with useless, dead lamps, with no good deeds done in imitation of Christ, we’ll be locked out, and no amount of knocking on heaven’s door will help:  “Lord, Lord, open the door for us!  But he said in reply, ‘Amen I say to you, I don’t know you.’” (25:10-12)

Jesus concludes the parable, “Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour” when the Bridegroom, Christ our Lord, will return, or when you (or I) will be called from earth to divine judgment.  “Stay awake” really means, “Be ready.”  Live every moment with Jesus at your side, in your heart, in your speech, in your manner of life.

---

[1] This tale amused the Scouts at their Mass on Saturday evening.

Salesian Missions' Food Distribution Appeal

Salesian Missions Launches Annual Food Distribution Appeal

(ANS – New Rochelle – November 5, 2026) – Salesian Missions has launched its Annual Food Distribution Appeal, enabling donors to multiply their gift many times over by turning a $1 donation into $20 of critical nutrition.

Salesian Missions maintains partnerships with international humanitarian aid organizations like Rise Against Hunger and Feed My Starving Children that donate tons of nutritious food. With the trusted presence of Salesian missionaries in more than 130 countries, life-saving meals are provided for people who need them most. Donor funding helps Salesian Missions transport the meals from shipping docks to Salesian program locations around the globe.

In some places, the severity of food insecurity is overwhelming. An estimated 645,000,000 people are living with hunger, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Further, the organization has noted that about 2.1 billion people (26% of the global population) were moderately or severely food insecure in 2025, lacking regular access to safe, sufficient, and nutritious food.

In 2025, Salesian Missions sent food aid to Benin, Burundi, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Guatemala, East Timor, Uganda, and Zambia. This food aid provided meals to students and served as an incentive for families to send their children to school. As a result of the feeding programs, students are thriving. Many have gained weight, suffer fewer illnesses, and have become more focused on their studies.

“Salesian missionaries are perfectly positioned to effectively and efficiently distribute goods and supplies like food aid to the communities in which they serve,” said Fr. Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “Our donors remain an integral part in ensuring this aid reaches youths who depend on Salesian programs for food, water, shelter, and education.”

More than 30,000 Salesians are dedicated to caring for youths who are poor and disadvantaged by providing programs around the globe. Salesian programs assist youngsters thru education (academic, trade, and agricultural), workforce development initiatives, emergency relief and humanitarian aid, infrastructure support, clean water initiatives, and nutritional and health services.

To learn more and make a donation, visit SalesianMissions.org/lp/food.

Appointment of New SDB Secretary General

Appointment of New SDB Secretary General

(ANS – Rome – November 2, 2026) – With the consent of his council, the Rector Major has appointed the new secretary of the general council. He is Fr. Tomasz Sage, a Salesian from the Wroclaw Province of Poland. He will succeed Fr. Guido Garino, who has held the post of secretary general since 2022.

Fr. Sage, born in Tarnowskie Gory on November 4, 1988, attended the Salesian novitiate in Kopiec, where he made his first profession on September 8, 2008; he professed perpetual vows on August 30, 2014 in Lubin. He was ordained a deacon in Jerusalem in 2015 and a priest in Tarnowskie Gory on June 18, 2016.

He has held various posts, first in his hometown, where he served as councilor and director of the Oratory, and then in Leszno, where he served as treasurer, vice director, and principal.

In April 2025, he obtained a licentiate in canon law from the Uniwersytet Kardynala Stefana Wyszynskiego in Warsaw.

In the service of Salesian life and mission

The secretary general serves the Rector Major and his council and contributes to the governance of the Salesian Congregation. He attends general council meetings, drafts the minutes, and oversees the preparation of official documents, ensuring that decisions are properly documented and communicated to those concerned. He is also responsible for the offices of the general secretariat; he oversees the collection and updating of data relating to the confreres, houses, and provinces; he oversees the publication of the Acts of the General Council; and he is responsible for the Congregation’s central archives.

Thru this service he contributes to the continuity of the Congregation’s governance, to communication between the general administration and the provinces, and to the preservation of the memory of the journey undertaken by the Salesian Society. His work, often discreet yet essential, supports the work of the Rector Major and his council and fosters communion and the smooth functioning of the Congregation, in the service of the Salesian mission thruout the world.

Salesian Missions Funds Don Bosco Community Center

Salesian Missions Funds Don Bosco Community Center
Aid for education and nutrition programs

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions

(ANS – New Rochelle – November 3, 2026) – Don Bosco Community Center, located in Port Chester, N.Y., received donor funding to help support education and nutrition programs from November 2025 to July 2026. The funding came from Salesian Missions of New Rochelle.

The funding directly supported 70 youths in kindergarten to grade 8 who are from low-income and primary immigrant families. These families rely on the center for academic support, safe afterschool supervision, enrichment programs, and healthy nutrition. Most youths come from households of 3 to 6 members, and the parents generally have a high school education or less, work in low-wage jobs, and often face language barriers and food insecurity.

Thru the afterschool program, youths received homework help and took part in STEAM and recreation activities. The center provides after-school academic support and enrichment for approximately 30 children, ESL classes, and college access mentoring for approximately 20 first-generation students.

The center’s nutrition program provided hot meals for the youths and their families. Funding also supported the soup kitchen that provides nutritious meals to individuals, families, and elderly community members facing food insecurity. This helped reduce hunger and strengthen family support. The center serves close to 4,300 hot meals each month.

During the past year, the center also introduced a culinary skills and ServSafe certification program to provide men, women, and youths in the community with practical job skills and training. The program has generated strong interest, and there is currently a waitlist of more than 45 individuals hoping to participate.

Two of the youths who were supported thru the center’s college program gave an interview with News12 Westchester. Andrea Barjas explained, “I’ve been a part of the Don Bosco Scholars for two years, and they’ve helped me thruout the whole process.” Diego Umanzor said, “I feel like people believe in me. People around me are rooting for me.”

Don Bosco Community Center serves youths and families that are often vulnerable and struggling, empowering them to build lives of dignity, stability, and hope. Programs feed, educate, and support families to offer a chance for a brighter future.

Source: MissionNewswire

Homily for Thursday, Week 31 of Ordinary Time

Homily for Thursday
Week 31 of Ordinary Time

Nov. 5, 2026
Luke 15: 1-10
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

The Good Shepherd
(Philippe de Champaigne)

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15: 2).

It’s been said that if Jesus doesn’t eat with sinners, he must eat alone.  Let’s concede that his Mother could join him.

To respond to the complaint of the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus tells 3 parables.  We just heard 2.  All of us probably could narrate the 3d one from memory, the parable of the lost son and his rejoicing father (15:11-32).

All 3 parables highlight heaven’s joy when someone who’s been lost is found and restored, symbolized by a sheep, a drachma, and a son.

The parables, let’s remember, are addressed to those who look down on “sinners” and fault Jesus for caring about them.  Perhaps we sometimes despise “sinners” too—the world has an ample cast of evil characters.  If we care about them like Jesus, altho we can’t dine with them, we can pray for them.

The other side of the parables is us.  We are the lost sheep, the lost drachma, the lost son, sinners.  We are the ones who rejoice God’s heart when we repent (15:7,10); and repentance is our constant, never-ending work, trying daily to let Christ find us and keep us safe.

Salesians to Rebuild 2 Schools in Sudan

The Salesians to Rebuild 2 Schools in Sudan

Will restore hope to 581 children affected by civil war

(ANS – Khartoum, Sudan – October 28, 2026) – The civil war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has left the country devastated, with millions displaced and numerous schools, hospitals, and homes destroyed.

In Khartoum, the capital, the fighting has also severely affected the facilities of the Salesian mission, which for decades has been providing education, vocational training, and support to thousands of vulnerable families.

After more than 3 years of conflict, the material damage has been compounded by an economic crisis that prevents many families from meeting basic needs, such as feeding their children and providing them with an education. Many children have been out of school for a long time, leaving them vulnerable to child labor, exploitation, and other risky situations.

The provincial delegate for Sudan, Fr. Joseph Can, traveled to Khartoum to assess the damage. While finding the situation relatively calm in the areas he visited, he noted the deterioration of schools, workshops, parish centers, and other mission facilities. Fortunately, much of the infrastructure can be restored. To this end, the Salesians have launched a program of gradual rehabilitation, with the aim of returning these educational and social spaces to the communities.

Two schools damaged by the war and 581 children in need of a return to education

Among the priorities are the schools in Al Gubba and Al Gadisiya, linked to the Salesian parish of St. Joseph in Kalakla, in the southern part of Khartoum. The former has 287 pupils—161 girls and 126 boys; the latter has 294 pupils—155 girls and 139 boys. In total, the 2 schools are attended by 581 children from families who have suffered displacement, financial loss, and the direct consequences of violence.

Both schools have suffered significant damage to classrooms, doors, windows, furniture, and water and electricity systems. At Al Gadisiya, it will also be necessary to assess the safety of an upper floor whose construction has not been completed.

The works involve the refurbishment of 12 classrooms or rooms and 2 blocks of toilet facilities in each school, the restoration of essential utilities, and the purchase of school furniture. School uniforms and teaching materials are also provided for all pupils, along with financial support for the 26 teachers and 4 support staff working at the 2 schools.

The resumption of teaching activities, in fact, does not depend solely on the reconstruction of the buildings. Many families have lost their jobs and lack the necessary resources to buy school supplies or ensure their children have adequate nutrition.

Much more than just repairing classrooms: nutrition, protection, and community life to rebuild the future

Therefore the Salesians plan to provide a daily meal to the 581 pupils, helping to combat hunger, improve concentration, and encourage school attendance. The initiatives also include sporting activities, hygiene education, psychosocial support, and child protection measures, so that children can find a safe and stable environment in schools.

The schools also serve as an example of coexistence in a country deeply scarred by violence: 388 pupils are Muslim and 193 are Christian, and they all share the same classrooms without any religious distinctions.

The Salesians arrived in Sudan in 1980 and were the last religious congregation to leave the country at the height of the war, when it was no longer possible to guarantee their own safety. They have now returned to contribute, thru educational reconstruction, to restoring trust and cohesion within the communities.

Restoring the chance to study to these 581 boys and girls means much more than simply repairing buildings: it means offering them protection, stability, and an opportunity to build a different future.

Salesian Missionary Volunteers

Salesian Missionary Volunteers
The Advisory Team Visits Würzburg

(ANS – Würzburg, Germany – November 4, 2026) – Following its annual meeting in Rome, the Salesian Missionary Volunteers advisory team travelled to Würzburg, where they took part in a gathering of former volunteers who, in recent years, had been sent from Germany to various Salesian provinces around the world for a year of volunteer service. The gathering, focused on the theme of hope, was very fruitful and well-attended.

U.S. members of the advisory team are J.C. Montenegro from Bellflower, Calif. (far left in photo), and Adam Rudin from New Rochelle (at back, 3d from left).

Rector Major's Message for November

 THE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR

Fr. Fabio Attard, SDB

Believing – in a World

Without a Compass 

A reflection on Rom. 12:12: “Be joyful in hope, steadfast in tribulation, persevering in prayer.”

By Arpingstone - Public Domain 

Let’s pause for a moment on these few words. Let’s read them again slowly, allowing each one to find its place within us: joyful… steadfast… persevering. These are brief words, written by Paul to the community in Rome, yet they contain an entire journey. They’re offered as cardinal points for those who fear they’ve lost their way.

How many today feel this bewilderment. We live in an age rich in possibilities, knowledge, and instruments, yet often poor in shared points of reference. We’re constantly bombarded by information, proposals, and promises of happiness, and we struggle to distinguish what endures from what passes away. Everything is in acceleration. Uncertainty grows, and life becomes fragmented. Something within us weakens: the capacity to wait, to persevere, and to entrust ourselves.

Paul doesn’t offer us a formula that consoles us for a fleeting moment; he gives us a rule of life. He doesn’t ask us to flee the world, but to inhabit it with a heart that’s rightly oriented. Hope, steadfastness, and prayer—interwoven like a three-strand cord that’s not easily broken.

Joyful in hope

Be joyful in hope. The first word is an invitation to joy—not to a superficial cheerfulness, but to that quiet joy born of a certainty: God is faithful. Our lives have meaning. No situation, however dark, is beyond the reach of his saving hand.

Let’s allow this certainty to sink deep within us. History isn’t a random succession of events; our existence isn’t consigned to a void. We walk toward a fulfillment that we don’t construct alone: ​​we receive it as a promise; we welcome it as a gift. Precisely for this reason, hope doesn’t divert us from our daily commitments; indeed, it restores them to us so we can live them with greater freedom and responsibility.

Those who hope can sow even when they don’t yet see the harvest—loving without possessing; serving without seeking a reward. Hope unbinds us from the anxiety of “wanting it all and wanting it right now” and educates us to a fruitful, patient, and trusting form of waiting—like that of the farmer who steadfastly awaits the precious fruit of the earth.

To be joyful in hope, then, means safeguarding in our hearts a joy that can endure even through tears. It’s the joy of those who know that evil will not have the final word. It’s a humble joy—sometimes silent—yet one that rests upon a rock: the presence of God.

Steadfast in tribulation

Christian hope doesn’t preclude tribulation. It promises no one a life free of trials. It asks something of us that is both humbler and greater: to remain steadfast amid the trial.

Steadfastness is the quiet strength of those who remain faithful when the path becomes an uphill climb. It means not abandoning what’s good simply because it demands time, sacrifice, and patience. When everything around us urges us to cast aside whatever doesn’t yield immediate satisfaction, the believer bears witness to the value of faithfulness—in relationships, in one’s vocation, in service, in education, and in the pursuit of justice.

Tribulation wears many faces, and each of us is familiar with some of them: illness, loneliness, failure, misunderstandings, a crisis of faith, the struggle of accompanying those who suffer. Then there are the tribulations that weigh upon entire peoples: war, poverty, forced migration, violence, inequality, and a lack of faith in the future. Faced with all this, the disciple can’t turn away his gaze. Indifference isn’t a Gospel path.

Steadfastness, in the light of the Gospel, thus becomes presence: the mature capacity to stand alongside those who suffer, not running away. It’s the courage to defend human dignity when no one else seems to see it. It’s faithfulness to the Gospel even when its message appears weak, inconvenient, or at odds with prevailing fads.

Persevering in prayer

But from where do hope and steadfastness come? Not from willpower alone. They require a deeper source, and Paul names it: perseverance in prayer. Without prayer, hope risks being reduced to naive optimism, and steadfastness to senseless obstinacy. In prayer, however, we gratefully acknowledge that we’re sustained in life by God.

To pray is to return, each day, to the Source. In silence and by listening to the Word, we learn to distinguish what’s urgent from what’s truly important. Prayer isn’t a magic wand that changes circumstances. It’s the sacred space where God changes us: he transforms our perspective, illuminates our hearts, and teaches us to interpret history not starting from our fears, but in the light of his fidelity.

To persevere in prayer means remaining steadfast even during times of dryness, distraction, or silence—when no consolation comes our way. It’s precisely then that prayer is purified: we choose to trust in God for who he is, and not merely for what he gives.

Persevering prayer thus becomes a relationship, surrender, and an openness to God’s will. It doesn’t lock us away in a private, interior sphere. A true encounter with God always matures into a call to encounter our brothers and sisters: the poor, disoriented youths, wounded families, and those who’ve lost hope. True prayer opens our eyes, educates us to compassion, and leads to service.

A compass for our times

In a world without a compass, the Christians don’t claim to possess all the answers. Rather, they simply bear witness to having found a direction—one that has a Face and a Name: Christ, in whom suffering is traversed by love and death opens onto resurrection.

Believers don’t arrogantly impose certainties. They offer credible witness: they’re joyful without being naive, steadfast without becoming rigid, prayerful without withdrawing from reality. Through their lives, they show that another way of living is possible.

Amid the disorientation of our times, Paul hands us a compass that is both simple and profound. Let’s hold it in our hands and allow it to guide our steps: hoping with joy, persevering with love, and praying without growing weary.