Consecrated Life for Women

Our founding members desired to live “a more profoundly spiritual life” and to do “missionary work in the factories, schools and offices where they were working.” Our founding charism is to carry out the New Evangelization in the secular world, bringing the joy and love of Jesus Christ to those who don’t know Him. Our constitution calls us to provide loving, spiritual support for each member in her mission and to receive formation in the gentle, effective evangelization method of St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

Guided by Salesian spirituality, we commit ourselves to prayer and the three Evangelical Counsels of celibate chastity, poverty and obedience:

• Celibate chastity , calls us to commit our hearts and bodies, undivided, to Jesus, and take him as our Spouse.   By doing this, we free our hearts to love others in a fuller way. As brides of Christ, we carry the love of our Bridegroom as burning lamps into the world in which we live and work.

• Poverty frees us to enjoy the peace of a life lived in simplicity. Although we are financially independent we practice a detachment from material goods, knowing that all we receive in life are gifts from God. We joyfully share our treasure, time and talent with our institute and in any way the Holy Spirit moves us.

• Obedience reminds us that we are to be like “little children” before our Heavenly Father, who tenderly guides all who submit to His will. It includes fidelity to our personal vocation as a member of the Secular institute of St. Francis de Sales, as well as faithfulness to the Roman Catholic Church. We are obedient to our Salesian way of life set out in our constitution and spiritual directory, our rule which guides us in our everyday lives.

We invite Catholic women between age 20 and mid-life who are single, widowed, or divorced with annulment to learn more about our way of life in Christ. The inquiry period lasts one year and allows interested women an opportunity to learn about secular consecration and salesian spirituality in more depth. Candidates for profession are guided through a two to three year period of formation before their Mass of Consecration and profession of vows. Vows must be made for five years before being fully professed in the institute.

Associate Membership

Catholic Christian adults, male or female, who desire to share in the institute’s mission to evangelize the world are invited to join as Associates. The formation period is approximately one year and introduces the Associate member to St. Francis de Sales, his classic writings, and the spiritual directory used by the professed members. Associates participate in meetings, retreats, days of recollection, and prayer sessions alongside the professed members.

Apostolate

We are called to continue the work of caring for souls which Saint Francis de Sales began. We strive to emulate his extraordinary goodness and calm, tact and respect, unselfishness and loving willingness to lead souls to God. As Salesians we courageously accept the responsibility of spreading and defending the faith.

Our Founder

By the grace of God the idea of forming a Secular Institute began with Father Reisinger and his Salesian discussion group. In 1944 our institute was established in Vienna, Austria, where our international headquarters still resides.
In 1964 our Salesian community was given the status of Secular Institute under Episcopal jurisdiction from Rome. The DeSales Secular Institute has communities in six countries: Austria, Germany, Namibia, Brazil, Ecuador, and the United States.

Father John J Conmy, OSFS

Father John Conmy’s gentle and loving spirit taught us how to live a truly devout life, when we were with him we felt we were in the presence of Jesus.He educated us with sound doctrine of Saint Francis de Sales and our Holy Catholic Church, he was always faithful to the Magisterium. As our spiritual guide Father John directed us to Jesus and Mary, encouraging us to trust in God’s loving will and lean on Our Lord and Our Lady. He showed us how to live Jesus by offering our daily activities in prayerful loving service to God and others. Now, in heaven, Father John has joined our Salesian family of saints and with them intercedes for us here on earth.

Our Faithful Friend and Spiritual Guide
Father John J Conmy OSFS/Oblate of St Francis de Sales

Given by God October 12 1910 – Given to God April 21 2006

National Assistant DeSales Secular Institute 1978-1998

Papal Documents on Secular Institutes

On February 2, 1947, Pope Pius XII gave official approval to secular institutes as an original form of consecrated life in the world. Members have the special mission “to work for the sanctification of the world from within” (Provida Mater Ecclesia.) The history and theology of this vocation is explained in the following papal documents:

• 1947 Provida Mater Ecclesia Pope Pius XII recognizes Secular Institutes as a new form of  consecration.
• 1948 motu proprio Primo Feliciter Pope Pius XII acknowledges the blessings of laity in Secular Institutes.
• 1964 Our Salesian community is given the status of Secular Institute under Episcopal jurisdiction from Rome.
• 1988 Christifideles Laici Pope John Paul II writes to the lay faithful about their mission and responsibility.
• 1996 Vita Consecrata Pope John Paul II explains consecrated life and its mission in the Church and world.