Meet the Salesian Sisters at St. Francis DeSales High School, and you get the feeling they have been a part of the school community for years, not just the months since their arrival in August 2021. Sister Loretta DeDomenicis, Sister Monique Huart, Sister Guerline Joseph and Sister Joo Yun Park can be seen any number of places throughout the school day.  

“The Sisters have affected everyday life at DeSales for the better. They are always holding the door at the beginning of the day and giving us bright smiles as they hold it for us when we leave. They lead Bible study during lunch periods on Mondays to help give students a break during their day, and they come to our sporting events. DeSales would not be the same without them,” said freshman Marcella Valentine.

When invited to Columbus by then-Bishop Robert J. Brennan, the Sisters knew their dedication to “reaching the youth for Christ” was a perfect match with DeSales’ history and mission. “From the start, we made the decision to be this present and involved and among them,” said Sister Loretta. “And, our Salesian founder St. John Bosco wanted his priests, brothers and sisters to imitate the ways of St. Francis DeSales in our community life and our mission.” 

Sister Loretta leads weekly Bible study with freshmen and is “really moved by the kindness I see among the students. They just do it quietly and naturally. It doesn’t matter the color of the skin or the nationality. That really strikes me here.” In Bible study, students pick a scripture verse, the group prays and then they discuss and share out. One of the group leaders is not Catholic, and Sister remarks, “We all love the Word of God, so why would it matter that all of our students aren’t Catholic?”

Sister Monique’s work with students includes devotion to service and running retreats.  “Students may not necessarily speak about God’s impact in their lives in regular spaces right away, but retreats bring these feelings out. Talking about their faith, how it strengthens them as witnesses. Retreats also provide important time for silence, reflection,” she said.

Salesian founders St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello put Jesus and the young person at their mission’s center. A large part of living out that mission is “dedicated to the education and evangelization of young people and their families through schools.”

Sister Guerline’s focus on the spiritual life at DeSales finds her assisting with prayer services and Mass preparation. “There is real devotion, prayer and inspiration here.”  When asked about the impact their day-to-day interaction with the students might have after high school, Sister Guerline reminds, “The seeds that were sown will not go lost. Society does not encourage these boys and girls to voice their faith or encourage them to practice it. We want them to be able to draw from their time with us here to keep their faith alive out there.” 

The Sisters’ presence in Our Catholic Schools extends to other communities in the DeSales feeder family. Sister Joo Yun splits her time between St. James the Less and St. Matthias elementary schools, helping out with choir, recess and preparation for First Communion. “Most of the students had never seen a sister and called me a saint and an angel. It is so good to be in these schools, among the students and experiencing the charism.”

DeSales’ campus minister Rebecca Metzger notes, “The greatest thing our Salesian Sisters have added to the St. Francis DeSales family is the marked optimism that is always on display – from greeting the students to having the time to attend all the student events and cheer them on – sharing the gifts of love, joy optimism, and spirit.”  

Because the Sisters have made such an impact, the students gifted them with DeSales lettermen jackets at Christmas. There is a famous Salesian saying, “You have to love what they love so they come to love what you love,” remarked Sister Guerline. “This involves meeting the children where they are – social media, the football field, the cafeteria. Once you start investing time and finding interest in them, then the relationship happens. They come to know you, and that’s how you start planting those seeds.”

The Sisters are finding love and planting seeds wherever they go. Living in a renovated convent on Patterson Avenue at Holy Name parish that formerly housed St. Paul’s Outreach, puts them among college students as neighbors and friends. They even attended a student pizza party at the Ohio State University.

The Sisters believe their connection to college students is vital to nurturing the seeds they plant with high school youth. “Seeds are planted but need to be nurtured. When students are graduating, we must have outreach to and from Catholic centers at the colleges and universities. This is rooted in the preventive system of our order, so students have a support system. They have been sheltered and can get lost. There is temptation, but connecting them with people who can continue to be with them prevents a lapse in continuing their faith,” said Sister Guerline.

Other events of which the Sisters have taken part include a women’s retreat at Holy Family, the annual Marian Dinner, and they try to attend Mass at different parishes as they are able. Still, their daily lives among the students and staff at DeSales is the priority.

Principal Dan Garrick said, “When you interact with the Sisters you immediately sense Christ’s love in your midst. While the world can be a very hectic and confusing place during these days of the pandemic, the Sisters have reminded us in their own gentle way that it is okay to live with joy.”  

This year, the more than 11,000 Salesian Sisters in 97 countries, along with their fellow priests and brothers, celebrate the 150th jubilee of the founding of their order. Their feast day is Jan. 31. Our Stallion Salesian Sisters look forward to a day when the first young woman from our Diocese joins them as a sister! 

Lori Dulin is associate director of marketing and enrollment for the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools.