Living our Values on Feast Day
In honor of the Feast of Saint Francis de Sales, our University community once again gathered to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need.
After a brief prayer, Bulldogs emulated the spirit of our patron saint by assembling 1,000 care packages filled with essential items for the unhoused, as well as 400 lunch bags and blankets for foster children.
“Service projects like this are essential to the mission of DeSales and truly set us apart from other colleges,” said Connor McGill ’25, a cybersecurity major. “While we often discuss core values like gratitude and hospitality, putting those values into action is what makes them meaningful.”
Father Dan Lannen, OSFS, University chaplain, expanded on this connection between faith, values, and action.
“Francis believed in connecting with people in many ways—all things through love, nothing through force—and working together as a community for others,” he said. “By participating in this mission/service project, we take the opportunity to see beyond our personal needs and be present to our brothers and sisters in many different ways.”
For many students, including McGill, these service opportunities go beyond a one-day event. They’re a way to grow and find deeper meaning during their time on campus.
“Some of my most meaningful experiences at DeSales have come from service projects and service trips where I had the chance to step outside of my comfort zone and work with others toward something bigger than myself,” McGill said. “These experiences remind me how interconnected we all are and how much of an impact we can have when we come together.”
Leading the cookie packaging station, Nancy Aljabour ’28, a business administration major in our bachelor’s to master’s program, looks forward to giving back even more in the future.
“It’s important to help out your community,” she said. “You need to treat others how you want to be treated.”
In addition to the service project, the University marked Feast Day with a special Mass, complimentary refreshments, a women's basketball game, and a Senior Salesian Soiree.