Our Mission
The Visitation Salesian Network exists to work collaboratively with our school communities so that all may experience the Visitation way of living the Christian life, of “living Jesus.” Our purpose is to facilitate the formation of minds and hearts through the Gospel-based teachings of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal.
Our Vision
The vision of the Visitation Salesian Network is to enable our schools to become communities which believe in, practice and perpetuate the Salesian charism so that together, all members of the community may embrace our human and Christian task: to carry Christ to those whom we serve and with whom we work.
The Gifts We Share
Key Facets of Salesian Spirituality
For more than two hundred years, Visitation schools throughout the United States have shared a heritage which has created a unique, sometimes intangible, spirit within the school communities. This heritage, rooted in the Gospel and growing from our Catholic faith, has come to be known as Salesian Spirituality. Some key facets help define this Gospel focus:
Living in the Presence of God
Salesian Spirituality is a spirituality of the heart. A loving relationship with God leads to imitation of the compassion of Jesus. When Jesus lives in our hearts He comes alive in our actions.
Humility and Gentleness
Humility is the recognition of our human dependence upon God. It acknowledges both our immense potential and the very real limitations that sometimes keep us from realizing this potential. Humility is truth.
Gentleness is a gift of grace springing from love, which enables us to extend to those we meet patient understanding, kind support and thoughtful concern.
Liberty of Spirit
Liberty of spirit gives us the freedom to choose to follow God’s will out of love rather than from fear. In practice, Salesian liberty becomes a freedom to serve.
Loving Relationship
In our work with others we seek to awaken an awareness of their divine dignity by respecting them as unique individuals with their personal gifts and challenges.
Joyful Optimism
Francis de Sales knew that experiences of human suffering and injustice are part of life. He also proclaimed the greater truth of God’s creative power, the greater reality of God’s redeeming love, the greater possibility of God’s inspiring hope.
Accepting God’s Will
Francis de Sales encourages us to live “between the two wills of God” – God’s will manifested in Scripture and the traditions of the church, but also in the concrete realities of our lives.
Respecting the Dignity of All Persons
Embracing the mission of Jesus, we are compelled to reach out to those near us as well as the global community, with respect and compassionate concern for those who lack basic human needs.