Father Francis W. Danella, OSFS has been named director of the St. Pius X Spiritual Life Center in Blackwood, effective February 19.
An Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, Father Danella succeeds Sr. Roseann Quinn, SSJ who was named Bishop’s Delegate for Lifelong Faith and Spiritual Formation last December.
As director, Father Danella will formulate and oversee short and long-term strategic plans for the Center, will design year-round spirituality programs, retain presenters for various programs, oversee the annual budget, as well as daily operations, including finances, physical plant and property.
The St. Pius X Spiritual Life Center, which is observing a year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary this year, offers guided and directed prayer experiences, spirituality programs, evenings of theological reflection, and retreats to help nurture the spiritual life and the call to holiness of the people of the diocese. The Center, which is located on Peter Cheeseman Road in Blackwood, was established in May 1957 under the direction of the Salvatorian Fathers. The diocese purchased the facility from the Salvatorian Fathers in 1969.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to contribute to the diocese’s faith formation efforts,” Father Danella said. “As we celebrate the Spiritual Life Center’s anniversary this year, I hope to build on the significant accomplishments of all the directors who have gone before me.”
“My congregation’s charism is living and disseminating Salesian spirituality, so I hope to bring programs in Salesian Spirituality as well as other spiritual traditions, to the Center and to do it in cooperation with my confreres in the Wilmington Philadelphia Province,” he said.
Prior to joining the diocese, Father Danella was responsible for the religious formation of seminarians for the Wilmington-Philadelphia province of his congregation from 1982-1991. From 2002-2006 he was Associate Dean for the Seminary and Ministerial Programs at The Catholic University of America’s School of Theology and Religious Studies. From 1998-2006 he was associate professor of Pastoral Theology and Clinical Pastoral Supervisor at the University, and before that, director of Research and Planning for the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province of the Oblates and parish ministry.
He has lectured widely in parishes, universities and at retreats. He has been published in the Review for Religious and Spiritual Life, including a 2001 article entitled, “Francis de Sales: A Contemporary Guide for the Lay Faithful.”
He served on various committees for the Oblates and The Catholic University of America, as well as the Board of Trustees and Advisory Board of the Washington Theological Consortium. He is a member of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains and the Association of Clinical Pastoral Educators.
Father Danella entered the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in 1963 and was ordained on June 13, 1973. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from De Sales University (Center Valley, PA), a master of arts in English and Education from Villanova University, a master of arts in Theology from DeSales School of Theology (Washington, DC) and a doctor of ministry from The Catholic University of America’s School of Theology and Religious Studies.
Editor’s note: For a complete list of spirituality programs and retreats, click on St. Pius X Spiritual Life Center at https://camdendiocese.org/.