On Monday, January 17^th, 2011– a significant date for it was the vigil of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – the official launch of the new Assumptionist community in Bucharest, Romania took place. The renovated  building houses a Center that seeks to be at the service of Church unity and is placed under the patronage of the two apostles, Peter, “Coryphee”, and Andrew, the First-called, emblematic figures for the Churches of the West and of the East.

The local community, made up of Fathers Lucian Dinca, Michel Kubler, Cornie Nelissen and Ovidiu Robu, welcomed a good number of Assumptionists and Oblate Sisters for the event, but also representatives of other Churches, friends and acquaintances, lay people, priests, and religious. In all, close to 130 people took part in this very successful inaugural session.

On February 5, 2011 Brother Mbusa Katomeko Anicet was ordained a priest at the hands of the Most Reverend Edouard Kisonga, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa. The ceremony took place in there Assumptionist parish of The Divine Master where Fr. Anicet had his diaconate experience. Two others were ordained with him, as priest, Fr. Michel M’vula of the Congregation Love and Liberty and, as deacon, Brother Alexandre, a Norbertine.

Surrounded by family, friends, and his Assumption brothers and sisters, Fr. Anicet gave thanks to all at a lively reception held at the parish hall next door.

ASSUMPTION SISTERS UNITE TO MAINTAIN PRESENCE IN TUNISIA
by Sr. Françoise Audebrand, L.S.A.

(Editor’s note: The Little Sisters of the Assumption (LSA) are celebrating their 80th anniversary of presence in Tunisia. Tunisia has had only two presidents since it obtained independence in 1957. The most recent of those presidents fled on Friday, January 17, after more than two decades in power, and now Tunisia is trying something new. A coalition government was recently formed there, and opposition figures have been included in the leadership for the first time. Sr. Françoise traces the history of Assumption’s presence in this land of St. Augustine’s birth and the signs of new hope for its future. This article was written BEFORE the fall of President Ben Ali )

FR. MORAND KLEIBER, AA - professor, philosopher, and still a missionary at 88

(editor's note: Fr. Morand came to the United States in the early 80s to take refresher courses in philosophy at Boston University. He currently lives at the Assumptionist retirement community in Albertville, France, in the foothills of the Alps and site of the 1992 Winter Olympics.)

Many ask themselves what impression one might have at arriving in retirement in the Albertville residence. I can give an answer in complete simplicity and truth, after four months at the residence. I believe that it depends on the previous life of each person: the experiences he might have had in his life of ministry, his health, or difficulties he might have to face, and of course the deepening of his religious life. As for me, I was marked by a long period of teaching philosophy at the scholasticate, then by responsibilities in the provincial community, and finally by 22 years of mission in Africa (the Democratic Republic of Congo, the former Zaire).