Dear Readers,
 
A few days ago we told you about the opening of a new center sponsored by the Assumptionists in Togo, called the D'Alzon Center (Espace D'Alzon), which aims at organizing meetings and discussions in three areas: current events and the media, Assumptionist spirituality, and Christian formation. Now we have the joy of announcing that for the first time in its history, the congregation has opened a novitiate in West Africa, also in Sokodé, Togo. It will train the first generation of young men attracted to the Assumptionists in this part of the world.

Fr. Bernard Stef Stefan, A.A. (1916-2010)
Leader in the Rebirth of the Romanian Church
Prisoner in the Communist Gulag

Ştefan Ştef was born on October 22, 1916 in Lăscud (region of Mures, Romania). He completed his elementary school education in his home town, then his early high school years in Târnăveni (1927-1930), and finally completed his secondary education in Blaj (1930-1934).

This past August 28 four young Vietnamese (Duong, Duc, Nam and Tai) made their first vows in the congregation. It was an important event because it was the very first time that young Assumptionists pronounced their first vows in Vietnam.

The entire Assumption Family rented a bus for 50 to make the trip from Saigon to the novitiate some 50 miles away; there were Assumptionist brothers and Oblate Sisters, but also postulants and candidates.

"To see far and wide and in depth"

With the name D'Alzon Centre (Espace D'Alzon), the Assumptionist community in Sokode recently opened a facility which aims at organizing meetings and discussions in three areas: current events and the media, Assumptionist spirituality, and Christian formation. These programs complement those already offered at the St. Augustine Cultural Center (Centre Culturel Saint Augustin).