Mexico Mission

From May 15-25 Assumption College’s Campus Ministry department organized the 21st version of its perennially popular Mexico Mission. Under the leadership of Mr. John Fleming and Fr. John Franck, AA, twenty students, faculty, and friends of the College, who had prepared for the trip over the previous eight months, left for Mexico the Monday after graduation.

Two Filipino men supported by local Catholics were sent home as missionaries in January
by Tanya Connor

“For us it’s a dream come true,” Brother Alex Castro said after a commissioning Mass at Assumption College, Jan. 15, as he and Brother Clemente Boleche beamed at the thought of returning to their native land the next day. “They’ve been thinking about this for a long time and now it’s becoming a reality.” “They” are the Augustinians of the Assumption, commonly called Assumptionists, who founded and sponsor Assumption College. What they have been thinking about – and working on – is founding their first community in the Philippines. Since 2000, young Filipino men discerning an Assumptionist vocation have come here to live with the Assumptionists and take classes at Assumption College. Those who stayed did their novitiate at St. Anne and St. Patrick Parish in Sturbridge, which the Assumptionists staff. Brother Castro, Brother Boleche and Brother Carlos Melocoton professed their first vows as Assumptionists there. They introduced parishioners to their faith and culture through Filipino festivals and the installation of a statue of San Lorenzo Ruiz – their country’s first saint – in St. Anne Shrine’s votive chapel. The Assumptionists turned to San Lorenzo as the patron for their efforts to establish a community in the Philippines.

By Frances M. Tomczyk

On May 17, 2006, the parishioners of Our Lady of Guadalupe were reunited with their beloved Assumptionists at a special Mass and reception. Religious and faithful had not been together since 1998 when the Augustinians of the Assumption handed over the administration of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Archdiocese of New York.

Fr. Claude Grenache, A.A., Rev. Msgr. Kevin Nelan,
Fr. Peter Precourt, A.A.

In 2003, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe was combined with St. Bernard's Church (both on 14^th Street in Manhattan) to form the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard's Parish. The merger worked out well for parishioners in both parishes. The former buildings of OLG are currently in use for meetings, classes in English and other subjects for immigrants, CCD, and a residence, as well as for gatherings of South Manhattan Pastors under the Vicar for the area, Monsignor Kevin Nelan, who is the present Pastor of OLG at St. Bernard's. The church at the new OLG at St. Bernard's is open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for services and for the steady stream of visitors who come to pay homage to the Patroness of the Americas.

Sr. Diana Wauters elected Superior General, July 24, 2006.

The General Chapter elected Sr. Diana Wauters as the new Superior General of the Religious of the Assumption. We rejoice and are glad!

Sr. Diana Wauters, A.A.

Sr. Diana is from our North American Province and is the Superior of the Chaparral community in New Mexico. She had just been named Provincial Superior and was due to begin her mandate on August 12th.