At the invitation of Fr. Dennis Gallagher, NA Provincial and on behalf of Fr. Richard Lamoureux, AA Superior General, a group of lay people gathered Sunday, February 11th, 2007 at the Assumptionist community residence in Worcester.

The gathering included friends of the Assumptionists through connections to the college, prep school, Cassadega, St. Anne’s Parish in Fiskdale, and Brighton communities. Fr. Lamoureux animated the discussion by citing the General Council’s commitment to developing bonds with the laity and citing Fr. D’Alzon’s intention from the beginning to involve the laity in the life and spirit of the Assumptionists. Several people expressed affection and gratitude for role the Assumptionists have played in their lives and a desire to work toward realizing the vision of the General Council.

In attendance:

Roland Malboeuf, Al Gaulin, Kip Muldoon, Richard Gallant, Richard Donais, Tomasz Jaster, Tomasz Kierul, Frank (Harry) Aubuchon

Discussion/Decisions:

• New members were brought up to date, contact lists, Alumni Update document and Associates program description were passed out
• 
  Names and original home addresses of class of 1970 was passed to all
• 
  More work needs to be done to track down students from other classes
• 
  Summer reunion will be held on Sunday August 26th at St. Anne in Fiskdale to hopefully attract those who are away during the summer
• 
  Kick off will be earlier (9am) to allow for more "reunion time"
• 
  Separate Mass for just Cassadagans and guests
• 
  Catered lunch for 50-75 people targeted at $10-12 per head
• 
  Activities during the day to possibly include, volleyball and/or bouncy bouncy (with medics standing by), Trivial Pursuit (Cassadaga style), "skits" honoring some of our "favorite" priests/brothers/classmates, ping pong and chess
• 
  Formal announcement regarding Associates of the Assumptionists - info will also be pre-mailed
• 
  Email blast to hold the date will go out in the next few days, and post card follow-up shortly after
• 
  Regional reunions will be planned for 2008 and 2009 to be followed by a giant anniversary reunion in 2010 (50 years Cassadaga, 150 years death of Fr. D'Alzon)

• more at www.cassadagaseminary.org

VATICAN CITY, MAY 30, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is an adapted version of a biography of Blessed Marie-Eugénie of Jesus (1817-1898), which was published by the Holy See. Benedict XVI will canonize the woman religious on Sunday.

Marie-Eugenie of Jesus

BLESSED MARIE EUGENIE OF JESUS (1817-1898)

Anne-Eugénie Milleret was born in 1817 in Metz after Napoleon's complete defeat and the restoration of the monarchy. She belonged to a nonbelieving and financially comfortable family and it seemed unlikely that she would trace a new spiritual path across the Church of France.

Her father, a follower of Voltaire and a liberal, was making his fortune in the banking world and in politics. Anne-Eugénie's mother provided the sensitive daughter with an education, which strengthened her character and gave her a strong sense of duty. Family life developed her intellectual curiosity and a romantic spirit, an interest in social questions and a broad worldview.

Like her contemporary, George Sand, Anne-Eugénie went to Mass on feast days and received the sacraments of initiation, as was the custom, but without any real commitment. However, her first Communion was a great mystical experience that foretold the secret of her future. She did not grasp its prophetic meaning until much later, when she recognized it as her path toward total belonging to Jesus Christ and the Church. {mospagebreak}

Her youth was happy but not without suffering. She was affected when still a child by the death of an elder brother and a baby sister. Her health was delicate and a fall from a horse left serious consequences. Anne-Eugénie was mature for her age and learned how to hide her feelings and to face up to events.

Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFMCap, honored the community in Brighton with a friendly visit on Thursday, July 26. He arrived at 6:00PM, led us for the Evening Prayer (Vespers) and had dinner with us. Being a man of simple Franciscan tastes, he neither made any long speeches or excpected any special treatment other than that of a fellow "Friar."

Fr. Claude welcomed the cardinal in the chapel before Evening Prayer assuring him of the prayer of the community especially as he meets the numerous challenges of this great Archdiocese. Cardinal Sean asked numerous questions of our student brothers and was genuinely interested to know more about the Assumptionists. Before leaving, he posed for a group photo on the steps of our house. This photo appeared in his weekly “blog”.