by Father Donat Lamothe, A.A.

It was a great privilege to be present at the canonization of Blessed Marie- Eugenie, founder of the Religious of the Assumption, which took place during the Mass on Trinity Sunday, June 3, 2007 celebrated by Pope Benedict in the great space within the arms of the Bernini Colonnade before St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. But the celebration lasted for three days, not counting the pilgrimage that many sisters and friends had taken in the preceding week to places in France associated with the new saint.

I arrived from Paris Saturday afternoon and began my participation in the events with the vigil service held in St Gregory VII church in the evening of June 2. When we arrived at the church, its main level was already filled and we had to find place in the crypt of the building that also was filled to capacity. The vigil service lasted about an hour and contained hymns and readings from Holy Scripture and the writings of Marie Eugenie. Those of us in the crypt could hear what was going on upstairs but could only contemplate the slide of the official icon of Marie Eugenie projected on a screen before the altar. It was a prayerful moment very conducive to entering into the spirit of the event.

On Sunday, September 18, 2005 a first official Cassada Reunion was held at our community house in Brighton.

Cassadagans - 2005

In spite of predicted hurricane aftermath, we decided to press our luck and held our cookout in the Brighton community’s back yard. The weather couldn’t have been nicer and so for five or six hours, 20 plus guys and several wives joined the Brighton Assumptionists for a thoroughly enjoyable get-together. We shared memories, old photos, Bill Rennekamp’s classic video, a few year books, and we especially shared each others company.
Read more at www.cassadagaseminary.org

Dan Connors

Dan Connors, newly named Editor-in-Chief of Catholic Digest, was a guest for dinner and discussion at Emmanuel House on the campus of Assumption College, on June 29, 2005. Much helpful information was shared about Dan's life in Catholic publishing and about the particular challenges of securing a market niche for Catholic Digest. The convivial conversation was a good first step in the direction of promoting collaboration between Bayard North America, the Assumptionists, and Assumption College.

PHOTO GALLERY

On June 21, a typhoon slammed into Iloilo and Antique regions of the Philippines, causing extensive damage. Please check links below for information sent by members of the new Assumptionist Community in the Philippines:

Letter 1

Letter 2

Letter 3