December is always a busy but festive ministry for us Filipino priests. Here in Boston, aside from the general Christmas celebration for the Filipino Apostolate last Dec. 27^th in Quincy, I had the opportunity to celebrate with the other communities: Dec. 26^th in West Roxbury, Dec. 31^st in Malden, and Jan. 2^nd in Quincy.

In Christ,
Fr. Alex A. Castro, A.A.

Hello!

My name is Paul Kearney, a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, and currently the house volunteer at the General House of the Assumptionists in Rome. How did I end up here? I've been asking myself that question lately. This past February, during my senior year at the University of Notre Dame, I received an email from Fr. John Franck asking if I would be interested in volunteering in their community for a year after graduation. Fr. John and I knew each other from back home when he was stationed at Assumption College - where my family attends Mass at the campus chapel- and I met up with him again a few times at the community here in Rome in the Fall of 2013 when I was spent a semester abroad here at John Cabot University. He knew how much I loved Rome and my burning desire to return some day. I just never knew that day would be so soon!

Since hopping on this wonderful opportunity back in April, I haven't looked back. I spent the summer back home in Worcester preparing mentally (studying Italian), physically (practicing Italian hand gestures), and even monetarily (saving up some money landscaping while I prepared for a year of service).

Interviewer - Fr. Erny, would you share with us a bit about your background and the beginnings of your life - long interest in ethics?

Fr. Erny - I was born in Luxemburg and early on I became interested in the Christian workers’ youth organizations.  As a result, I was led into the world of justice at the workplace and in society.

- How did this interest develop further?

– I soon asked myself the question of how come that ideologies and questions of faith separate people pursuing the same goal? Following a gut feeling, I set off to study theology, first in Luxemburg and then, thanks to good companions, later in Switzerland. Doctoral studies then took me to Belgium where I got to know the questions and needs of patients, doctors and hospital workers.

December 19, 2015

Dear Friends,

As Christmas approaches, I wanted to send you one final note before the holidays. I have been in meetings of the Plenary General Council of the Assumptionists, the expanded leadership team of the Congregation made up of the permanent members stationed here in Rome (five of us) and the provincials of the six districts of the Congregation. These provincials oversee our day-to-day operations in the 30 countries where we are located. Among those present was the provincial of Africa who is responsible for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the Beni school will be built. In an interview with me, he gives you the latest information about what is happening in this war-torn and forgotten corner of the world and what the latest plans are for the school. I think you will find that the interview is not only enlightening but that it also brings home how urgent this project is.