« Haraminè » : this is the name of our new house in Gwangju where four disabled adult men, aged 20 to 31, live in residence with the community, in a section of the house adapted to their needs. The name of the house means: "those sent by God". These four young men have varying degrees of disability and personal autonomy. The eldest, Chong Shil Park, works in a refrigerator assembly shop, is in good physical shape, but has cognitive disabilities. The second, UttUm Kim,  has Down Syndrome (he is one in the photo below giving the archbishop a bouquet); he works in a 'closed shop' run by the Sisters of Saint Paul de Chartres.

Today a light will shine upon us,
for the lord is born for us;
and he will be called Wondrous God,
Prince of Peace,
Father of future ages:
and his reign will be without end.
(Isaiah 9:1, 5; Luke 1:33)

The Assumption Family

This was the topic of our workshop the weekend of November 29-30 at Saint Mary’s Monastery in Petersham, MA. Brothers in formation (from the newly professed to the newly ordained brothers) and the territorial Formation committee members got together to talk about their experience of prayer. In fact, our Rule of Life reminds us that “Prayer is difficult for everyone” (RL #51). Recognizing this difficulty should be a reminder for each of us, sons of Fr d’Alzon, to take prayer seriously at the community level as well as at the personal level, putting in the time and the effort it needs.

November 21, 2013
(Presentation of the Blessed Very Mary/Feast of Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon)
Chapel of the Institut d’Alzon where Emmanuel d’Alzon is buried in Nîmes

We have the pleasure of celebrating the feast of the Presentation of Mary this year under the patronage of Fr. Emmanuel d'Alzon. We are happy to join not only the members of the Assumptonist community here in Nîmes but also Fr. Marcelo Marciel, assistant to Fr. General, and Fr. Julio Navarro, postulator of the cause of Fr. d'Alzon).