July 20, 2013
Radio Moto
Butembo, Dem. Rep. of the Congo

After nearly two weeks in captivity in the territory of Beni, two women managed to escape from their kidnappers. These two women came into the regional government office in the town of Oicha (territory of Beni) this past Friday.

They claimed that they had been abducted during fighting between the FARDC (The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo/DRC, in French, Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo, the state organisation responsible for defending the DRC) and the Ugandan  rebels ADF/NALU (Allied Democratic Forces/National Army for the Liberation of Uganda) this past June 29 on the Mbau-Kamango road. These women said that they took advantage of  the fact that the rebel woman who was watching them fell asleep. They further said that certain hostages who became tired along the way were killed by their abductors. While in  captivity in the bush, they claim to have met several hostages who had been previously kidnapped. In order to get to the main road the escapees made it to BALIMANI before the FARDC forces based at Eringeti became aware of their absence. According to these women, there are places in the Virunga National Park where the ADF/NALU are supplied by helicopter. It's like a runway, they said. The three priests kidnapped last October are still alive, if one can trust what they say.

The UEA will hold a new session from August 21 to 25 this summer at the Assumptionist center in Lyon, France. About 300 participants are expected to attend: teachers, lay Assumptionists and other friends, religious in formation, those who support ecumenical dialogue, and many others. The format remains similar to that of years past. Under the direction of experts, there will be conferences, workshops, personal witnesses, etc.

A 13-member group of Assumption College community members will be among the approximately two million pilgrims at World Youth Day (WYD) July 23-28 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. WYD is the largest gathering of Catholic and other youth from around the world, and the Assumption contingent is expected to be the only Worcester Diocese-based group at the event. This will be the third WYD trip the college has participated in. The first was in 2002, in Toronto, Canada. The second, in 2011, was in Madrid, Spain.

For the past year, St Anne’s Shrine in Sturbridge, MA has been celebrating its 125^th Anniversary and the uninterrupted celebration of its annual Novena to Saint Anne which begins July 18^th and runs through her feast day on July 26^th.

Begun in 1887, visitors and pilgrims have come to honor Saint Anne as patroness, mother of the Blessed Virgin, grandmother of Jesus, and wife of Saint Joachim. Participants enjoy the beauty and rich tradition of this Catholic tradition in solidarity with many pilgrims of all faiths, diverse cultures and generations. They come seeking physical and spiritual healing, and in this peace-filled atmosphere they find hope, strength and comfort for themselves and their loved ones.