From November 19 to 21, in the city of Riobamba, high in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador, the Assumptionist community, lay and religious, welcomed the leadership team/tandem appointed to form lay Assumptionist groups across Latin America: Mrs. Victoria Prada from Bogotá, Colombia (who came with her husband, Orlando) and Fr. Luis-Ramón Rendón from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The meetings Tuesday were divided into three parts: a moment of prayer held in the Assumptionist residence and organized by Moisés Urquizo, an Assumptionist candidate; a conference given by Fr. Luis-Ramón and Victoria; group sharing on their presentation.

Wednesday evening we gathered in the home of one of Riobamba's lay Assumptionists, Susana Vique, for further formation by the tandem. We also watched a video about the social involvement of the lay Assumptionists in Bogotá. Lay Assumptionists there have taken responsibility for a reach-out center in a blue-collar neighborhood of the city where they care for the homeless, provide after-school activities for children, and tend to poor families in the parish. We were very touched by these efforts which also planted some seeds for our own possible ministry in the future

Thursday Fr. Luis-Ramón spoke to us about the founder, Fr. Emmanuel d'Alzon. We also invited youth from the two parishes served by the Assumptionists in the city. We ended this day's activities and the entire three-day visit with a beautiful Mass in honor of Fr. d'Alzon whose anniversary of death is celebrated each year on November 21.

My Personal Experience:
My initial experiences with the Assumptionists took place between the years 1998 and 2000 when the Assumptionists first arrived in the parish of San Pedro de Licán. The more I got to know them, the more I discovered something special in them, something different than what I had experienced with parish priests in the city. They seemed so open to everyone as if we were old friends, reaching out to everyone. Slowly I began to learn about the Assumptionist charism. When I was having a lot of personal problems in my life, they gave me the strength to keep on fighting. I began to get more and more involved in the work they were doing and I want to keep on doing this as much as I can. Now, more than ever, I feel committed to the Assumption and want to pursue the dream of Fr. d'Alzon to announce the Kingdom of God together with other Assumptionists, religious and lay.  

By Geovanni Sani Llanga
Lay Assumptionist, Riobamba (Ecuador)