On Sunday, August 15, some 25 alumni, staff, and friends of Our Lady of Lourdes Seminary gathered in Worcester, Massachusetts, to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment (1960-2010) of this Assumptionist minor seminary located in Cassadaga, New York, about 60 miles southwest of Buffalo. The meeting was held at Augustine House, next to the campus of Assumption College.

We were extremely fortunate that two former professors of the seminary, Fr. Camillus Thibault, A.A. and Fr. Robert Fortin, A.A., could join the group for the celebration as well as one former staff member, Edgar L'Écuyer.

During the gathering, Fr. John Franck, A.A., vocation director of the Assumptionists, and a "Cassadagan" himself, presented a description of this new vocation initiative. College students open to the possibility of priesthood and religious life will be living with a small number of Assumptionists and have an opportunity to examine the possibility of a vocation. As John explained, young people today are much different than those 50 years ago and we have to find innovative ways to attract them to a life of service in the Church.

The seminary alumni present welcomed the initiative as a modern extension of the spirit of Our Lady of Lourdes and pledged their support, moral and financial. By the end of the day, those who attended were already asking about the date of the next reunion. So many who had been invited expressed a sincere interest to be present but, for many reasons, were unable to come. So, you can all be sure that you will be kept in the loop of future Cassadaga-related events.

PHOTO GALLERY »