On October 7, Father José Miguel Diaz Ayllón, AA, our new provincial, and Tomasz Kierul, Director of Development, were welcomed at the New London, Connecticut office of Bayard Inc., a publishing ministry of the Assumptionists. During their visit, Father Ayllón and Kierul met with Bret Thomas, CEO, and representatives from Bayard’s consumer magazine division (including Catholic Digest, Living With Christ, and RTJ’s Creative Catechist) as well as the book publishing division Twenty-Third Publications.

The meeting served as an opportunity to introduce Father Ayllón to Bayard’s New London-based publishing ministry and products; to introduce Father Ayllón to Bayard’s employees; to share news on the Assumptionists’ current projects; and to continue efforts by Bayard and the Assumptionists to connect, to collaborate, and to share, as Kierul stated, “our meaning and ministry.”

Besides current collaborative projects such as the featuring of the Assumptionists’ ministry, writing, spirituality, and theological expertise in various Bayard publications; publication of Assumptionist writings by Twenty-Third Publications, sharing of Catholic Digest writings on the Assumptionist website, and others, new means of collaboration were raised in the meeting. Father Ayllón stated that the Assumptionists are finding in Bayard a helpful source of business expertise for the planning of the new development office. Dan Connors, editorial director of Twenty-Third Publications and the Bayard Magazine Group, indicated that strengthening our ties with the Mexican Assumptionists through Father Ayllón and others could help Bayard reach and nourish the ever-growing Spanish-speaking population that makes up a vital part of today’s American Church.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Assumptionists in our shared mission,” said Bret Thomas. “Cooperating fully with the Assumptionists in North America and the Philippines and Assumption College is a core objective for Bayard USA. We believe this gives us the best opportunity to successfully reach the Catholic community in the United States.”

By Julie L. Rattey