The Provincial Chapter of Implementation, Part II, of the North American Province of the Augustinians of the Assumption is taking place this week, July 5^th through July 9^th, at Assumption College in Worcester, MA. The purposes of this gathering include: reports from the Philippines, Mexico, Canada and the U.S., which make up this province, and the study of documents produced by the General Chapter which just took place this past May in Rome and their implications for the congregation as it moves into the future. Also, there will be significant discussions between the vowed members of the community and their lay delegates, men and women, as they partner in the Assumption family. Chairing this chapter is the newly appointed provincial Fr. Miguel Diaz Ayllon, A.A., regional superior in Mexico.

For 124 consecutive years, beginning on July 18^th and culminating on July 26^th, the Feast of St. Anne, the faithful have come together daily to St. Anne’s Shrine in Fiskdale, MA to participate in the Annual Novena to its patroness, Good St. Anne. The theme this year is “…Teach Us To Pray...” The faithful who participate enjoy an evening of spiritual beauty and the rich tradition of this Catholic devotion and solidarity with many pilgrims of all faiths, cultures and generations. The music, speakers, celebrants and homilists will be inspiring. Come one and all!

For more information contact: www.stannestpat.org

Webmaster (WM): Fr. John, you just returned from the General Chapter in Rome, having been elected assistant general. Congratulations!

Fr. John (FJ): Thank you. I look forward to my new responsibilities and the opportunity to serve my brothers in this capacity, on a world-wide scale now.

WM: Fr. John, could you tell us what a general chapter is?

FJ: The word “chapter” is somewhat unusual in this context. It signifies a meeting and specifically a meeting of the members of a religious community.  Its origins can be found in monastic life. Monks would come together to read a chapter of the rule that governed their life. Eventually, the room where this took place became known as the “Chapter Room.” It was in this room that important discussions would occur. Eventually, these meetings themselves were simply called chapters. In religious communities today such meetings, or chapters, take place at the level of each community once a year (local chapter), at the level of the province every three years (provincial chapter), and at the level of the entire congregation once every six years and are therefore known as ‘general’ chapters.

By the lay Assumptionists of Quebec

In Québec, the Assumptionists and their lay friends work at the Montmartre, a center for faith and culture. They have taken as their mission reaching out in a special way to those want to deepen their faith or those returning to the Catholic faith, by constituting a Christian community where one can experience celebration, fellowship, adult education and the exchange of ideas.