From February 26 to March 6, members of the Assumption Family living and working in Eastern Europe (Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, and Russia) and Israel held their annual meeting in Jerusalem. At the end of their session, which included a retreat and various workshops, they issued a message to the members of the general chapter scheduled to be held in Rome this coming May.

Meeting at St. Peter-in-Gallicantu (Jerusalem) from February 26 to--March 6 for our annual retreat and working session of the Near Eastern Mission, we, the brothers present, wished to address a message to the General Chapter of the Congregation to be held the month of May in Rome.

February 4-7, 2011

Day One: Our Founders

At Due Pini, the General House of the Assumptionists in Rome, a workshop just ended, which brought together the five Congregations of the Assumption Family (with four representatives from each Congregation). It is the second gathering of this kind, dedicated to deepening reflection on the charism of our religious family. This year,  the theme was the love of the Church. 

Day of Recollection for Those in Ministry at St Anne-St.Patrick Parish - an Assumptionist Parish in Strubridge, MA

A Lenten day of recollection for those in ministry took place recently in St. Anne/St. Patrick’s parish in Sturbridge, MA. The theme “Lord, Teach Us to Pray” was developed by the parish staff members and lay ministers who reached out to one another. The attendees of the day long event, which concluded with liturgy, were parish volunteers who represented areas of service which included: social outreach, grounds maintenance, hospitality, catechesis, liturgy, pro-life, finance/development, prayer groups and special events, just to mention a few.

We have entered Lent: a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is a time of spiritual renewal as well. For us, Africans, this year, we do so as we experience the particular reality of the northern half of our continent, Arab Africa, as we often call it.  Unprecedented events are taking place there and we all worry whether they will lead to lasting democratic changes or to a simple “cosmetic makeover” which will soon reveal the wrinkles that come with age.  Food for thought!