You are all invited!

We are inviting all of you to our 133rd Novena to St. Anne. This year’s novena will be an opportunity for us to reflect on the 175th year of foundation of the Augustinians of the Assumption. Every night, an Assumptionist will lead us into a reflection on our Assumptionist identity, vocation, and mission at the service of God’s Kingdom. Attached is the poster and the prayer leaflet for the Novena.

 133rd Annual Novena to Saint Anne - PDF file

 133rd Annual Novena to Saint Anne - PDF file

We ask for your prayers as Fr. Ronald Sibugan travels to El Paso, TX. Fr. Ron will be forming part of our new Assumptionist community, as we continue to discern our mission and explore how we can serve the material and spiritual needs along the U.S.- Mexico border.

"A vocation is a response to a call. It is neither the choice of a career nor some kind of professional training. It is the gift of our person so that the Lord may make of us what he desires. At the heart of this response which we give to the Lord, there is availability" - Fr. Benoît Grière, Superior General

1—3 JULY  2020
Matthew-Mary Okereke, AA

Having the chance to hike during this difficult Covid-19 era was an opportunity I still feel indebted to God for. The enormity of this opportunity can be seen in the fact that for my safety, the safety of my other brothers in the community, and the safety of the society at large, I, like every other member of our Emmanuel House community, have been on lockdown for more than three months. Getting out to see the mountains and the beauty of nature, while following stipulated health precautions and CDC guidelines, was definitely a break that rejuvenated me.

My dear friends,

Greetings during this most trying time when our country has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and so many lives have been turned upside down. Know that all of you remain in the daily prayers of us Assumptionists both here in the United States and in the Congo and especially among the students at the Beni School Complex.

I would be remiss if I did not share with you in this number of the newsletter a word about one of our most remarkable Assumptionists who died this past May at the age of 104, Fr. Oliver Blanchette. After a long and distinguished career as a teacher, pastor, and retreat-master, Fr. Oliver accepted to go to Africa at the age of 83 (!) to help our young men studying for the priesthood there. Let me share with you part of an article that appeared in the local Catholic newspaper.