On July 5, 2018, the Religious of the Assumption, gathered in general chapter in Lourdes, France, elected Sr. Rehka M .Chennattu superior general. Born on May 31, 1963, currently provincial of India, she has also been involved in the formation of young sisters for the past 10 years. Professor of Biblical Studies at the Pontifical Atheneum in Pune (India), she participated in the synod of bishops for the new evangelization in October 2012. A member of the Federation of the Conference of Asian bishops for theological questions, she has made presentations on many topics including religious life, women’s leadership, Biblical exegesis, theology and spirituality. Sr. Rehka has published many works both in India and abroad.

Father of all nations and ages, we recall the day when our country claimed its place among the family of nations; for what has been achieved we give you thanks, for the work that still remains we ask your help, and as you have called us from many peoples to be one nation, grant that, under your providence, our country may share your blessings with all the peoples of the earth.

Amen.

(Weekday Mass for Independence Day-Collect)

(This article first appeared in the newsletter of the Assumptionist Region of Mexico, Venga tu Reino.)

Aurora “Bollo” Maltos Díaz has been a lay Assumptionist for many years. She has been actively involved in the coordination of Assumptionist missions in the state of Veracruz which she has continued doing year after year. From the moment we took over the parish of Santiago Apóstol de Tlilapan near Orizaba, together with her husband Rafael Martínez Guizar, and their colleague, Maricarmen Martínez Álvarez, she has graciously offered to our parishioners excellent training workshops in various fields. The editorial team of Venga tu Reino asked her to say a few words about her experience as a lay Assumptionist. Here’s what she said.

Aurora “Bollo” Maltos Díaz

Since the very beginning of my teaching years at the University in the field of design, in all these years it has struck me that being a teacher means updating oneself continually, finding new ways every year to prepare my classes, to fill my students with passion, to complete the best projects with them, to shape them, and to help them discover their potential. Thus there rises the great desire that your teaching form them deeply and that your experience be a gift you place at their service; in a way you become an “evangelizer” in the classroom. What a task! I, a teacher, in the image of my true Teacher of Life, Jesus Christ! He is the One who, through the Assumptionist charism which touched my heart and which changed my life forever, transformed me from top to bottom.