Posted By The Catholic Free Press November 6, 2015

(As movie theaters across the country feature the recently released film "Spotlight" which depicts the story of the Boston Globe investigative team that uncovered widespread child abuse by priests in the Archdiocese of Boston, Dr. Francesco Cesareo, president of Assumption College and chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops National Review Board on the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults, reflects on the issue of child sexual abuse and the progress the Catholic Church has made in this area.)

By Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D.
Chairman, National Review Board, USCCB

Sexual abuse of minors is a problem that affects many institutions in our society. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente’s Health Appraisal Clinic in San Diego found that 24.7 percent of women and 16 percent of men experienced sexual abuse during their childhoods. In 2002, the Catholic Church recognized that it was not immune to this issue, and since then, has developed a comprehensive program to respond to the crisis, including efforts to help victims and survivors begin the healing process.

This past September 29, on the feast of the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, the Province of Madagascar welcomed nine new members who made their first vows, Armain RAKOTONOMENJANAHARY, Rantovolanandriana RAKOTOMALALA, Sambevoatse Jean Félix TONGASOA, Justin RAKOTONIAINA, Falimanana Elisé RAZAFIARISOA, Jean Patrick RANDRIANARIMALALA, Simon Jean Richard RAFANOMEZANTSOA,  Julien RAZANAJATOVO and  Mahonjo Laurent  SOANANAMBINA (not pictured below, because he professed his vows later for health reasons). At the same time four others began their novitiate: Jean Pierrot, Nathanaël, Orlando and Denis, under the able guidance of a new novice-master, Fr. Lucien Telolahy.

In recent years the Assumptionists in Madagascar have seen the results of a reinvigorated vocation outreach program. Twenty young men are currently in the pre-novitiate program.

Assumptionists gathered for 125^th anniversary with concelebrating bishops

On Thursday, November 5, 2015,  Assumptionists and friends gathered in the village of Mendoza near Rengo to commemorate 125 years of presence in Chile. The archbishop at the time, Most Rev. Casanova, had encountered them in France during a trip he made to Lourdes. While in France he became aware of their missionary zeal as well as their commitment to the Catholic press and so invited them to Chile. According to letters he wrote at the time, it is easy to see that he wanted them to get involved in preaching the gospel in rural areas, in vocation ministry, and in spreading a devotion to the Blessed Mother.

On September 20, 1890, ten Assumptionists left the port of Bordeaux (France) for Chile: Frs. Stéphane Chaboud (superior), Géry Delalleau, Adrien Buisson, Thomas Darbois, Marius Peysson and Bros. Santiago Cornelias, Carlos Andrés Ropero, Gregorio, Pascal Claudet and Manuel.

Pope Francis’ encyclical on creation, LAUDATO SI, was the topic for the most recent Sunday’s “Conversations at the Center” in Brighton. The many attendees welcomed Fr. Daniel Horan, OFM as the presenter and discussion facilitator. Fr. Dan, a former resident at the Center and presently a student completing his doctoral studies at BC in Systematic Theology and a Chaplain at Babson College in Wellesley, MA, has in recent months conducted several retreats and workshops on this encyclical.

Father began by briefly explaining the three models of creation found in the document, that is: the dominion and subduing approach, the attitude of stewardship and lastly the understanding of communion with creation. In the first model humankind uses creation for its own purposes without regard, respect or responsibility for the giftedness of creation. It is a form of domination and abuse. In the second model of stewardship, based on the Genesis II account of creation, we are connected to all of God’s creation and are obliged to be caretakers of God’s creation, as also found in Psalm 24. In the third model of creation, we, as humans, relate to the goods of this world as community, as family with an attitude if kinship. The encyclical, obviously opposed to the first model of exploitation, moves between models two and three.