On October 13, 2012, as one of our many celebrations  commemorating  the 125^th Anniversary of St. Anne & St. Patrick Parish and Shrine, the parents and children in our Religious Education program in grades K-5 were invited to take part in a” Scavenger Hunt” on the Shrine Grounds.  Many of our children and their parents had never visited the Shrine grounds and we felt this was the perfect opportunity to “explore and discover” this very beautiful and holy place.

“El Camino de Santiago de Compostela”
The Way of Saint James

Once again, another year has begun by offering the first in a series of ‘conversations’ at the Assumptionist Center in Brighton, MA. Continuing the Center’s commitment to be a place where in word and action, “we can learn together and discuss what it means to be Church.”

This first conversation of the academic year focused on the pilgrimage of “El Camino de Santiago de Compostela” in Spain or “The Way of Saint James.” Following the Sunday’s liturgy, the community, residents and several guests gathered in the living room to hear this topic addressed by our resident  Nicholas Collura, who, this past summer, walked 650 miles of the Camino in 6 weeks, starting in the south central France to Compostela.

Nicholas, a student at BC, is pursuing a Master’s in Divinity.

Fr.Edmond Bamtupe Kisughu,53; Fr.Jean-Pierre Mumbere Ndulani,50, Fr.Anselme Kakule Wasukundi,41

Local Assumptionists from Democratic Republic of the Congo struggled this week to determine why three of their fellow countrymen, all Assumptionist priests, were kidnapped last Friday at home. One week after their kidnapping, the priests’ whereabouts were still unknown.

A Message from Fr. Dennis Gallagher

On Saturday afternoon we learned of the kidnapping of three of our Assumptionist priests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Frs. Wasakudi Anselm, A.A., Jean Ndulandi, A.A., and Edmond Kisughu, A.A.
were reportedly  tied up and taken away by 10 armed gunmen from the parish house of Notre-Dame des Pauvres  around 9 p.m. on Friday evening. The parish is located 22 kilometers from Beni and 70 kilometers from the Episcopal see of Butembo. Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku issued the following statement:

By Bro. Eddy Gonzalez, A.A

On September 19, 2012 we had our first novice outing. It was a wonderful experience; we went hiking to Mount Monadnock. This outing was a blessing in many ways; it gave us the opportunity to know more of each one. Besides that we also were praying as a community and enjoying the landscaping. The day was beautiful and clear skies that offered us the opportunity to appreciate even better the beauty of nature. Our station was a cabin not far away of this Mount Monadnock, it was the perfect location because everything was central and we also had the opportunity to enjoy our culinary skills and cook breakfast. Everybody was really in he mood to cooperate and keep everything in its place.

By Matthew T. Brennan
Assumption College, Class of 2012

Introduction

What is wrong with the world? “They say the world is evil,” Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon wrote, summarizing the answers of the world’s diagnosticians (d’Alzon 74). “No doubt,” he concurred, “passion turns it away from what is good” (d’Alzon 74). “But,” he countered, “I believe most of all that the world is ignorant” (d’Alzon 74). So afflicted, the world’s treatment rests upon its education “in words it can understand” (d’Alzon 74). “The most intimate thought of my soul,”

Pope Benedict XVI announced a "Year of Faith" in his Apostolic Letter, "The Door of Faith." He declared it to begin on October 11, 2012 and end on November 24^th, 2013. It coincides with the 50^th Anniversary of the Opening of the Second Vatican Council. The Holy Father is calling us to "a renewed conversion to the Lord, the Savior of the World."

Fr. General just completed his canonical visit of West Africa where our brothers are present in Togo and Burkina-Faso. From May 18 to May 30, 2012, almost two weeks, he was able to meet and talk to all the brothers in order to encourage them and accompany them in their religious and apostolic common life. What were the highlights of this visit?

On February 10, 2012 the two Assumptionist communities of Sokodé, Togo gathered in the new chapel of the novitiate to give thanks to God for the official entry of seven postulants.

During Vespers, Fr. Rene, their director, solemnly welcomed them and encouraged them to put into practice the advice they had received from the provincial, Fr. Benoît Gschwind. Each postulant in turn had an opportunity to express his joy. Here are a few extracts: