The article was first reported by The Independent Catholic News.

Aug 16th, 2020

The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, presided at Mass for the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady at the Sanctuary at Lourdes as part of celebrations marking the annual French National Pilgrimage to the shrine.

Over the past few months, people around the world have had to adapt to a different way of living, working and praying because of the Coronavirus pandemic. But it didn't stopped the annual French National Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

On Wednesday, the 147^th pilgrimage began with Holy Mass in the Church of St Bernadette. Organised by the Assumptionists, the four day pilgrimage had as its theme: 'Going to the Source of Love.'

Because of social distancing restrictions, this year's event was smaller than usual - with just 500 pilgrims taking part in person. Fr. Vincent Cabanac, director of the French National Pilgrimage, explained that despite the difficulties regarding the pandemic, this was a "rendezvous" they didn't want to miss. And many thousands of others were able to be part of the pilgrimage virtually, via radio, television and the internet.

The school is now serving 169 high school students and adult learners seeking basic secondary school skills (up from 132 last year). Included in these statistics are students who have fled insecure zones and need remedial classes. Please support our project by donating at https://www.assumption.us/support

Assumpta Est Maria! On this Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we share with you an icon painting timelapse from our very own Brother Blair Nuyda, A.A.

"No, nothing held Mary to this earth, and everything called her to heaven. Holy desires, purified by the virtues that calmed their fire to meet her needs, gave the most excellent of creatures, the Mother of God, her final perfection." - Venerable Emmanuel d'Alzon, founder, Augustinians of the Assumption

The pandemic is getting old.  Usually, we refer to these days as the “dog days of August,” when the accumulated heat of summer days and the lethargy they induce are to be put up with for a few more weeks.  For baseball fans, it normally means the slog through the late summer schedule before the home stretch in September.

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TEPEYAC INSTITUTE ONLINE IN EL PASO - PDF FILE

https://www.tepeyacinstitute.com/

A very special Provincial Zoom meeting was held on Saturday, August 8^th. Its purpose was to provide a platform for communication with the tandems in the North American Province. Those participating in the meeting were the following: Fr. Dennis Gallagher, Provincial Superior; Fr. Thierry Kahongia, Assistant to Father General; Fr. Edward Shatov and Patty Haggerty, Provincial Tandem; Chantal Rouette, part of the tandem for Québec; Sr. Clare Bertero and Sylvia Desautels, tandem for Sturbridge, MA; Br. Blair Nuyda with Brian and Allison Bialas, tandem for Brighton, MA; Fr. Oswaldo Garcia Sanchez and Maricarmen Martinez Alvarez, tandem for Mexico; and Andrew Mercado, Vocations Coordinator.

May the Lord protect our brothers, Fr. Peter and Fr. Ron, and renew in all of us a sense of trust in His glorious plan, during these initial stages of founding a community in El Paso. May the Holy Spirit grant us the wisdom to understand in what ways he is calling us to serve those in need at the border and the courage to follow where he leads.

"God the Father has given me His Son, who in turn has given me both Himself and the Love between Him and His Father; He has made my heart a temple, a holy place, in which is enshrined the Love who is God. What then must my heart be? Could it ever harbor any thought which cannot be set ablaze with the love of God?" - Venerable Emmanuel d'Alzon