Dear friends,

While being faithful to its overall vision of “Forming Leaders, Building Communities,” Kaloob redefines itself as it welcomes the upcoming year full of hope, dreams and enthusiasm, especially as Kaloob celebrates its 10th Anniversary in 2019. May we invite you to discover our new goals in this newsletter as well as our recent accomplishments in Tacloban and Marytown. We are also happy to announce that we are launching a Cattle Raising Program meant to help poor farmers in Negros soon. For them, a cow can have a life changing impact.
Merry Christmas to all!

Br. Ariel Vidanes, AA, Director of Kaloob

Redefining Kaloob: read more →

A cow for Christmas

For Christmas, Kaloob launches a new program. It helps the poor to acquire a cow, raise calves and thus better protect their family from the unexpected. We need your support to implement this project.

Read more →

The Assumptionists Philippines Newsletter

For many people, Thanksgiving is the most truly American of our national holidays, encompassing in its simple and beautiful traditions the highest ideals and greatest aspirations of our country. We believe that these ideals include the need to give thanks to our Creator and so we pray:

O Loving God, your gifts to us are countless and your goodness is without limit. As we come in thanksgiving to You this week, teach us to use the riches of land and sea and to be forever grateful for all the blessings which come from You. Open our hearts to notice and respond to the needs of others that we may give and freely as we have received form You.

With grateful hearts, we thank You this Thanksgiving Week for the many ways you sustain and nourish and protect us, through the gift of life itself, our faith, family and friends with surprises of joy, growth an unconditional love. We make this prayer through Jesus Your Son and the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thanksgiving Greetings and Blessings from the Assumption Family!

It has been said quite often that the Assumptionists in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) haven’t yet spoken their last word. It is this optimism coupled with many efforts and much sacrifice for the Kingdom of God that can be seen crowned with the the Emmanuel d’Alzon school complex situated on the outskirts of Kinshasa, in N’sele commune, in the township of Mangengenge / Bibwa.

Just a little bit of background….It’s been thirty years since the Assumptionists settled in Kinshasa. From the time of their arrival in 1988, the Assumptionists first dedicated themselves to vocation ministry and to the formation of future priests by building a house of theology. Shortly thereafter, they assumed responsibility for the supervision of a parish, Divin Maître à Masina sans-fil, for the evangelization of the People of God.

- Would you share a bit about your background: family, childhood, early education?

- Br. Kambale Kanyama Jean Bosco. Well, I come from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, North Kivu Province; born in September 14^th 1983. I am the second of six children of Mr. Muhindo Kyuma Maurice and Mrs. Kyakimwa Kanaha Jermanie. I grew up in a Catholic family and, being brought up in such an environment, I believe my faith was formed and nurtured at an early age. I believe, my parents had a great influence on me and my faith.

My attraction to become a religious followed me from my childhood throughout my teenage years. During my primary school as well as my secondary school, I let this desire grow in me. I nourished it with various commitments, especially by serving as an altar boy. However, there was a time when I did feel like not answering the call. But the call was very persistent and I could not ignore it. It is only at the end of my secondary school at Institut Bunyuka, a school run by the little sisters of the presentation of Mary in the Temple (Petites Soeurs de la Presentation de Marie au Temple, founded by Henry Pierard, assumptionist) that I strongly felt I should respond to my religious call.

- Where/how did your Assumptionist roots begin?  Did anyone in particular have a significant impact on your life?

- Well, I entered the Congregation of the Augustinians of the Assumption in 2007, which I got to know through the later Fr. Vincent Machozi (Fr. Vincent was savagely murdered in DR Congo in 2015). Fr. Vincent Machozi was an assumptionist and relative to me, and during those times, I had been visiting him over many days in his community.

What attracted me to join his religious congregation, the Assumption, was that sense of warm welcoming, friendliness, hospitality which characterizes the members; but also what drew me to the Augustinians of the Assumption was that commitment of the brothers to do everything together, praying together, eating together, playing together, etc.

Pictures : Humanity & Inclusion

After Super Typhoon Mangkhut, known as Super Typhoon Ompong in the Philippines, has hit northern Luzon in September, Kaloob sent a solidarity call to support Humanity and Inclusion (Handicap International) “cash for service” project in Pinukpuk municipality, in the province of Kalinga. Thanks to everyone's mobilization, we have been able to launch effective action with the local barangays.

Barangay Camalog:
the inhabitants unite to repair a road and a dike

“Typhoon Ompong destroyed a road and a small dike in one area of Barangay Camalog that was previously the lifeline of the community. It allowed farmers to bring their produce directly from their farm to the market and to their home table. However, the road had several large holes and a dike was badly damaged.
The whole barangay converged to exhibit an impressive “bayanihan” practice (spirit of community work, implying unity and cooperation). Tricycle drivers gathered rocks to fill up the holes by mixing them with sand and cement. A farmer donated a whole pig to feed the workers. Women cooked food and helped with the mixing of cement. Old men and teenagers worked together to repair the damaged dike with large stones and cement. By the afternoon, small vehicles could pass and transport the produces to the market.”

Eleven juniors from St. John’s Prep in Danvers, a Xaverian High School, visited the Assumptionist Center recently as part of a three-day immersion program of serving at several social service sites and visiting spiritual life centers.

The boys, accompanied by two teachers, arrived in time for evening prayer and shared in the community dinner which was followed by a discussion with the religious, residents and a few staff members. They heard about the congregation’s history and way of life as religious brothers and priests.

After a brief introduction by Andrew Mercado, our Coordinator of Vocations, a few Assumptionists mentioned what it was about the congregation that brought them the most joy in their lives. One highlighted his gratitude that the congregation allowed its members to develop their gifts for the Kingdom. Another found his primary joy by living in community with his brothers in light of the gospel and the spirit of St. Augustine. Several residents and staff members shared their experiences of warmth acceptance and hospitality as members of the Assumption family.