Lay/Religious Alliance in Sturbridge

During his recent visitation of the Assumptionist communities in the U.S., Fr. Benoit, A.A., Superior General of the congregation met with the members of the Lay/Religious Alliance at the Assumptionist Center in Brighton and St. Anne & St. Patrick's Parish in Sturbridge.

In each location the gathering began with Evening Prayer, followed by dinner with the local community.

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 was 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 peoples of the earth. 
(Optional Collect for Independence Day)

From June 9^th until the 12^th, 2014,  the Buddhist Monk Yuttadhammo was the guest of the novitiate community.  During his stay, he led a two-day workshop on the campus at Assumption College, attended by close to thirty Assumptionists, Religious of the Assumption, College personnel and friends from off-campus.

(Pictured left to right - Cliff Muldoon, Frank Aubuchon, Roger Desrosiers, Fr. Roger Corriveau and Roland Malboeuf. Absent - Richard Gallant)

A recent Saturday afternoon saw the re-union of a few classmates who attended the Assumptionist minor seminary together at Our Lady of Lourdes in Cassadaga, NY. Thanks to Frank Aubuchon, who organized the get together at a local restaurant in Worcester, the group enjoyed sharing memories, stories and past experiences of their days in school together. Of most importance were their fond recollections of various Assumptionist priests and brothers who were assigned to the school at that time. It was also an opportunity to ‘catch up’ on their life experiences to the present day. After several hours of sharing these memories with joy and much laughter, all agreed that they would like to get together more often!

According to our "Rule of Life", the Superior General must visit every community in the Congregation at least once during his mandate. Fr. Benoit Grière is our current Superior General having been elected during the General Chapter of 2011. He made the Visitation to the US Territory this past May and to the Brighton Community in the week of May 12.

During evening prayer June 4, 2014, in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, the Augustinians of the Assumptionists, the sponsoring order of Assumption College, conferred upon College President Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D. the Emmanuel d’Alzon Medal in recognition of his efforts to exemplify the vision and guiding principles of the Assumption founder and namesake of the honor.

On Sunday, May 11, 2014, with a procession leading from the esplanade near the local subway station to the Assumptionist shrine and basilica in Santiago, Chile, faithful from many parishes in the Western Region of the archdiocese greeted their new auxiliary bishop, Most Rev. Galo Fernández, who has responsibility for this zone.

(The Assumption Family in France sponsors some 10 youth residences, known in French as foyers, for men and women throughout the country. These houses offer youth people the opportunity to live in community, take their faith seriously, and nurture a serious prayer life. Every year the members of all the residences get together for an annual retreat. One of the participants describes this year's experience, which took place at the Assumptionist spiritual center outside Paris, St. Lambert-des-Bois).

Although I don't live in one of the foyers, I was given a warm welcome at the annual retreat intended to be a source of spiritual refreshment and community-building. Meteorologists were predicting a beautiful weekend and in fact there was lots of sun outside and plenty of spiritual light inside.

May 31, 2014, Ordination of an Assumptionist Brother Ronald Sibugan - Holy Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA