In mid-April we were happy to receive a visit by Fr. John Franck to San Román. Fr. John is an assistant general of the Assumptionists stationed in Rome. He was in Argentina to get to know our work better since he has been given responsibility for South America as a continent and Assumptionist educational institutions around the world as a particular area of concern. He was accompanied by Fr. Juan Carlos Cisterna, the provincial of the Assumptionists in Chile-Argentina and his first assistant Fr. Esteban Monsalves.

Fr. Nicolas Potteau was born on June 12, 1979 and ordained a priest by Most Rev. André Vingt-trois, archbishop of Paris, on June 30, 2012 in Notre Dame Cathedral.

His voice soft and composed, Br. Nicolas Potteau answers your every question with care, without a useless word, concerned to describe as best he can what he is thinking or feeling. Having made his final vows with the Augustinians of the Assumption (Assumptionists) two years ago, he likes to speak about his call to religious life and priesthood by alluding to the famous painting of Caravaggio, "The Call of St. Matthew": "In this painting, you see Christ, accompanied by the apostle Peter; Christ is pointing to Matthew who is aglow with a halo of light. This is meant to underline that a call always includes three persons: God, the person called, and the Church. It also recalls that it is always God who takes the initiative."

It was in the home of Joachim and Ann where the Virgin Mary received her training to be the Mother of God. Thus, devotion to Ann and Joachim is an extension of the affection Christians have always professed toward our Blessed Mother. We, too, owe a debt of gratitude to our parents for their help in our Christian formation.

According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Ann; St. Joachim's feast in this rite is celebrated on August 16.

On July 18^th 2012, the beginning of the annual novena to St. Anne, the new bronze sculpture named "Generations," which depicts the Holy Family embraced by St. Anne and St. Joachim, was dedicated by the Most Reverend Robert McManus, Bishop of Worcester.

This year marks· the 125^th anniversary of the shrine and novena which will culminate on July 26^th, the feast of St. Anne.

The members of the General Chapter 2012 of the Religious of the Assumption have elected today, Tuesday 17 July 2012, as Superior General Sister Martine Tapsoba of Burkina Faso.  She was part of the previous General Council. The General Chapter continues its deliberations.

The election of the General Councillors will be held next week.

For 125 years St. Anne's Shrine in Sturbridge, MA has been the site of the annual nine day Novena to St. Anne, from July 18^th to July 26^th, her feast day. This novena includes a daily Mass, a variety of speakers, music and a rosary procession on the final night. As part of the first night's celebration this year,  Bishop Robert McManus will also be dedicating the new bronze sculpture, "Generations," depicting the Holy Family embraced by St. Anne and St. Joachim.

This year also marks the 125^th anniversary of the combining of the formerly two parishes of St. Anne and St. Patrick's.

Fr. Peter Precourt, A.A., pastor of the parish, invites everyone to join him, parishioners and pilgrims from far and wide, to come and celebrate this grace-filled event!

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is happy to join you in giving thanks for all that you have been able to accomplish in spreading the Gospel, especially all that you have done to promote unity, especially with Eastern Christians, and your pastoral ministry to so many Latin-rite Catholics. Ever since the first Assumptionist missionaries were sent to Bulgaria by Fr. d'Alzon, your mission has spread to other countries in the Near East where you have generously undertaken many responsibilities and have been able to keep abreast of changes in society and the Church.

The Augustinians of the Assumption of the U.S. Delegation are happy and proud to announce the appointment of Fr. Peter Precourt, A.A. as their new Delegation Superior. The appointment was made at their recent Provincial Chapter in Worcester by Fr. Miguel Diaz-Ayllon, A.A. Provincial. Fr. Peter is pastor of St. Anne/St. Patrick parish in Sturbridge, MA, the provincial's delegate's to Bayard U.S. and the Vice -Chair of Assumption College's Board of Trustees.

This year we celebrate the birthday of our country with renewed hope and vigor for having participated in the U.S. Bishops "Fortnight for Freedom" through reflection, discussion and prayer for the continued honoring of our right to religious freedom. And so we pray:

FOR THE PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Almighty God, Father of all nations,
For freedom you have set is free in Christ Jesus (Gal. 5:1).
We praise and less you for the gift of religious liberty, the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good.
Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect and promote our liberties.
By your grace may we have the courage to defend them, for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land.
We ask this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness and in the name or your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with whom you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.