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.

By Tanya Connor

It’s like God speaking.
It brings back memories, and is for the Church today.
It helps people minister – and sleep.
That’s what the director and members of Assumption Schola Gregoriana say of the Gregorian chant they sing around the diocese and beyond.
The Schola celebrates its 15th anniversary Aug. 15, currently boasting 22 members, some originals.
Some spoke with The Catholic Free Press recently, before breaking for the summer.
“We accept all people as long as they accept the spirit of this ministry,” said co-founder John McManamon. “We wanted this to be a ministry that would do God’s work” in liturgical settings, not a hobby or an adult education class.

By Fr. Alain Marchadour, AA

(Fr. Alain Marchadour is an Assumptionist Scripture scholar who taught for many years at the Catholic University of Toulouse and served for 12 years as director of the Assumptionist shrine in Jerusalem, St. Peter-in-Gallicantu. He is the author of some ten books on the Bible, most notably a commentary on the Gospel of John, L’évangile de Jean.)

In October 1962 the Second Vatican Council had just begun. With other students of my generation, I was lucky enough to be there, a humble observer of an historic event in the life of the Church. I can still remember October 11, 1962 and that evening when John XXIII opened the Council.

For the first time in its history, APAC (the Asian pacific Augustinian Conference) has named a president who is not a member of the Order of St. Augustine. He is Fr. Bernard Holzer, an Assumptionist, who is currently the regional superior of the Philippines, the Superior General's delegate for the entire Asia mission. Fr. Bernard became the 14^th president of the Conference at its 11^th triennial convention held at the Villa Consuelo Retreat House, Novaliches, near Manila (the Philippines).

Bret D. Thomas, President and CEO of Bayard Inc. (USA), is pleased to announce the appointment of Therese L. Ratliff to the position of Publisher of Twenty-Third Publications, a leading publisher of books, multimedia, booklets, and resources serving the Catholic community in the United States. Therese will oversee the strategic growth of Twenty-Third Publications including the editorial, marketing, and sales departments.

For nearly 20 years, Ms. Ratliff was with Pauline Books & Media participating in content creation, new project initiatives, market development, and organizational re-dimensioning. Her experience in both the retail and the publishing sectors gives her a unique insight into the wide spectrum of Catholic perspectives today and the diverse needs of the contemporary Church. Ms. Ratliff holds degrees in Writing and Publishing, Systematic Theology, and a PhD in Theology and Education from Boston College.

- Would you share with us a bit of your family background and education?

– I was born in St. Petersburg, Florida into a Methodist family. From an early age I was active in my church and really got more involved in their youth program as I grew older. When it came time for me to decide on a college, I attended Washington/Lee in Virginia. It was there and through the influence of a biology teacher that I began my journey toward Catholicism.

Finding a moment in Elizabeth and Thierry’s calendar is a real challenge. Little Adele is almost four. Elizabeth works as a social assistant in a large establishment for persons with multiple handicaps. Thierry is an engineer with the French branch of a Japanese company.  Still, they manage a few evenings and some weekends for the numerous commitments for the Assumption.  Recently, they accepted further responsibilities in the Religious-Lay Alliance in the Congregation.

The Assumption has been part of the life of this little family for some time.  “I met my husband at the World Youth Day in Paris in 1997,” says Elizabeth.  “I played the oboe and Thierry was translating a skit prepared by the Assumption contingency for the Youth Festival.”  But Elizabeth is familiar with the Congregation since childhood.  Her parents are members of the Assumptionist Parish in Montpellier and several of her summers were spent in camps and other activities organized by the Assumptionists in France.  She even came to New York on one of those summer projects.  “Little by little I became involved in the Liturgy where I met several Assumptionists.  This was very enriching and engendered many precious friendships.”

On the day following his graduation, Bro.Ron Sibugan, A.A. was conferred the Minor Orders of Lector and Acolyte at the community’s daily Mass by Fr. Miguel Diaz-Ayllon, A.A., provincial of the North American and Philippine Delegation of the Assumptionists, at the Center in Brighton, MA. May the Lord continue to bless Bro. Ron on his faith journey of proclaiming God’s Kingdom as an Assumptionist!

As colleges and universities around New England, the country and world honor their recent graduates, here at the Assumptionist Center in Brighton, MA we have four special reasons to celebrate. During graduation ceremonies this week, Fr. Patrick Bridgman, our resident from New Zealand, received his Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Mr. Dan Finucane, our resident from St. Louis,  Missouri, received his Masters in Theological Studies and Bro. Ron Sibugan, A.A., our Assumptionist brother, received a Masters in Divinity, all from Boston College. A few days later, Mr. Alex McKinley was granted a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard University. It is with great pride that we congratulate Patrick, Dan, Ron and Alex on their significant academic and pastoral achievements!