I am a Little Sister of the Assumption from Cork, Ireland and have been living in the semi-desert region of the State of Bahia, North East Brazil for the past 15 years.  I am visiting Boston because this region of MA has the highest consentration of Brazilians in the USA.  I am staying with the American sisters of our congregation in Dorchester, where they have been involved with Project Hope for many years.  The charism of our Congregation is that the Kingdom of God may come among the families of the poor.   We do not have institutions such as hospitals or schools, but work with the family in their own setting, in their homes and neighbourhoods.

By Eric Hesla

Living with the Assumptionists these past two years has been a tremendous blessing, which I will always cherish in my heart. In my experience, it has been a community of prayer, a community of scholars, and a home.

At a time where the situation is difficult for the Catholic Church in China and the relationship with the government is more tense, let us pray the Lord for our Brothers and Sisters in China and let us support them concretely in helping for their formation.

Extend your prayers by supporting our formation programs for Religious and Priests of the Church of China.

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Father Benedict Grière, 52, was elected Wednesday, May 11th Superior General of the Augustinians of the Assumption, during the 32nd General Chapter of the congregation being held in Rome.

Fr. Benedict succeeds Richard Lamoureux, which has just completed two terms of six years as head of the congregation.

Benoît Grière was born on May 22, 1958, in Chauny (France). After completing his secondary education in Epernay (Marne), he studied medicine at Reims (1976-85) and, simultaneously, began his studies in Philosophy in preparation for the priesthood (1981-87).

He pursued his theological studies at the Seminary of Reims (1987-89) and then at the Catholic Institute of Paris (1989-93). He holds a Masters Degree in Theology.

It is with great pride and joy that we announce the election of Fr. John L. Franck, A.A. to the General Council of the Augustinians of the Assumption.  The election took place on May 12, 2011 in Rome during the congregation’s 32^nd General Chapter.  Fr. Franck, a delegate to the chapter, has been vocation director for the U.S. Region for the Assumptionists, superior of the local community of Emmanuel House in Worcester, MA, vice chairman of the Assumption College’s Board of Trustees and past provincial of the congregation’s American province.

During the quarter century (1978-2005) when Karol Wojtyla was Pope, the Assumption held four General Chapters (1981, 1987, 1993, 1999). The first of these was marked by an event that had repercussions all over the world: the attempted assassination of the Pope on 13 May 1981.

The audience, during which the capitulants were to be received by the Holy Father, was thus cancelled.·In a telegram sent on 16 May 1981, Fr. Hervé Stephan, Superior General at the time, wrote:·“Dear Holy Father, the members of the Assumptionist General Chapter…were looking forward to the great moment when they would be received in audience.·We have been deeply disturbed by the attempt on your life.·We join everyone in the Church in praying for your intention.

The 32^nd General Chapter of the Augustinians of the Assumption has begun in Rome, Italy. From May  2^nd- 23^rd, 2011 participants, lay and religious, have gathered from all over the world to reflect and dialogue on their life as Assumptionists (lay and religious), their ministries in light of available resources and the needs of the Church and their organizational structure and governance which will assure the congregation’s future vitality.

The official representatives of the North American Province at this chapter include:

Fr. Marcel Poirier, A.A., provincial,

Fr. Bernard Holzer, A.A., delegate and provincial delegate for the Philippines,

Fr. John Franck, A.A., delegate and vocation director,

Mr. Claude Lamontagne, lay delegate.

To read more about the Chapter please click here.

The journey had started. I was extremely uncertain about what to expect for a week long SEND trip to Pennsylvania. Little did I know that I was going on one of the greatest trips of my life. Over the next six days, our group visited a homeless shelter, listened to the stories of many who are marginalized in society, worked with a great Habitat for Humanity organization, and had dinner with the Religious of the Assumption sisters who live in Philadelphia and Lansdale.

On Tuesday night, April, 26, 2011 Msgr. Frank Scollen, the colorful pastor of St. Peter's parish in Worcester attended the last Vocation Discernment Evening of the year at Emmanuel House, the Assumptionist residence on the campus of Assumption College. These evenings, held monthly during the academic year, gather young men from the College and the area who are thinking about priesthood and religious life.