October marked the end of a yearlong, worldwide commemoration of the bicentennial of the birth of Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon, founder of the Augustinians of the Assumption. The College has joined the Assumptionists in celebrating this important anniversary in a variety of ways – liturgical celebrations, an academic conference, the publication of two volumes focusing on d’Alzon’s view of education and a pilgrimage, “In the Footsteps of Fr. d’Alzon,” to Paris, Nimes and Rome last May. Each of these events has given us an opportunity to come to a better appreciation of the man whose vision continues to inspire the mission of the College. The founding of Assumption College in 1904 realized Fr. d’Alzon’s dream of establishing a Catholic university that would be known for its excellence. For Fr. d’Alzon, education was a mission with one goal – to bring Christ into the lives and hearts of students, hence the motto of Assumption College, “…until Christ be formed in you.”

Here in Saigon the members of the scholastic community begin their day together in the chapel at 5:15 AM. That means that you have to take responsibility yourself to wake up. I told Dennis when we went to bed the first night here in Vietnam (VN) that he should not feel that he had to be there.

It was very hard to sleep the first night ---maybe because·I had been away for nine years and so much was going through my mind and heart. I went to bed around 3:30 AM hoping that I could sleep a little and I did. I woke up around 5. At that time,·one of the·priests, Fr. Peter Thang who·was going·out to celebrate Mass for another community, was very surprised when I greeted him in the morning. He kept say how sorry they were·for not picking us up at the airport.

Brother Dinh Vo Tran Gia, A.A.,  a Vietnamese Assumptionist who is a member of the Region of the United States, left for Vietnam on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 together with the regional superior, Father Dennis Gallagher, A.A. Bro Dinh had not been back to Vietnam since 2001. The Assumptionists founded the first community in Saigon in 2006 and now have three houses in Vietnam: a house of studies, a novitiate, and an orphanage. Fr. Dennis and Bro Dinh's trip had three goals: (1) to spend time in the three Assumptionist communities and to discuss potential educational ventures with Assumption College in Worcester, MA; (2) to visit the bishop of Dalat to thank him for his "gift" of Dinh to the Assumptionists; (3) to allow Dinh to see members of his family still living in Vietnam, especially his 96-year grandmother.

Dennis picked me up around 3:15 AM and we drove to Brighton where Br. Ron was waiting for us. We checked in around 4:30 smoothly in term of paper work. Dennis had a good seat from Boston to Los Angeles. However, from LA to Hong Kong and from Hong Kong to Vietnam, he had the same seat on the aisle. I think he did not have enough room, but it was okay.

All social bodies, as living realities, establish structures which guarantee their continued life and smooth functioning. Religious orders, small and large alike - and God knows how many there are - fall into this category and cannot escape this reality. Over the centuries, Rules which founders composed, rules which regulate religious life, foresee gatherings of different types.

The grasshoppers are the first thing I tell my friends and family about Chaparral.  About how when Emily and I walk through our backyard to get to the compost or the sheds where all the games and manualidades are stored, dozens of them jump without any predetermined idea about where they are going to land.  They move based on an intuitive sense of danger and react to the change by often changing more than they planned to.

The chapel of the Emmanuel d’Alzon Community of Kinshasa served as the venue for the Eucharistic celebration commemorating the 130th anniversary of Fr. d’Alzon’s entrance into eternal life, November 21, 1880. Gathered for the celebration were Assumptionists, Oblates of the Assumption, and lay associates, all of whom joined together in prayer on this festive occasion. The Mass, on this feast of Christ the King, began at 4 PM.

As a way of honoring the Founder of the Augustinians of the Assumption, Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon and concluding the bicentennial of his birth, Fr. Claude Grenache, A.A. led this month’s “Conversations At The Center” in Brighton, MA for the residents and guests. Developing the theme of “The Life and Charism of Venerable Emmanuel d’Alzon,” Fr. Claude began by situating the life of Fr. d’Alzon in its historical context of mid 19^th century France. This dramatically illustrated Fr. d’Alzon’s familial roots, the chaos of France’s post Revolution turmoil, as well as the challenges facing the Church at that time.

A Nobleman by birth, Fr. d’Alzon’s passionate love of Christ, His Mother and the Church led him to priesthood, serving as Vicar General of his diocese in Nimes for all of his life and as founder of the Augustinians of the Assumption.

Some exciting efforts are happening in our Region/Province with regard to fundraising and development! With the support and encouragement of our Provincial Council to pursue internal collaboration between regions in fundraising and development for the purpose of the future growth of our mission, it had become evident that we needed to begin by sharing one another’s wisdom and experience.

Back in June of this year, Mr. Tomasz Kierul, Director of Development for the U.S. Region had a chance to talk to Fr. Miguel, Regional Superior in Mexico. Initially the question was raised as to how we here in the U.S. could help Mexico and what we can do together moving forward. Immediately, our Mass Association was a focus, so Fr. Miguel translated our website into Spanish (www.MassCardsAA.com).

I have been asked to write something about my impressions as one newly arrived in the US Region. Impressions may not be accurate perceptions; they are just impressions.

I am Mulumba KAMBALE MATSONGANI, an Assumptionist priest, from the Democratic Republic of Congo. I joined the Assumptions in 1994. Two years later (1996), I made my first religious profession. Then, I did philosophical studies in Butembo/DRC, pastoral experience in Arusha/Tanzania and theological studies in Nairobi/Kenya. After my theological studies in 2004, I was assigned in DRC to work in the Administration and Finance office of our College and in Vocation ministry.  Since September 2008, I have been master of postulants until recently when I was appointed to Emmanuel House in the USA for business studies at Assumption College, Worcester, MA.