Dear Readers,
 
A few days ago we told you about the opening of a new center sponsored by the Assumptionists in Togo, called the D'Alzon Center (Espace D'Alzon), which aims at organizing meetings and discussions in three areas: current events and the media, Assumptionist spirituality, and Christian formation. Now we have the joy of announcing that for the first time in its history, the congregation has opened a novitiate in West Africa, also in Sokodé, Togo. It will train the first generation of young men attracted to the Assumptionists in this part of the world.

Fr. Bernard Stef Stefan, A.A. (1916-2010)
Leader in the Rebirth of the Romanian Church
Prisoner in the Communist Gulag

Ştefan Ştef was born on October 22, 1916 in Lăscud (region of Mures, Romania). He completed his elementary school education in his home town, then his early high school years in Târnăveni (1927-1930), and finally completed his secondary education in Blaj (1930-1934).

This past August 28 four young Vietnamese (Duong, Duc, Nam and Tai) made their first vows in the congregation. It was an important event because it was the very first time that young Assumptionists pronounced their first vows in Vietnam.

The entire Assumption Family rented a bus for 50 to make the trip from Saigon to the novitiate some 50 miles away; there were Assumptionist brothers and Oblate Sisters, but also postulants and candidates.

"To see far and wide and in depth"

With the name D'Alzon Centre (Espace D'Alzon), the Assumptionist community in Sokode recently opened a facility which aims at organizing meetings and discussions in three areas: current events and the media, Assumptionist spirituality, and Christian formation. These programs complement those already offered at the St. Augustine Cultural Center (Centre Culturel Saint Augustin).

Pope Benedict XVI focused on Africa again in October, when he presided at the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. The event was aimed at finding ways Africa could overcome lingering conflicts and seek reconciliation, justice and peace.

The last issue of L'Assomption et ses oeuvres (Assumption and its Ministries), an international French quarterly, presented a series of articles on the presence of the Assumption on the African continent. The following article highlights the Assumptionist presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

From August 27-29 the fifth annual Festival of the Bible was held at the Assumptionist shrine and spiritual center in Quebec City, Montmartre canadien. The theme of this fifth festival, "L’écologie de la Bible à nos jours" ("Ecology of the Bible to our days"), opened four major axes of reflection based on Scriptural and Church teaching to provide a better understanding of the ecological crisis that calls for a spirituality of Creation. Whether in plenary conferences or workshops, the festival was an opportunity to discover much, both scientific and pastoral, about the theme. There were personal witnesses and well-prepared celebrations that nourished one's faith.

This past August 30, the Oblates and the Augustinians of the Assumption celebrated the bicentennial of the birth of Fr. Emmanuel d'Alzon, who was born in Le Vigan (Gard) and died on November 21, 1880 in Nimes.

Founder of both orders, he spent much of his youth at the château of Lavagnac in the town of Montagnac. And during his priestly ministry he often returned here.

Assumptionist Center, located in Brighton, MA, is home to a small community of Assumptionist religious. These religious invite a limited number of young, single men who are studying and/or working in the Boston area to share an experience in Christian community life in the Catholic tradition. They come together on a regular basis for meals, prayer, recreation and meetings during which they try to discover how God is working in their daily lives.