Leaving all that is familiar – your home, your family and friends, and your culture – creates an environment that encourages profound reflection, new perspectives and personal transformation, says Fr. John Franck, A.A. ’70. For many of the hundreds of Assumption students and alumni who have participated in the College’s annual Mexico Mission trips, those changes have lasted a lifetime. This year the Mexico Mission program is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The celebration of the bicentennial of our Founder has taken its cue from the theme "Following Jesus Christ with Emmanuel d’Alzon", developed according to the three dimensions evoked by Fr. d’Alzon in a letter that he wrote on September 2, 1878, to Sr. Marie-Véronique Guiraud, on the occasion of the anniversary of his baptism: "Sixty-eight years ago today I was baptized, my dear child, and I have chosen this day to answer you in the hope that you will make a novena for me to obtain from Our Lord the grace to hold fast to the vows of my baptism, my ordination, and my profession".

Fr. d’Alzon, it is said, preferred to recall the anniversary of his baptism rather than that of his birth. In fact, one can find in his correspondence the date of his baptism mentioned at least nine times (in 1849, 1859, 1867, 1869, 1875, 1877 two letters, 1878, two letters).

His baptism took place in the parish church of St. Peter's in Le Vigan, where a plaque still commemorates the occasion.

Dear Friends,

After leaving La Croix (Assumptionist daily newspaper in Paris) as an editor-in-chief at theend of 2009 and having enjoyed a sabbatical, my superiors have asked me to goto Romania.  I will begin my new ministryon September 14 in Bucharest, where the Congregation will re-open a large houseto serve dialogue among the Churches and the unity of all Christians.

Being involved inreconciliation between divided communities of faith has been one of our"trademarks" and was particularly developed in Eastern Europe, a land which isalmost 90% Orthodox. So it is that, for more than 100 years, the Augustiniansof the Assumption have been present in Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey,as well as Jerusalem, in what we call the "Mission d'Orient" (Eastern Mission).

The Assumptionist Center in Brighton, MA was the site of Bro. Ron's renewal of temporary vows on Saturday, August 28th, the Feast of the Solemnity of St. Augustine. Fr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A., Regional Superior, celebrant and homilist at the liturgy, received Bro.Ron's profession of vows on behalf of the congregation and the Church.

In his homily, Fr. Dennis spoke of Bro Ron's life journey, freely chosen, as  charting a course that binds himself and his fate to that of Christ, "participating in his redemptive love for the world." In desiring to live out this ideal on a daily basis, Bro Ron and all Assumptionists are strengthened by the model of their father St. Augustine's desire "to lead a life of peaceful contemplation," amid the challenges and demands of life which require frequent surrendering of one's self for the love of Christ. Truly, Bro. Ron's profession of commitment bore witness to this ideal.

Following the liturgy, the community and guests of Bro. Ron continued the joyous celebration with a cookout in the backyard of the Center.    

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Assumption College was the site of the annual Assumptionist retreat, August 8^th through August 14^th, for the U.S. Region of the congregation. Directed by Fr. Richard Lamoureux, A.A., Superior General, the theme "A Path of Holiness...in the footsteps of Emmanuel d'Alzon" was developed through reflecting principally on the letters of Fr. d'Alzon and correlated with appropriate scriptural texts.

On Thursday, August 19th, 9 individuals arrived in Worcester from all over the country, from as near as Newton Square, Worcester and as far as Minnetonka, Minnesota.  What they had in common was their desire to give one year of their lives in service to the poor as Associate Missionaries of the Assumption (AMA's).  After learning more about the Assumption, taking on new cultures in order to look more closely at entering into a new culture, after studying Myers-Briggs personality types, and engaging in team building at a nearby Y camp, after looking at the Theology of Mission, and reflecting on the big transition on which they are about to embark, they seemed ready to leave for their sites.

This year again, for the 137^th time, men and women religious of the Assumption accompanied thousands of pilgrims to celebrate the feast of the Assumption in Lourdes, among whom there were some 900 sick or handicapped participants. A more than 100-year-old tradition, the National Pilgrimage continues to draw crowds to the feet of the Virgin of Massabielle, to the school of the humble visionary, Bernadette.

Since 1873, the date of the first pilgrimage to Lourdes organized by the Assumptionists, this annual rendez-vous has taken place except during the two World Wars. But to what may we attribute this attachment, so long-standing and so persevering, to the great Marian city, Our Lady of Lourdes?

“Our little family” is the way that Father d’Alzon used to refer to the Assumptionists of his time.  From our earliest days, this family has included both vowed religious and lay people … and that vision continues today.  The religious are at the center of this reality but they make little or no sense alone.  Called by God, with Father d’Alzon as our Guide, we all become Assumptionists and together we devote our lives and energy to the Assumptionist mission.  We are partners for God’s Kingdom! 

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