Fr. Roland, at 93 years old, continues to minister (safely) to those around him as a member of the Assumptionist Center Community in Brighton. He recently did a "car blessing" for one of our employees and friends. Thank you, Fr. Roland, for your life of love and joyful service!

"Let us remember that we are, above all, subjects of Jesus Christ our king, citizens of the Church, our homeland, and that we owe Jesus Christ and his Church our fidelity, our service, our love and our life." - Venerable Emmanuel d'Alzon, founder of the Assumptionists, to his brother Assumptionists

By Fr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A., the provincial superior of the North American Province of the Augustinians of the Assumption

The article was first reported by Catholic Digest Magazine.

Q: Does the New Testament “cancel out” – or outweigh – the Old Testament? Is one of these parts of the Bible more important than the other? – Newbie Bible student

A: Dear Newbie Bible student:

Thanks for your question. I suppose one way of approaching an answer to it is to note the use of the Bible in the Church’s liturgy. On Sundays during the liturgical year, except for the Easter season, the first reading at Mass is always taken from the Old Testament. Included among those readings are passages from many different books: the prophets, the book of the Law (the Torah), the historical books, the wisdom literature. If the New Testament simply cancelled out the Old, to use your term, the importance signaled by their place in the Church’s liturgy would be difficult to understand. The Church clearly teaches that God continues to speak to us through the words of the Old Testament.

But how does he speak to us? The liturgy again provides some help. The Old Testament passage chosen for a particular Sunday always has some relation to the Gospel reading of the day. Often enough, the relationship is one of fulfillment: that something foreshadowed in God’s dealings with the people of Israel is brought to completion in the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. Sometimes we are presented in the Old Testament passage a “type” of something that is fulfilled in the New Covenant. Take, for example, the story of Joseph’s brothers in the Book of Genesis selling him into slavery in Egypt, which is a type of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Or the later episode in Genesis, when Abraham is asked to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, to be fulfilled beyond all measure by God’s sacrificing his only Son, Jesus.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 at 11:30 AM
(Virtual) Celebration of Assumption University & Mass of the Holy Spirit

Please join us as we celebrate Assumption University and the start of the new academic year with a Mass of the Holy Spirit livestreamed from the Chapel of the Holy Spirit.

Mass will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will be presided by the Very Reverend Dennis Gallagher, A.A., Assumptionist Provincial Superior for the North American Province.

The Mass will be immediately followed by a video, "Assumption: Ever Ancient, Ever New," documenting pivitol moments in the history of the institution. After the video, a blessing and the unveiling of the new Unviersity sign at the front entrance will take place, followed by the debut of the University Alma Mater, performed by the Assumption University Chorale, and virtual greetings from community members from throughout the country and abroad.

Students who are residing on campus are invited to attend a BBQ cookout at Taylor Dining Hall.

The Mass and other events will be livestreamed and available at Assumption.edu/MassoftheHolySpirit and on the AU app.

In the event of inclement weather, all events except for the Mass will be rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5, beginning at 11:30 a.m. The Mass will still be held on Sunday, Sept. 6, but at 7 p.m.

The article was first reported by The Catholic Free Presss.

by Tanya Connors

STURBRIDGE - Renewing their vows Aug. 28, the Feast of St. Augustine, at St. Anne and St. Patrick Parish, were four Augustinians of the Assumption: Brother Brian Verzella, who serves at the Assumptionist-staffed parish; Brothers Daniele Caglioni and Hugo Morales, who serve in campus ministry at Assumption University in Worcester, and Brother Matthew-Mary Okereke, a student at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

Assumptionist Father Dennis Gallagher, provincial superior, told them in his homily that living through this unusual time of pandemic is an opportunity for them to affirm that Jesus Christ is always the answer to the world’s problems.

In celebration of the Feast of our Father, St. Augustine, Brother Blair Nuyda, A.A., shares with us the process of "painting" a digital icon. The hand-painted version will be displayed at the renewal of vows of our temporary professed brothers.

"Renew, O Lord, in your Church the spirit you gave to the bishop Saint Augustine; grant that in our thirst for true wisdom we may never cease to search for you, the living fountain of unending love."

As we celebrate the Renewal of Vows of four of our Assumptionist Brothers here in the United States, we are united in prayer with our Brothers who are also part of the North American Province and are also renewing their vows:

Bro. Rafael Huerta Ramos, A.A.: Livestream of the Renewal in Mexico will begin at 6:00PM (Eastern Time)
https://www.facebook.com/tuparroquia/

Bro. Dagoberto Rodriguez, A.A. (a native of Mexico, currently studying in Argentina) Livestream of the Renewal in Argentina will begin at 4:00PM (Eastern Time) Santuario Lourdes
https://www.facebook.com/Santuario-Lourdes-849011375134551/?ref=page_internal

Bro. Elmer Vergara, A.A. has also renewed his vows at the Adveniat House Chapel with our Assumptionist community in the Philippines.

The Renewal of Vows Mass will be livestreamed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AugustiniansoftheAssumption/

"On the feast of our Father, St. Augustine, Brothers Brian, Daniele, Hugo and Matthew-Mary are renewing their commitment to Assumptionist religious life.

“Ever ancient, ever new” is how Augustine described the beauty of the God to whom he had surrendered himself after years of searching. Each of our brothers has his own itinerary marked by repeated signs of God’s faithfulness. Their profession of vows is a response to this fidelity on God’s part, this firm anchor in an uncertain world.

In renewing their vows, they teach us about the true nature of freedom. They choose once again to bind themselves to Jesus Christ and to the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. In doing so and with God’s grace, they are attacking at the root the possessiveness and egoism that bind us so tightly to ourselves. Faithfully observed, the vows are the royal road to loving freely and generously.

It is the special mark of human beings that in one moment in time they can speak words that give definitive form to an unknown future. In professing these vows, our four brothers set out once more to place their lives in the service of God’’s kingdom. We thank them for their courage and assure them of our prayers for the journey that lies ahead."

- Fr. Dennis Gallagher, Provincial Superior

We invite you to join us this Friday for the renewal of vows of our brothers. The Mass will be live-streamed on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/AugustiniansoftheAssumption/

Today’s guest post is written by Fr. Peter Precourt, A.A. He is currently living in El Paso, Texas, the site of our newest foundation in the United States.

New Mission in El Paso, Texas

We recently committed ourselves to a new apostolic project at St. Francis Xavier Parish in El Paso, TX. Our efforts at the parish will be focused on meeting the spiritual and material needs of migrants. Our presence along the U.S./Mexico border will allow us to carry out this work that is at the heart of our Assumptionist charism "to go wherever God is threatened in man and man threatened as the image of God."

Letter from the Desert

I am no longer a hermit. Fr. Ron has arrived to be with me. He appeared on July 23 and went into a separate building until results came back from his COVID-19 tests. After almost two weeks, he was able to move in with me in the casita at the diocesan center. We have already set our schedule for the community. We have morning and evening prayer together and celebrate televised Mass, Monday through Friday, with the Bishop. We celebrate Mass in the casita on the weekend. When it comes to cooking, Fr. Ron does the majority of the meals. A welcome relief from my cooking over these last months. It is certainly a major shift in my diet as I am now getting accustomed again to Filipino style food. Fr. Ron is making good use of his farewell present from Emmanuel House Community. That rice cooker is never going to gather dust. As you may know, we will be moving in September to St. Francis Xavier Parish to begin our ministry in El Paso.

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