On this feast of the Assumptionist Bulgarian martyrs I would like to begin with a word about a heart-wrenching meeting that I will never forget, that took place last December in Rome between Bishop Christo Proykov, the apostolic exarch of Sofia (and therefore of all Catholics of the Oriental rite in Bulgaria), and the members of the Assumptionist Plenary General Council, that is to say, the superior general, his assistants, and all six of the provincials of the Congregation.

Bishop Proykov came to speak to us about the difficult decision we had taken to close our only community in Bulgaria and to withdraw the three Assumptionists living there. I can’t get into the long and painful process that led up to this decision, but it was one that we took with the greatest reluctance and sorrow and after countless deliberations with the members of the local community and many others.

Before I recount some of Bishop Proykov’s remarks, let me simply say a few words about the martyrs themselves. Some of you may not know much about them, all of whom were executed around midnight on the evening between November 11 and November 12, 1952 after a laughable mock trial during which they were accused by the Communist regime of being Vatican spies and agents of Western powers.

Fr. Dennis Gallagher, provincial of the North American region of the Assumptionists, on Nov. 5 participated in the first of the 2017 “Conversations at the Center,” an ongoing series of talks and lectures on faith and culture.

Fr. Dennis offered a reflection on Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon, founder of the Assumptionists, paying particular attention to d’Alzon’s vocational discernment and his crisis years—when he fell ill. Many of the people in attendance—which included a large contingent of the Sturbridge Lay Assumptionists—commented on the similarities between d’Alzon’s 19^th-century France and the 21^st-century United States.

As always, after the talk, everyone moved into the dining room and enjoyed brunch and more conversation.

Did you know that I love penguins? - PDF file

WORCESTER, MA (October 24, 2017) — Media plays a significant role in shaping the public’s minds and opinions and religion is no different. Assumption College will welcome Father Edward Beck, C.P. ’80, CNN’s faith and religion commentator, who will present “Religion, Church and the Media: A Delicate Balance” at  7 p.m. on Thursday, November 2, in the La Maison Auditorium on the College’s Worcester campus, 500 Salisbury St.

“Religion, Church and the Media: A Delicate Balance,” will focus on the various portrayals of faith and religion in mainstream media, particularly through televised news. Fr. Beck will draw upon his 10 years of experience in network and cable news to examine the ways in which mainstream media cover faith and religion in television news.

Fr. Beck graduated from Assumption College in 1980, was ordained in 1985 as a Roman Catholic priest, and is a member of the Passionist Order. For the past 10 years, Fr. Beck has served as a media contributor, providing media analysis on issues of ethics, faith, morality and religion for ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, ABC Family Channel, HLN and current TV. For four years, he co-hosted the weekly ABC News show Focus on Faith with Chris Cuomo. In 2013, Fr. Beck contributed to the coverage of the Conclave that elected Pope Francis.

WORCESTER, MA (October 20, 2017) — On a perfect fall day, in the presence of hundreds of  members of the Assumption community and invited guests, the College celebrated the official opening of its new, state-of-the-art academic building, the Tsotsis Family Academic Center. Following a brief speaking program and ribbon cutting, those who attended toured the building to experience how the new spaces and resources have already begun to transform learning at Assumption through performances and presentations by students and faculty.

“It was just 17 months ago that we stood here on a cold, snowy April day to break ground for an ambitious project that would change not only the landscape of this campus, but teaching and learning as well,” said Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., president of Assumption College. “Every aspect of this building, every detail, has meaning and significance inspired by a vision of education that aims at transforming the lives of our students. This building speaks to the centrality of the intellectual life of the campus and the centrality of our mission as a Catholic liberal arts institution, which seeks to integrate the classical liberal arts tradition with professional formation.  What takes place in this building represents the holistic approach to education that is at the heart of Assumption.”

Assumption College and Assumption College Campus Ministry hosted on Sunday a National Religious Vocation Conference, or NRVC, workshop on the upcoming Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment. About 45 people -- religious, ordained, and lay, along with a smattering of students -- attended. The Assumptionists were one of the organizers of the workshop.

Sr. Julie Fertsch, SSJ, served as the workshop speaker and facilitator of a panel of people who were in different stages of their religious life:  discerner, candidate, young priest, and so on. Bro. Daniele Caglioni, an Assumptionist student brother, was a member of the panel.

Letter from the Superior general to Assumptionist religious, to the Sisters of the Assumption Family, and to lay members of the Assumptionist Lay-Religious Alliance.

Dear brothers, sisters, and friends,

It has already been five years since our brothers, Jean-Pierre, Edmond and Anselme, were kidnapped by armed soldiers. Since then, we have been waiting in hope and prayer. Unfortunately we remain without the slightest bit of reliable news and our waiting goes on in absolute uncertainty. I am writing this letter with the sole purpose of keeping our hope alive. Christians cannot resign themselves to a state where they allow silence and death to prevail. Our God is a God of life.

As their brother in faith I once again turn my attention to members of their grieving families. For them this disappearance is a tragedy that never ends. The absence of any information and the ongoing incompetence of civil authorities cause further bitterness and sadness. I reiterate my friendship with the religious of the Province of Africa and more particularly with the Assumptionists, the Oblates and Orants of the Assumption, and all those in the consecrated life in the diocese of Butembo-Beni. Still today you remain subject to violence and abuse. Our brother, Fr. Vincent Machozi, comes immediately to mind; he was shot in cold blood with his mother looking on. Nor do I wish to forget the two diocesan priests who were kidnapped a little more than 100 days ago. I pray as well for the people of North Kivu who regularly endure acts of violence and abuse at the hands of armed factions who criss-cross the region. We Assumptionists stand side by side with this population on whom such evil is exacting a tremendous toll.

Dear Assumptionist Fathers

My name is Jim Galligan, one of many friends of your brother priest Fr Jean Pierre who was kidnapped 5 years ago.

Fr Jean Pierre is a kind and loving priest who is missed by so many people in Dundee, Scotland and he with Fr Anselme and Fr Edmond are always in our prayers.

We have offered a Mass each year for them and have already planned this years Mass in Saint Peter & Paul's Parish in Dundee with the main celebrant being Mgr Ken McCaffrey. We will be sending out the attached poster to all the parishes in our Diocese as we know Fe Jean Pierre touched the hearts of so many people during his six and a half years of service in Dundee.

We want to assure you that we will be united with you in our prayers at this time.

We understand there is still no news and all there has been is speculation of what may have happened to them. If there is any news or if you receive and letter from your provincial for their anniversary if you were able to forward this then we could relay it to those attending the Mass.

Be assured always of our prayers.

Jim Galligan