June 18, 2016 - Pinhal, Brazil

Twice a year the Plenary General Council (PGC) of the Congregation (the superior general, his assistants, and the provincials of the six provinces of the Congregation) meet to evaluate, plan, and discusss the life and mission of the Congregation. These meetings are opportunities for the leaders of the Congregation to assess our resources (personnel and finances) and try to place them at the disposition of the entire Institute.

Every December the meeting is held at the general house in Rome while the June meeting is held in one of our provinces in the world. This year the choice was Brazil and the Assumptionist retreat house/spirituality center in Espirito Santo do Pinhal, some three hours west of the bustling metropolis of Sao Paulo. This center houses three separate communities of Assumptionists, the staff of a local parish, the residence of senior religious, and the newly opened novitiate of the Assumptionists in South America (for the Andean province and the province of Brazil).

By Frank Bruno '17

Assumption College offers a variety of opportunities for students to enhance their undergraduate experience by traveling to different cities and countries throughout the course of the year. Studying abroad, or embarking on service immersion SEND trips during winter or spring break, are just a few of the options students are encouraged to take advantage of  to obtain  new experiences outside of the classroom.

For students in Assumption’s SOPHIA program (SOPHomore Initiative at Assumption College), a two-week trip to the College’s Rome Campus, serves as an optional capstone experience in their vocational journey. SOPHIA is a College program for Assumption sophomores, and is specially designed to help students discover a deeper connection between their spiritual, personal and professional lives. This year, from May 22 through June 2, a group of sophomores, accompanied by College President Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., traveled to Rome and explored various parts of the city, visiting and learning about historic landmarks, which included the Coliseum, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps and Saint Peter’s Basilica. On site, Fr. John Franck, AA, former Vice-President for Student Affairs at Assumption and chairman of the Board of Trustees, currently assistant general of the Assumptionists, served as the group's chaplain.

Last month the Assumptionist community in Ougadougou opened its doors to twenty or so adults and young people interested in becoming lay Assumptioists in order to plan a yearlong series of conferences and other activities. The day's events began with Mass presided by the local superior, Fr. Jean-Paul Sagadou.

In his introductory remarks, Fr. Jean-Paul thanked everyone for coming and expressed his regrets that this meeting had to be postponed for so long because of the recent political unrest in the country.

« New Wine in Fresh Wineskins » : this theme served as the basis for the day's discussion. It is the theme chosen by the Assumptionists for their upcoming general chapter to be held next year. In his presentation, the first of the day, Fr. Nicolas Tarrale explained that the basis for the Lay-Religious Alliance at the Assumption comes as "a legacy handed down from our founder, Fr. d'Alzon". For an hour and a half Fr. Nicolas outlined the various elements that might be incorporated into a formation program for lay Assumptionists. According to the Acts of the General Chapter of 2011, #143, "a Lay Assumptionist is one who commits himself/herself to living his/her baptismal vocation, and the mission that flows from it, within the Assumption, within the Church and within society." The high level of participation in the construction of the year's program was proof of the serious desire of those present to be formed in Assumptionist spirituality. The day's work ended with a community meal that allowed everyone to get to know each other better.

- In your speeches in Europe, you refer to the “roots” of the continent without ever describing them as Christian. Rather, you define “European identity” as “dynamic and multicultural.” In your view, is the expression “Christian roots” inappropriate for Europe?

Pope Francis: We need to speak of roots in the plural because there are so many. In this sense, when I hear talk of the Christian roots of Europe, I sometimes dread the tone, which can seem triumphalist or even vengeful. It then takes on colonialist overtones. John Paul II, however, spoke about it in a tranquil manner.

Yes, Europe has Christian roots and it is Christianity’s responsibility to water those roots. But this must be done in a spirit of service as in the washing of the feet. Christianity’s duty to Europe is one of service. As Erich Przywara, the great master of Romano Guardini and Hans Urs von Balthasar, teaches us, Christianity’s contribution to a culture is that of Christ in the washing of the feet. In other words, service and the gift of life. It must not become a colonial enterprise.

– On April 16, you made a powerful gesture by bringing back the refugees from Lesbos to Rome. However, does Europe have the capacity to accept so many migrants?

– Fr. Simon, would you share with us a bit about your background: family, childhood, early education etc.?

Fr. Simon – I was the third child born into a family of 9 children, seven boys and two girls in 1970, in the central part of Kenya. My primary education took place in my home village which is predominantly protestant and which sponsored the school I attended. Due to the fact that the Catholic Church was far from my home, I attended Sunday services in the local church. I started attending Mass later as I prepared for my First Holy Communion and later for Confirmation by a woman who volunteered to teach us in her home.

My secondary education took place in a Catholic sponsored school where I had a better opportunity to grow in the faith and to discern my vocation.  The call to priesthood had been part of me since I was in primary school where I wanted to move on to a minor seminary. Instead, the school I attended was a parish school run by the Consolata Fathers whose members evangelized almost the whole of Central Kenya from 1902. During these years I felt more and more called to religious life. However my parish priest, as a diocesan, did not support me and directed me the diocesan vocation director and I eventually began my formation as a diocesan seminarian in 1988.

– Where/how did your Assumptionist roots begin? Did anyone in particular have a significant impact on your life at this time?

Assumption’s oldest alumnus celebrated his 100^th birthday in March

- How/why did you attend Assumption Prep and Assumption College?

- God wanted me to. After graduating from high school in 1934, I wanted to further my education. I was persuaded by Fr. Antonio Dufault, a diocesan priest and the brother of Fr. Wilfrid, A.A. ’29, who later became Superior General of the Assumptionists. I agreed to go only if no one would pressure me to become a priest. As a sophomore, I freely chose to become an Assumptionist priest. Limited knowledge of French and Latin obliged me to do a P.G. (pre-graduate) year at the high school (which later became Assumption Prep).

- What do you recall about your days as a student?

- I recall almost losing my identity when as a P.G. student my classmates called me “Minsky,” because I was often with a fellow student who had been dubbed “Pinsky.” The nickname stayed with me through college. These names probably helped us to not take ourselves too seriously and said something about the familiarity, informality and mischievousness that then characterized student life and that helpedus face the challenge of a disciplined, studious and prayerful life.