Assumption College has been awarded a NetVUE Chaplaincy Implementation Grant to help students deepen their commitment to vocational discernment through the expansion of an existing reflective retreat as well as the inauguration of a Ministry Internship Program. Both are components of a broader co-curricular program at Assumption that asks sophomores to consider “big questions” of meaning, value, and purpose.

These two programs will be funded by the $13,395 grant and administered through Assumption’s Office of Campus Ministry. The grant will address the need to provide students with periods of reflection to focus on vocational discernment. To that end, an on-campus, one-day retreat called “Crossroads”—which has been held four times over the past five years—would be expanded to a 24-hour, overnight, off-campus format. The retreat has provided groups of 20 sophomores per year with an opportunity to reflect on three foundational vocation questions: what brings you joy, what are you good at, and what does the world need you to be. It has been facilitated by a campus minister, a Residential Life staff member, a career counselor, and a young alum.

Pavel House came into being officially on August 9^th, 2015, but in fact our last member arrived just a few days ago, on Monday the 17^th.  On that day, Bro. Sagar arrived from India and a two-month home-visit. Now all six of us have arrived:  Blair, Jonathan, Joseph, Richard, Ryan and Sagar.  During these first days together, we’re fortunate to have a fairly light schedule.  That’s allowed us to buy the last few pots and pans we’ll need for the kitchen and in general to equip the house to receive an active community:  chapel, community room, dining room, kitchen, personal quarters…  After a quiet celebration of the Assumption at home, we’re planning the renewal of vows ceremony on August 28^th (at 11am in the chapel of what we’re fondly calling “the big house”, the Assumptionist Center), and then two days of thinking and praying about our life together in the year to come (our “Local Chapter”).  Variety will be the name of the game for us this year:  six brothers from five different countries; studies in three different schools (BC, St. John’s Seminary, and the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization; and ministry in more than a few different places.  We hope you’ll visit.  In fact, you can expect some direct invitations.  We count on your prayers.

O God, who through human labor never cease to perfect and govern the vast work of creation, listen to the supplications of your people and grant that all men and women may find work that befits their dignity, joins them more closely to one another and enables them to serve their neighbor.
(Collect from Monday's Liturgy - Labor Day)

On Friday, August 28^th, 2015, the Feast of our Father St. Augustine, five of our Assumptionist student brothers renewed their vows during the Feast Day Liturgy at the Assumptionist Center in Brighton, MA. Several of their Assumptionist brothers and invited guests joined in the celebration which was followed by a simple but delicious luncheon. Let us keep these young religious in our prayers!

Pictured with these brothers is Fr. Peter Precourt, A.A., U.S. Territorial Superior (upper left) and Fr. Richard Lamoureux, A.A., Director of Formation (upper right.)

Here is my heart, O God, here it is with all its secrets. Look into my thoughts, O my hope, and take away all my wrong feelings. Let my eyes be ever on you, and release my feet from the snare. I ask you to live with me, to reign in me, to make this heart of mine a holy temple, a fit dwelling for your divine majesty. Amen.

St. Augustine

(from left to right)

Nicodème INANDJO, Togolese, appointed to Kinshasa, Dem. Rep. of the Congo to study theology

Justin TIENDREBEOGO, from Burkina Faso, appointed to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, for philosophy

Augustin AKPO, Togolese, appointed to Ouagadougou for philosophy

Honoré DAMIBA, from Burkina Faso, appointed to Ouagadougou for philosophy

Pierre GNOM, Togolese, appointed to Ouagadougou for philosophy

Martin ADANDOGOU, Togolese, appointed to Ouagadougou for philosophy

Gérard HOUEDANOU, Togolese, appointed to Antananarivo, Madagascar for philosophy

Yvon AKPABIE, Togolese, appointed to Kinshasa for theology

August 5, 2015 - Democratic Republic of the Congo

Congratulations in particular to the first two Togolese Assumptionists, Georges Houssou and Lucas Sezouhlon, who made final vows this past July 26 in Kinshasa and who will now continue their theological studies in view of priesthood. In recent years since our foundation in 2006, West Africa has become a rich source of vocations, with some 47 young men in formation from a wide variety of countries; in addition to Togo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Benin, young men from the Ivory Coast and Nigeria have joined their number.

We pray that Lucas and Georges may continue to draw more young men from West Africa and help the Assumption to expand there and to become more inculturated in this dynamic, ever-growing Church.

Rev. Robert J. Fortin, A.A., 82

WORCESTER - Rev. Robert J. Fortin, AA, 82, died Thursday, August 13, 2015 in Saint Vincent Hospital after a long illness.

Besides his fellow Assumptionist priests and brothers, he leaves 2 brothers: Rev. Richard Fortin, retired pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Millbury, of Leicester and Roger Fortin of Worcester; several nephews and nieces. His brother Ronald Fortin died in 2011.

He was born and raised in Worcester, the oldest son of Jules F. and R. Blanche (Reed) Fortin. He graduated from Assumption Preparatory School in 1950 and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Assumption College in 1955. He also received a Master of Arts in English Literature from the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC in 1965.

He completed his novitiate in Quebec, Canada and professed his first vows to Rev. Andre Godbout, AA, Master of Novices, on September 8, 1953. He then studied at the Assumptionist Seminary in Layrac, France and was ordained to the priesthood on October 19, 1958 by Bishop Roger Johan, Bishop of Agen. He also studied pastoral theology in Worcester and completed further study at the Center of Biblical Formation in Jerusalem from 1982 to 1983.

In his long and varied priestly ministry, Fr. Fortin taught English and liturgy at Our Lady of Lourdes Seminary in Cassadaga, NY from 1960 to 1963, and then taught English at Assumption Preparatory School here. He was superior of the community in New York and provincial treasurer for 10 years. He was again superior of the community at Assumption College as well as trustee at the college from 1977 to 1982. He was then assigned to be the Catholic chaplain at the US Embassy in Moscow, a post he held for 3 years followed by a stint as a project director for the Assumptionist publications of Bayard Press in Paris, France.