(On Thursday, April 3, 2014, Pope Francis authorized the Congregation of Saints in Rome to recognize that Fr. Marie-Clément Staub lived a life of 'heroic virtue' and can now be considered "Venerable", a further step in the canonization process. A French priest of the Assumptionist Order who was sent to mission in Canada, he saw a need to provide the Canadian seminaries and religious educational facilities with a support staff of nuns who would work to assist these institutions through charitable service and prayer. Hence, he founded the congregation of female religious known as the “Sisters of St. Joan of Arc” to accomplish his vision. He died in Quebec in 1936 and his Cause was initiated by that diocese. He was declared a Servant of God in 1986. Read full article below from the Catholic News Service on Pope Francis' decisions.)
VATICAN CITY - Without a canonization ceremony, Pope Francis declared three new saints for the Americas, pioneers of the Catholic Church in Canada and Brazil.
The magazine, Auras de Lourdes, published by the Assumptionists who run the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Santo Lugares section of Buenos Aires, celebrated its 100th birthday on January 1 of this year --- 100 years without interruption. To commemorate the event, the religious of the shrine produced a special centennial issue. At present the magazine appears four times a year.
The centennial issue, 54 pages in all, gives a short history of the magazine which was launched on January 1, 1914, at the original chapel under the direction of Fr. Godofredo Pierson AA, the superior of the community at the time. Only in 1920 was this community established as a parish.
We recently heard from former Cassadagan Ron Gaulin who met up with a friend in Rome. He wishes to share this joyous experience with the Assumption family.
“I really enjoy the newsletter and the photos because I look for people I know. So when I knew I was going to Rome, I contacted fellow Cassadagan John Franck and we started e-mailing back and forth.
On the evening of December 30, the first Congolese Assumptionists arrived at the São Paulo airport to begin their new mission in Brazil: Fr. Jules Mumbere Paluku, 37 years old, and Fr. Roger Wasukundi Sivakwirivutwa, 36 years old.
For almost ten years now, the Assumptionist Center in Brighton has been the home of a core group of community members and a residence for young, single men who are studying and/or working in the Boston area who wish to share an experience in Christian community life in the Catholic tradition. They come together on a regular basis to share meals, prayer, recreation and meetings through which they discover how God is working in their daily lives.
In 2011 when the masculine branch of the Assumption Family established a formation community in Ougadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, it became only the fourth country in the world where all five branches of the Family are found (France, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Vietnam being the other three). The first to arrive, in 1965, the Religious of the Assumption run two schools there as well as a formation house.
At Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey (Wrentham, MA), from January 26th to February 16th, 2014
Silence touches the heart…reveals the self. It was a life-giving experience, a journey that started with fear and hesitation, but allowing the Spirit to take control made a difference; a total surrender of myself to God to entrust everything to His grace. Silence taught me to value every word that comes out of my mouth, to be vigilant at all times in what I say: is it a message that gives life or that destroys? It was a time to pick up the pieces of my life and continue the journey, appreciating and thanking God for His grace and enlightenment. (Brother Leo Divinagracia)
For the many of you who have inquired...a scholarship fund was established for "Bro" by the Class of 1969 at its 40th Reunion. If you wish to contribute as a birthday gift, you may do so online. Under "Gift Designation" please indicate that your gift is for the Bro. Armand G. Lemaire, A.A.'48 Scholarship. You may also forward a check, made payable to Assumption College, to either of us at the address below.
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