This month’s Sunday “Conversations…” in Brighton saw a different format. Beginning with the liturgy for the First Sunday of Advent, the community, residents and guests celebrated the 60 years of priesthood of Frs. Roland Guilmain, A.A., Aidan Furlong, A.A. and Theodore Fortier, A.A. and anticipated Fr. Norman Meiklejohn’s 60^th anniversary next year. Fr. Roland was the principal celebrant and Fr. Claude Grenache, A.A., superior of the house, was the homilist.

Following the liturgy, everyone gathered in the living room for a grand toast and a few shared memories.

For the last one and half year, Bro Cristian Santana (from the Chile-Argentine Province) has been one of us in this territory (US). He first came for his Novitiate Year which ended on August 6, 2013, the day when he made his first profession in the Assumption. Then, he was interested in improving his English. So, instead of returning to Chile after his profession, Bro Cristian stayed on and enrolled in an English class at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.

On Monday, November 11, 2013, several hundred people gathered in the chapel of the Assumptionist retirement community of Espirito Santo do Pinhal (Brazil) to celebrate the hundredth birthday of the oldest living Assumptionist, Fr. Lambert van de Leemput, a Dutch missionary who arrived in Brazil over 65 years ago.

My name is Moisés Urquizo and I am a young Assumptionist candidate belonging to the Assumptionist parish of San Pedro of Licán, in the city of Riobamba, in Ecuador. I have represented our diocese in many national youth encounters which have strengthened my love of the Lord and my desire to follow him.

This summer, for the first time, I attended a World Youth Day, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This experience helped me to open my horizons even more to the reality of Christian young people around the world, their enthusiasm, hopes, and potential. On our arrival in Rio, the Assumptionists of the parish of Santísima Trinidad, received us with such open arms that, personally, I immediately felt at home; everyone was so welcoming, including all the lay-people that work at the parish and so many of the young people.

The ‘Asian Diaspora’ of  professed Assumptionists gathered in Brighton, MA recently for a day together, beginning with an informative  power point presentation on the current communities and their apostolates in the Philippines by Fr. Bernard Holtzer, A.A. The community representing the Philippines, China, Vietnam, India and various house members then shared an Asian lunch together in the spirit of true Assumptionist hospitality. An afternoon excursion to Salem, MA followed before the returned trip home to Brighton, Worcester and Sturbridge.

Father in heaven, your gifts are countless and your goodness infinite; as we celebrate this Thanksgiving with gratitude for your kindness, open our hearts to have concern for every man, woman and child, so that we may share your gifts in loving service.
Through Christ our Lord. 
(Mass of Thanksgiving, Collect)

Thanksgiving Blessings!

The Ecumenical Institute and the Augustinians of the Assumption are pleased to present The Emmanuel d’Alzon Lecture by Dr. Mary Keys titled, “Why Justice is Not Enough:  Aquinas and Wilberforce on Charity, Mercy, and the Common Good.”

Wednesday, November 20, 2013
7:30 PM
Event Venue:  La Maison Francaise Salon

On November 8^th Typhoon Haiyan made landfall and devastated the central Philippines. The suffering of the people affected by this natural disaster is hard to fathom: Nearly 10 million people appear to have been affected by the storm and more than 3,600 are dead and the toll is mounting.

Assumptionists  in the United States and at Assumption College are offering consolation, courage, strength and perseverance in the midst of these horrific events. We are calling upon the Assumption College community to help our brothers and sisters in the Philippines.

Online: Click “DONATE” on the left hand side of the webpage, follow the instructions for donating to the Annual Fund and enter “Typhoon Relief” in the note line at the end of the process.

Mail: You may also mail donations directly to the Assumptionist community in Brighton at:

Augustinians of the Assumption
ATTN: Typhoon Haiyan Relief
330 Market Street
Brighton MA, 02135

All monetary donations will be sent to the Assumptionist-Philippines’ Kaloob Foundation, who are in contact with the Church’s Social Action, or the APAC Justice and Peace Desk.

MADRID, 23-27 SEPTEMBER 2013

PRESENT:   Marcelo Marcial,  Jimena Garcia, Francisco (Paco) Rentero, Claude Grenache
Not able to attend:  Marie-Claire Rouquet, Silvan

OVERVIEW OF THE ALLIANCE IN THE CONGREGATION

Clearly the Province of Africa outnumbers all the others with over 300 Lay Assumptionists.  All the groups are accompanied by a Religious.  There is a great deal of diversity in these groups.  In accordance with the General Chapter #72, they have petitioned to be recognized officially as a Society of lay people and presented us with a seven page document containing a proposal for the Statutes of the Association. Unfortunately, Silvan received his Visa too late and was unable to attend the meeting.