Press Releases

Fr. Benoît Grière the New General

On May 11, 2011, the General Chapter of the Assumptionists elected Fr. Benoît Grière new Superior General of the Congregation. Biography of Benoît Grière

Fr. Benoît Grière becomes the 10th Superior General of the Augustinians of the Assumption (also called Asumptionists). Fr. Benoît (53) from France succeeds Fr. Richard Lamoureux (USA) who finishes two mandates of six years each as head of the Congregation. The Assumptionists today number 834 religious and 45 novices in 130 communities in 30 countries on every continent

John Paul II and the Assumption

During the quarter century (1978-2005) when Karol Wojtyla was Pope, the Assumption held four General Chapters (1981, 1987, 1993, 1999). The first of these was marked by an event that had repercussions all over the world: the attempted assassination of the Pope on 13 May 1981. 

Solemnity of Easter 2011

HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE

Father d’Alzon’s prayer before the crucifix

Father d’Alzon’s spirituality centered on Christ inspired a prayer he wrote on the crucifix, for a group of Christian women, the “Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament.” This prayer, also called “A friend for each day”, was included in a letter he wrote in 1857 (see Ecrits spirituels, pages 1229-1232). It has often been quoted, in different forms, and frequently with an image of Christ on the cross.

Assumptionist Lenten Practice in Kinshasa

The Assumptionists of Kinshasa in solidarity with the patients of Kinshasa General Hospital
 
Sunday, April 10th, the Assumptionists of the Emmanuel d’Alzon community of Kinshasa made their way to the General Hospitalled called “Maman Yemo” to pray with the patients there and contribute to their care. The gesture is part of a Lenten effort called “Prayer and Sharing with those in need”. 

“Want to be my friend?”

This is the usual greeting nowadays. The fact is, we’re living in the computer age! It’s another world, a new culture that’s come upon us. Friendly ties develop among people often very distant from each other and who may never meet. Social networks, like Facebook, are becoming more and more popular. How should we deal with this new phenomenon?

The « Fiches Croire »: a global future

During the week Papal audience, on April 6th, a large delegation from Bayard lead by Fr. André Antoni, member of the Board of Directors, will come to Rome to present to the Pope a publication of Bayard called “Fiches Croire”, a real tool for the new evangelization that is so close to the heart of the current Holy Father. We asked Fr. André to talk to us about the project and its implementation. 

Annual Gathering of Brothers and Sisters working in the Near East Mission

Some twenty Assumptionists and Oblates recently participated in the annual meeting of the Near East Mission, held from Saturday, February 26th, to Sunday, March 6th, in Jerusalem, an incomparable setting of spiritual intensity (which does not mean there are not political tensions), but also an Assumptioniste site: Saint Peter in Gallicantu.

Riobamba, a city under construction …

Greetings to all of those who are reading this. It’s been three weeks now since my arrival in this wonderful place. Usually I don’t write a chronicle, but today, after seeing this tremendous country and in particular this fine city, I feel obliged to communicate my impressions especially from our point of view as Assumptionists. My observations have to do with more than the natural landscape, which nonetheless lead us to discover God’s greatness, which we believe is revealed through His creation.

Assumptionist Mission in Lugazi, Uganda

Interview with Fr. Protais Kabila

Father Protais, you are Regional Superior in East Africa. Could you tell us about the mission that is beginning in Uganda?
 
It was in 2002 that the idea of a foundation in Uganda was born, but for many years it never took concrete form.