On August 9-10, the members of the Postulation Committee met in Paris. This committee (Assumptionists Vincent Cabanac, chair, Aldo Gajardo, Lucas Chuffart, Paul Nguyen, and John Franck, and Oblates Claire Rabitz and Judith Kahindo)* was formed to oversee the beatification process of the founder of the Augustinians of the Assumption and the Oblates of the Assumption, Venerable Emmanuel d’Alzon.

After reviewing the status of the process at present and the steps which remain, the group   discussed ways of promoting knowledge of Fr. d’Alzon in the Assumption family, as well as in the ranks of those with whom and for whom we work and in the Church at large.

Various subcommittees were established to pursue the goals that were outlined:

(1) the composition of a modern, easily accessible biography of Fr.d’Alzon;

(2) the preparation of various celebrations and liturgical tools;

(3) recommendations for the formation of young religious;

(4) the organization of retreats and conferences on the founder.

Two other major topics arose:

(1) how to profit from the apparently imminent canonization of Blessed Marie-Eugénie, the foundress of the Religious of the Assumption and close friend of Fr. d’Alzon, to promote greater awareness of Fr. d’Alzon himself; (

2) how to prepare for the bicentennial of Fr. d’Alzon’s birth which will occur in 2010.

*Fr. Jean-Marie Katabu, another member of the committee, was unable to attend.

Fr. John L. Franck, A.A.