General Councils

Michael, Gabriel and Raphael ----- the "General Council" of the Angels ---- watched over the meeting we held this day. On the agenda: to evaluate common initiatives and accomplishments in the past few years, and to set in motion, if possible, others for the future.

If there was one conviction that surfaced from today's work, it was the renewed awareness of the reality of the Assumption Family and how fruitful collaboration among the different branches can be.

So, several initiatives born of this collaboration were presented and evaluated: RIAD (Rencontre International de l'Assomption pour le Dialogue ---International Meeting of the Assumption for Dialogue), the Inter-Assumption Congress on Religious Life in Europe and North America, the Session on Justice and Peace and the Integrity of Creation, etc.  In addition to the great wealth of the content of each of these meetings, their dynamic effect on the development of the cooperation between our congregations was noteworthy and unanimously appreciated.

Therefore, we have to continue in this direction and "do things together." But how? For, even if the desires are immense (did not Thérèse of Lisieux dare to speak even of "infinite desires"?), the means are quite limited. Certain situations, full of life, already reflect this fragility and, in many places, the resources ----especially in terms of personnel ---- are extremely limited. Moreover, how this reality of the "Assumption Family" is "received" locally is not always a given, among religious at the grassroots.

So, several possibilities were discussed. Some of the collaborative projects already underway will be pursued and others may see the light of day. But all of this will happen with the knowledge that there's still a way to go before the Assumption family reaches maturity. Let this be clear: the will to achieve this is firm. God's grace will do the rest.