ASSUMPTIONISTS
COUNCIL OF CONGREGATION 2008
Gwangju, Korea
Letter to Assumptionist brothers, sisters and laity
“Following Christ with Emmanuel d’Alzon”
For the first time in its history, the Council of Congregation, met in
Asia, in Gwangju. It is in this city in South Korea, where the Oblate
Sisters of the Assumption had already established themselves, that the
Assumptionists opened their first community in the Far East since the
foundation in Manchuria. Since then, two other Assumptionist
communities have come to life, in Manila (Philippines) and Saigon
(Vietnam). We thank the Lord for the missionary vitality of our “small
family”, which despite its fragility continues to manifest its passion
for the Kingdom of God, with daring and disinterestedness. This
passion for God’s Reign was bequeathed to us by our Founder. For more
than 150 years since our founding, we still share the same ambition
that characterized Emmanuel d’Alzon, with a vision that is both broad
and ambitious. We are convinced that the same Spirit that pushed him
to found his Congregations is still at work in us. The story begun by
Emmanuel d’Alzon remains a vital one carried on confidently today by
his sons and daughters, by religious men and women as well as by
Assumptionist lay people.
In 2010, we will celebrate the Bicentenary of the birth of Father
Emmanuel d’Alzon. The Council of Congregation wanted to communicate to
the members of the Assumption family its desire to live this special
event as intensely as possible. We want this anniversary to be a time
of grace and joy. It will help strengthen a shared belief in the
holiness of our Founder. Not only do we dare believe in the holiness
of Emmanuel d’Alzon; we also want to pursue with him the holiness to
which each one of us is called as a disciple of Christ.
We believe that Father d’Alzon is more than an historical figure, more
than an ancestor from the past to whom we refer from time to time. He
is a model of holiness that continues to guide us day after day in our
own journey as disciples. He urges us to follow Jesus Christ in faith,
hope and love. He is every Assumptionist’s companion, whether he is
from Europe, from the Americas, from Africa or from Asia. Emmanuel
d’Alzon is also the friend of every man and women that shares with the
Assumption the same passion for God’s Reign. Together, lay people,
religious women, and religious men, we see ourselves as having received
from the same father a tremendous heritage: his tireless zeal for
unity, for truth, and for love.
We love Emmanuel d’Alzon because he helps us better love Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin, and the Church.
The Council of Congregation adopted one theme that will unify all of
the different initiatives proposed for the next three years (from April
2008 to April 2011): “Following Christ with Emmanuel d’Alzon”. Father
General and his Council will give suggestions each of these three years
to help us live more fully as disciples of Jesus Christ (April
2008-April 2009), as apostles of Jesus Christ (April 2009-April 2010),
and as brothers in Jesus Christ (April 2010-April 2011).
Celebrations, at the Provincial and General levels, will be organized
for each year. The next Council of Congregation (April 2009) will be
held in Nîmes. We foresee a gathering for Assumptionist laity in that
city for the end of August/beginning of September 2009. And a
celebration (2 September 2010) at Le Vigan and Montagnac will mark the
bicentenary of the baptism of Emmanuel d’Alzon. Each Province is
invited to organize its own activities according to its own desires and
calendar.
We’re happy to launch this great celebration to commemorate the man who
founded the “Lay Assumption Association” and the Augustinians of the
Assumption in 1845 and then the Oblates of the Assumption in 1865,
while playing an important role in the foundation of the Religious
Sisters of the Assumption and the Little Sisters of the Assumption and
more broadly in the lives of so many desiring to follow Christ. May
this Bicentenary help us rediscover him as our brother on the journey
that the Lord has set out for us today. Through his intercession may
this same Lord grant healing to those who ask for this grace and may He
give us hearts ever more dedicated to the coming of God’s Reign, in us
and in the world that He has given us to love.
