General Council

Father Ngoa Ya Tshihemba was born on October 16, 1970 in Mbau (North Kivu), DR Congo. Born into a farming family, he is the eldest of 8 children, and attended primary and secondary school in Mbau.

He did his postulancy at Collège Kambali and his novitiate (1995-1996) at Maison Charles Lwanga in Butembo (North Kivu). He took his first vows on August 28, 1996. He was then appointed to Kinshasa (1996-2001), where he obtained a degree in philosophy.

From 2003 to 2007, he studied theology at the Institut de Formation Inter-Congrégations in Mexico City, where he obtained a canonical bachelor’s degree in theology.

He was ordained a priest in Butembo (North Kivu) on January 24, 2008. He returned to Mexico for four years of pedagogical studies (2009-2013), graduating with a degree in Pedagogy. He took on the role of trainer, replacing the parish priest of the “Marie, Impératrice des Amériques” parish for a year.

In 2013, he was appointed to Manila (Philippines), where he was until now novice master as well as responsible for formation in the Philippines and superior of a formation house.

A polyglot (in addition to Kinande, his mother tongue, he speaks Swahili, Lingala, French, Spanish and English), he is well acquainted with Africa, Central America and Asia.

Father Benoît Bigard was born on November 30, 1966 in Chaumont, Haute-Marne, in the Champagne region of France, into a farming family. He has 2 brothers and a sister. He attended primary and secondary school in Haute-Marne.

He continued his studies at the École Normale Supérieure d’Enseignement Technique (ENSET Cachan) in the Civil Engineering section in 1986-1987, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Engineering.

In 1988 and 1989, he joined the Assumptionist community in Cachan as a student. He began studying theology at the Institut Catholique de Paris. From 1989 to 1999, he spent two years cooperating in Côte d’Ivoire. As a postulant, he taught mathematics, physics and music at the minor seminary-college in Aboisso (Cooperant). He made his novitiate at Sceaux and took his first vows on September 19, 1992.

He was appointed to the student host community in Strasbourg, where he continued his theological studies at the Catholic Faculty of Theology (1992-1996). He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. From there, he was appointed to the student host community in Lille, where he made his perpetual profession on September 15, 1996. He is assistant to the student chaplain at the Catholic University of Lille.

In 1998, he was appointed to Strasbourg, where he was ordained a priest on November 12, 2000. He is a member of the student host community and also works in parishes. From 2001 to 2010, he co-facilitated the Centre Culture et Foi and the Canadian Montmartre Shrine in Quebec City, and lived in a student host community. In 2010, he returned to France to train as a religious formator (FFR) in Lyon and Paris, while living at the Sceaux novitiate.

In 2011, he was appointed novice master in Sokodé, Togo. He will exercise this responsibility until 2017. During these years (2013-2017), he will be the Delegate of the Provincial of France for the communities of West Africa.

In 2017, he was named Provincial of Europe.

Father João Gomes da Silva was born on July 9, 1981 in Eugénopolis, Brazil, in the Queirozes district, into a farming family. He has 4 brothers and 3 sisters. He goes to school and college in Eugénopolis.

In 1999, he became an aspirant in the Assumptionist community of Eugénopolis. He did his postulancy in Campinas. He then studied philosophy. He made his novitiate in Pomaire, Chile. He took his first vows on January 4, 2004. From 2004 to 2008, he studied theology at the Sao Paolo Institute of Theology (ITESP), graduating with a licentiate in theology.

He was ordained priest on August 1, 2009 at the former Notre Dame de Lourdes Seminary in Eugenópolis. He was then appointed to the formation house in Campinas, where he remained for 4 years, responsible for postulants and also curate of the parish of São Judas Tadeu, entrusted to the Assumptionists since its foundation in 1982.

It is responsible for vocation promotion and youth ministry at provincial level.

In 2013, he was sent to Rome for a licentiate in spiritual theology with a specialization in vocational accompaniment at the Gregorian University’s Favre Center. He stays at the general house community.

On completing his studies in Rome, he was appointed to the Pinhal novitiate, where he remains novice master to this day. The novitiate welcomes novices from Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Mexico. He was administrator at Sao João Batista parish (2018-2021/2023) in the same city where the beatification process of Father Matheus Van Herkhuizen, a former Dutch Assumptionist missionary who died in 1973, is underway.

In 2020, he was appointed first Assistant Provincial. João speaks Portuguese, Spanish, French and Italian.

Father Thierry Kambale Kahongyawas born on February 25, 1970 in Butuhe in the diocese of Butembo-Beni (DR Congo) into a farming family. He has 4 brothers and 5 sisters. After completing his secondary education (veterinary option), he entered the Saint-Charles Lwanga novitiate in Butembo in September 1990, and took his first vows on September 10, 1991.

He then studied philosophy at Bulengera (1991-1994) before moving to Kinshasa to study theology (1995-1999). It was in Kinshasa that he made his perpetual profession on March 29, 1998. He was ordained deacon on May 18, 2000 and priest on April 5, 2001 in Butembo by Mgr M.P. Sikuli. He was then bursar of the Bulengera scholasticate (1999-2001).

He then joined the Kambali community as Provincial Treasurer (2001-2005). During these years, he was chaplain to youth and adult movements.

After his term as Provincial Treasurer, he returned to Bulengera (2005-2007), then was appointed to the Kindugu community (2007- 2012) and became its superior from 2010 to 2012. During these years, he studied Law at the Université Catholique du Graben (Butembo) and taught Law and Citizenship Education at the ISEAB in Butembo (2011-2017). He is Superior of the Provincial House (2012-2014). On the appointment of Fr. Protais Kabila as Provincial in March 2012, he was chosen as the first Provincial Assistant.

The 2017 General Chapter elected him General Assistant. He follows in particular the North American Province, the Oriental Mission, the Lay-Religious Alliance and the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Persons. He was moderator of the Preparatory Commission for the 34th General Chapter.

Father Joseph Etienne Ratalata Rafanambinantsoa was born on October 18, 1970 in Fandrandava near Fianarantsoa, Madagascar, into a family of nine children (five sisters and four brothers). His father was a primary school teacher.

From 1978 to 1983, he completed his primary education at the Catholic school in Besihara, 60 km from Fianarantsoa, and his secondary education at the Jesuits’ Collège Saint François Xavier in Fianarantsoa. In 1987, he joined the Notre Dame de Kianjasoa diocesan minor seminary. In 1993, he made his novitiate from Belemboka to Tuléar. He took his first vows on September 29, 1994.

He then went to the inter-diocesan major seminary of Saint Jean Baptiste de Vohitsoa in Fianarantsoa. There he studied philosophy and theology. He took his perpetual vows on September 29, 1999 in Belemboka Toliara. He was ordained priest on August 15, 2001 at the Notre Dame de l’Assomption de Sanfily parish in Toliara. From 2001 to 2004, he studied theology at the Institut Catholique de Lyon (France), graduating with a master’s degree in theology and a canonical license.

Back in Madagascar, for six years he taught Christology at the major seminary of Saint Jean Baptiste in Vohitsoa. He is also superior of the Manirisoa scholasticate in Fianarantsoa.

From 2010 to 2013, he was chaplain to the Aumônerie Catholique Universitaire de Toliara. In 2013, he was appointed Vice-Provincial Superior and then Provincial of the Augustinians of the Assumption in Madagascar. He will serve three three-year terms. At the same time, he assumed responsibility for the pastoral animation of a bush sector in Andranohinaly in the diocese of Toliara. At the time of his appointment, he spent a year in our community of Saint Pierre en Gallicante in Jerusalem.

Father Alex Castro was born in Manila (Philippines) on August 26, 1971. He was a student of the Religious of the Assumption at San Simon Technical School in Pampanga. He went on to study languages, history and religious education at Ateneo de Manila University.

He made his novitiate at St Anne and St Patrick parish in Sturbridge (USA) and took his first vows on August 28, 2004.

Brother Alex Castro was one of the founders of the first Assumptionist community in the Philippines in January 2006. In 2009, he completed his theology studies at the University of Saint Thomas (UST) in Manila. He was ordained a priest on November 12, 2011 by Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, at Our Lady of Pentecost parish in Manila, Philippines. After his ordination, he was assigned to the United States.

From 2012 to 2014, he was assistant novice master at Augustine House in Worcester. In 2014, he transferred to the Assumptionist Center in Brighton. There he held various positions as bursar of the US Delegation and director of the resident program, as well as chaplain to the Filipinos of the Archdiocese of Boston.

In 2017, he was appointed Provincial Econome and, in 2018, parish priest and director of the Shrine of Saint Anne and Saint Patrick Parish in Fiskdale.

Father Michel Kubler was born on January 21, 1955 in Villé (Bas-Rhin, France).

He completed his secondary education at the Alumnat Sainte-Odile in Scherwiller and the Collège épiscopal Saint-Étienne in Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin). After completing an undergraduate degree in Mathematics-Physics at the Université Louis-Pasteur, he entered the Assumptionist novitiate in Strasbourg (1975). At the same time, he began studying theology, first in Strasbourg and then in Lyon, culminating in a doctoral thesis in theology, defended in 1988 at the Catholic University of Lyon, on the theme of “Christology and communication”.

He was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1989 in Écully (Rhône) by Cardinal Albert Decourtray.

As his religious training progressed, Michel Kubler took on a variety of ministries: social support for Turkish families in Strasbourg (1974-1977), teaching mathematics at the Sibut minor seminary in the Central African Republic (1977-1979) and leading the national youth pilgrimage to Lourdes. From 1985 to 1988, he directed the Valpré welcome center in Écully (Rhône).

In September 1989, Father Michel Kubler was appointed to Bayard Presse. He joined the daily “La Croix” in November 1989, as a journalist in the Religion Department. From July 1997 to December 2009, he was the newspaper’s religious editor-in-chief, succeeding Father Bruno Chenu.

In September 2010, he was appointed to Bucharest. Until June 2017, he is director of the “Saint Pierre – Saint André” Center. Since 2010, he has been a member of the Groupe de Dombes. During the 33rd General Chapter of 2017, he was elected Secretary General and Procurator General of the Congregation.