Since 2011, the congregation has selected a number of “ mobilizing works” for our entire apostolic body among all its commitments around the world.
These are mobilizing, because :
- Their objectives are at the heart of our charism, and they help us to bring it to life and make it better known.
- They require the necessary support from all our Provinces (religious, lay people, financial resources, prayers, networking…).
- They call for the collaboration of all : religious, religious in formation, lay Assumptionists, volunteers…
They’re hiring!
- As a young or not-so-young Assumptionist religious, have you thought about the possibility of volunteering to become directly involved in one of these works?
- We are looking for volunteers to develop these projects by sharing the life of an Assumptionist religious community.
“Through the mobilizing works, we want to promote: the vitality of our charism, the unity of our Congregation, a better knowledge of our apostolates and a lasting commitment to the service of these works.”
General chapter of 2023, n°124
There are currently 6 of them :
Assumption University in Worcester (Massachusetts-USA)
Assumption University is a private Catholic institution in the “Liberal Arts” tradition, founded in 1904 by the Augustinians of the Assumption.
“We awaken in students a sense of wonder, discovery, and purpose, forming graduates known for their intellectual seriousness, thoughtful citizenship, and devotion to the common good.”
University curricular and co-curricular programs provide students with an education that shapes their souls, forms them intellectually, and prepares them for meaningful careers. It is a diverse community that welcomes different points of view and embraces all who share the mission. Enlivened by the Catholic affirmation of the harmony of faith and reason and by the pursuit of the truth in the company of friends (cf. St. Augustine), an Assumption-University‘s education transforms the minds and hearts of students.
A wide range of subjects are available, from humanities and science to business and nursing…
Assumption University in figures: Founded in 1904; Approximately 1,700 undergraduate students; More than 80 majors; 75-hectare residential campus
Université de l’Assomption au Congo UAC
Rooted in the Catholic and Assumptionist intellectual traditions, the Université de l’Assomption au Congo (UAC) educates young people through teaching. This involves the training of executives recognized for their academic, professional and civic skills, all accompanied by human and ethical values with a view to enriching and transforming society. (Teaching to Educate)
Initially an Assumptionist Philosophate (from 1982), it became the Institut Supérieur Emmanuel d’Alzon de Butembo (ISEAB) in 2002, then the Université de l’Assomption au Congo (UAC ) in 2018.
UAC in figures: Approximately 1,000 students; 2 campuses (Béni and Butembo); 5 faculties (Humanities; Economics; Agronomy; Technology; Education)
Bayard – Media Group
Bayard-France; Bayard-United States; Bayard Canada; Bayard-Asia; Bayard-Africa
Bayard was originally a French press company founded in 1873 by the Augustinians of the Assumption. Today, Bayard’s international activities include Press (dailies, magazines, youth); Publishing; Audio (podcasts, radio, music); Audio-visual; Applications and platforms; Media services; Events; Pilgrimages. The main focuses are news(La Croix, Le Pèlerin), youth(Pomme d’Api, J’aime lire, Astrapi, Okapi, Phosphore, Je bouquine , …), adults and seniors(Notre temps…), religiouspublications (Prions en Église, BIPEL)… Among the group’s various titles, Assumptionists are involved in management, La Croix, Pèlerin, Prions en Église, publishing, audio…
Key figures: Founded in 1873; 36 million readers and 2.5 million subscribers / 120 press titles, including 70 in France (Bayard, Milan) / 4,500 books in the catalog, more than 800 new releases per year / More than 20 million podcasts listened to and 400 audio books…
bush school network & High school Mgr Canonne in Madagascar
In the southern region of Madagascar, for over 20 years, at the request of the villages, the Assumption has been founding and supporting elementary school, often “under the tree”. It then offers quality secondary education at its Mgr Michel Canonne secondary school in EJeda. Through this support for schooling, the Assumption wants to remain close to the population to encourage the development of this very neglected region, while bearing witness to its faith through attention to the poorest.
Every year, Ejeda solidarité organizes a Jazz Concert at Valpré (Lyon) to support projects in favor of this charity.
Key figures: First schools founded in 2000 and Collège in 2005; Over 50 elementary school; Over 6,000 students (Schools + Collège)
Center St Pierre St André in Bucharest (Romania)
Serving the unity of the Christian churches
A vast building belonging to the congregation, in the center of Bucharest, which was confiscated by the Communist regime, was reopened in 2010. The Centre St Pierre St André promotes dialogue between the Christian East and West, particularly between Catholicism and Orthodoxy. The Center’s activities focus on three main areas:
- A library specializing in the Christian East
- A space for conferences, debates and training for a very ecumenical audience
- A student residence open to young people of different Christian denominations
Facts and figures: Founded in 2010; 2 conferences a month attended on site and online; Numerous university partnerships; 20,000 volumes in our specialized library
Work of Pilgrimages Notre-Dame de Salut
In 1872, in response to the secularization of France, Father François Picard (later to become the 2nd Assumptionist Superior General) and Mother Marie-Eugénie de Jésus (foundress of the Religious of the Assumption) founded the “Association Notre Dame de Salut”. Among several initiatives, the pilgrimages organized by the association became its flagship work.
A first pilgrimage to La Salette brought together 2000 pilgrims and 375 priests to pray “for the conversion of France”, followed by the “National Pilgrimage” to Lourdes in 1873, pilgrimages to Rome and then to Jerusalem (1882). After founding our own travel agency “Voyages et Pèlerinages Notre-Dame de Salut” from 1958 to 2012, in collaboration with Bayard, we returned to our fundamentals in 2023 with Bayard’s acquisition of the BIPEL agency (Bureau Interdiocésain des Pèlerinages) founded in Rennes in 1990.
The 2023 General Chapter insisted on the need to strengthen synergies between the various pilgrimage initiatives organized by Assumptionists around the world, hence the choice in 2024 to make the Pilgrimage work a mobilizing work for the entire congregation.
“We will promote training in pilgrimage animation according to the Assumptionist charism, particularly for recent foundations, and the transmission of our know-how in this field. This could be achieved through greater synergy between our works in this field..
General Chapter of 2023, n°137
The Work of Pilgrimages in figures: over 150 years of existence; 1,000 participants in the 1st pilgrimage to Jerusalem; up to 50,000 pilgrims in the National Pilgrimage; today, on 4 continents (Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa) Assumptionists organize pilgrimages and/or manage shrines.