News
AA-Info n.6 - October 2024
It is good that he is known!
EDITORIAL
Fr. Ngoa Ya Tshihemba
Superior General of the Augustinians of the Assumption
The first question you ask yourself when reading this title is certainly: who is it about? Yes, it is about our founder, Venerable Father Emmanuel d’Alzon. The 34th General Chapter of our Congregation reiterated this wish by giving some ideas such as: “- organize a competition for the best essay on Father d’Alzon; - organize an eloquence prize around Father d’Alzon; - develop “On the path of Father d’Alzon” tours in Rome, Nîmes, Paris… in audio and by QR code; - write, translate and distribute a popular biography of Father d’Alzon; - accompany the prayer of Vespers or Lauds with the reading of a short text by Father d’Alzon; - continue the renewal of the iconography of Father d’Alzon. » (Acts of the 34th Chapter, n. 227)
During my recent canonical visit to the Province of Africa, more specifically in the diocese of Butembo-Beni (D. R. Congo), I was very positively struck by the multitude of movements and works that bear the name of our founder. Schools, works, choirs, youth and children's groups and others, proudly bear the name of our founder. Delegations from these groups passed through the Provincial House where I was staying. Almost all of them expressed the desire to know more about this man, this founder, this father whom they call Emmanuel d'Alzon.
This situation reminded me of another experience, lived in 2019. I was leaving Beni for Butembo. The young man who had transported me in his taxi was called Dalzon. Arriving in Butembo I had recounted the event with amazement. But the reaction of the brother to whom I told it was: “He is not the only one.” It is true that schools, health centers, people bear the name of Fr. d’Alzon. But many still do not know who D’Alzon is. My meeting with certain groups reminded me of the story between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. To Philip’s question “Do you understand what you are reading?”, the eunuch had replied: “And how can I if there is no one to guide me?” (Acts 8:30-31). Thank you to those who have committed themselves to this apostolate in the Provinces. This year, the D’Alzon missionary children of Butembo (DRC) celebrated 25 years of existence. This group alone brings together around 1,200 young people in the diocese.
Making our founder known around us, by speaking not only of his personality and his charism but also of his cause for beatification, is already an opportunity for our own spiritual progress on the path to holiness. This stimulates us to think and act for our own holiness: "The Chapter wished that the Assumption mobilize for the cause of beatification of Fr. d'Alzon. The recognition of his holiness is not an end in itself, but a path to make us love holiness, to increase our own holiness as well as that of our brothers and sisters." (Acts of the 34th Chapter, n. 16).
At the level of the ordinary General Council, we have just initiated the reflection concerning a new biography of Fr. d'Alzon, thus responding to a wish of the General Chapter. This biography will be able to serve precisely those who are in contact with people who want or need to discover more about our Founder.
Emmanuel d’Alzon has a word for current generations. He also has some answers to the questions of today’s man. But how can we discover him and make him known? How can we let ourselves be guided or propose to others as a guide the one we don’t know well enough? I know that in some Provinces, the months of September and October are dedicated to local chapters. So don’t forget to come back to these questions.
Our General Chapter had as its theme: “The Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mk 1:15) Living and proclaiming the hope of the Gospel”: it asked us to be witnesses to this hope by continuing to hope that one day the Church will recognize the holiness of our Founder, Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon. Perhaps you have already met a religious or a lay person of the Alliance who tells you something like this: “We have been praying for the beatification of our founder for a long time and nothing is moving forward.” My dear brothers, to respond to such remarks, I simply repeat these words of Pope Francis, in the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee of 2025: “Hope does not disappoint. » Let us therefore continue our prayer and our action to make this cause known in faith and hope, because it is noble.
“Each community will specify how the charism enables it to bear witness to the life and holiness of the whole Church.” (Acts of the 34th Chapter, n. 224) How can we do this without speaking of the one who bequeathed this charism to us? We are his heirs. It is good that he is known.
To read the full AA-Info n°6, follow this link...