News
15th anniversary of the Assumptionists' presence in Elche (Spain)
From October 2 to 5, 2025, the parishes of Saint Anthony and Saint Spirit expressed their gratitude.
It is certainly not common to celebrate a 15th anniversary, but it was a wonderful opportunity to mobilize the parish sector entrusted to the Assumptionists (two parishes and a neighborhood chapel), giving thanks for the journey accomplished and opening the way for the next 15 years.
The Assumptionist community in Elche is very intercultural and currently consists of four brothers of four different nationalities (Spanish, Congolese, Guatemalan, and Togolese). They serve several rather modest neighborhoods, but these are undergoing rapid change with a new, more affluent population moving into brand-new buildings. One of the neighborhoods is notable for its large settled Gypsy population, which is involved in the parish. Over the years, the parish ministry has also expanded to include health pastoral and charitable work. One of the original initiatives of Caritas, in which one of our brothers has been involved for years, consists of spending the night with people on the street three times a week, experiencing, like them, sleeping on the pavement!
The jubilee celebrations took place over three days, focusing on Assumptionist themes: Working for the coming of the Kingdom of God; Remembering our journey in Almeria and Elche; “Always working for Rome, sometimes without Rome but never against Rome”; ending with a festive Sunday Mass presided over by Bishop José Ignacio Munilla Aguirre, the local bishop.
Several Assumptionists came to give thanks with our brothers: Fr. Benoît Bigard (Vicar General); Frs. Juan-Antonio Sanchez and Michaël Tsongo (from the founding team in Elche); Frs. Adams Tatsidjodoung (from Hitchin), Protais Kabila (from Juvisy) and Br. Barthélémy Zougrana (from Madrid).
We look forward to celebrating 25 years of presence!
Link to the photo album of the event:
