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OCTOBER 2019  no 10

ligious and lai News Re ty

th AAof the Assumption e same mission

EDITORIAL Happy are those called to the supper of the Lord « For us religious, it is necessary to center our lives on the Word of God. It is crucial that this Word becomes the source of life and renewal. » >> Official Agenda Jubilee of the Province of Africa The Assumptionist Province of Africa celebrates its 50th Plenary General Council anniversary this year: a jubilee celebrated in Butembo • n° 5 : December 2-10, 2019, in . at the end of the month of August. The following is the • n° 6 : June 2-10, 2020, in Worcester (United letter addressed by the General for this occa- States). sion, on August 19, 2019, to Fr. Yves Nzuva Kaghoma, • n° 7 : December 3-11, 2020, in Nîmes : (). Dear Brothers of the African Province, Ordinary General Councils • n° 16: November 11-15, 2019. It was 50 years ago, on July 3, 1969, that the Province of • n° 17 : December 11-12, 2019. Africa was founded. Resulting from long missionary work by • n° 18 : February 10-14, 2020. the , the young Province began its process • n° 19 : March 18-19, 2020. of development and the progressive assumption of respon- • n° 20 : April 20-24, 2020. sibility by the indigenous brothers. Today, though the mis- Benoît sionary presence is very limited---too limited in my eyes---, you have yourselves become missionaries. The important • October 1-10: Belgium and the . number of religious present to the stranger for pastoral rea- • October 20-November 6: Madagascar. sons, or for study, illustrate the maturity of the Province. • November 15-22: • November 27-29: assembly of the USG. In addition to that, the foundations made in Marcelo (1988) also in and Uganda, confirm the apostol- ic momentum that you animate. Shortly, a new common • October 1-10: Belgium and the Netherlands. foundation with will permit us to establish ourselves • October 13-20: Retreat. in Angola. Other places, such as in the DRC, may elsewhere • November 15-22: Spain. also await your coming. The Assumption in the Province of Didier Africa, is also schools, a University, some parishes, posts in bush areas, the Lay-Religious Alliance, communities of for- • September 28-October 13: East Africa. mation, etc. • October 14-15: . • October 20-November 7: DR-Congo. I thank the Lord for the gifts given these last 50 years and • November 8: Paris. • November 25-December 3: CEC. for the support that he did not miss lavishing on us. Thierry At the celebration of the jubilee of the Province one • October 3-12: Rumania. associates those religious who celebrate 25 years of their • November 5-8: Créteil (the Orantes of the engagement in our family: Ndovya Kibonge Elis, Wayivuta Assumption). Vihamba Jean Marie, Kambale Makasi Robert, Kambula • December 15-28: Créteil (the Orantes of the Sindirigha Simon, Mawazo Kavula Sikirivwa, Paluku Kip- Assumption). andauli Rigobert. I associate, as well as the whole congrega- tion, with their joy and I thank them for their fidelity to the Miguel religious . In a time when engagement to life • September 29-October 2 : Paris (Inter- tends to be relativized or even suspected of hypocrisy, it is Assumption Migrant Commission). good that some men witness to their fidelity and to their • November 1-3: Paris (formation on attachment to God, to Christ and to the Church. interculturality). I thank all of the religious of the Province for the cour- age which they demonstrate in this time of insecurity and of health threats. I thank the Lord for the work that you On the cover perform and I present to all the assurance of my fraternal The Emmanuel d'Alzon College in Bogota, and my religious devotion. : the Rule of Life reminds us that "our missionary vocation invites us to Fr. Benoît GRIÈRE, a.a. become ‘all things to all people" (RL 20). Superior General

2 n OCTOBER 2019 n no 10 Editorial <<

Happy are those called to the supper of the Lord

I must begin with a confession! I am getting people who reflect their hope in God. The irritated when the principal celebrant of witness exists only through testimony. The the Eucharist says at communion: “Happy testimony is the announcing of the Kingdom are we who are called to the supper of the of God that has already been manifested Lord.” Though I am not an editor, I prefer and which unfolds in the universe. the word choice that the Church made: “Happy are those called to the supper of the We are all missionaries through our Lord.” The Church has reason to say this. . For us religious, it is necessary to Certainly, we rejoice to receive the “bread center our lives on the Word of God. It is of ”, but can we be satisfied that so crucial that this Word becomes the source few of our contemporaries have responded of life and renewal, and because of that, it to the invitation to come and join us for is a priority to put into practice that which the meal? The systematic repetition of the the Rule of Life demands: one half hour of altered expression causes us to forget the daily prayer. Missing this practice leads to urgency of the mission. Our communities relativism and laxity. We will be subject have to be missionaries to welcome to hear the reproach that God gave to his those who have not yet connected with people through his prophet Jeremiah (2, 13): Fr. Benoît Grière Christ. There is an urgency to renew our “(They) committed a double wrongdoing: Superior General missionary engagement. they abandoned me, the source of living of the of water, and they dug themselves cisterns, the Assumption The month of October is consecrated in cracked cisterns that didn’t hold water!” If its totality to the universal mission of the we do not return to the source of the living Church. As such, the Holy Father decided water, we are condemned to dryness, thirst to expand to one full month the traditional and death. The Word of God is for us this day of prayer for mission. The Assumption, source of life. We need not look elsewhere. in a way, began preparing last June by organizing a session on “revisiting the 2019 marks the 175th anniversary of our missionary experience.” This has confirmed foundation. We will be celebrating all that our search for a new apostolic dynamism the Lord has done for the Assumption for for all of the congregation. The apostolic all these years. Grace will rise from our exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, talks of the hearts for our fidelity in God, for the love “missionary-” to characterize the that surrounds us, and for the care that Christian who witnesses in the world his he brings still today to our little family. faith in the Risen Christ. I love this qualifier But, we will not be up to the task of this that allows us to better understand our role commemoration unless we strongly engage as evangelizers. We are, therefore, disciples, in an apostolic and missionary renewal. that is to say, men and women who have The Assumptionists are not museum heard the call of Jesus to follow him. The keepers, charged with watching over gospel illustrates on many occasions that precious souvenirs protected by glass cases which characterizes a disciple. First and or some walls. We are witnesses of the foremost is listening to the Word of God. It love of God for our world, and this calls is the Word that makes the disciple---words for a firm engagement for creation. We of life that deeply transform one’s being; are missionaries charged with telling our words that lead to conversion. This Word brothers and sisters in humanity that they contemplated in silence resonates in our are all invited to the table of the Lord. The hearts. It also makes witnesses of each of us, mission is today.n

3 >> Official Calls, nominations, changes...

Father Benoît Grière, Superior General, with his ■ to ORDINATION TO THE Council, has called: PRIESTHOOD

5) MATADI ASINA Willy ■ to PERPETUAL PROFESSION (Africa) (11/09/2019) 6) RAZAFIMAHATRATRA Jean Paul 1) RAFANOMEZANTSOA Marie Joseph (Madagascar) (10/09/2019) Madagascar) (11/09/2019)

■ to ORDINATION TO THE ■ INCARDINATION

DEACONATE At the end of the probationary period, Fr. Eduardo C. MOLINA (North America) was incardinated in the dio- 2) KIENTEGA Remi-Clovis cese of Novaliches () on June 4, 2019. (Europe) (11/09/2019) 3) MANZANZA TSUKA Benjamin ■ DEPARTURE IN LIGHT OF (Europe) (10/09/2019) INCARDINATION

4) TALAKE Paul-Martin Makawouna The has granted an indult to leave the congre- (Europe) (10/09/2019) gation to Fr. Ovidiu ROBU (Europe), in light of his incar- dination “ad experimentum” in the diocese of , on July 9, 2019.

■ DEPARTURE FROM THE CONGREGATION

The Holy See has granted an indult to leave the Con- gregation to Claudio Cesar FARIAS ROCO (Andean Prov- ince), on July 9, 2019.

■ EXCLAUSTRATION 1 2 3 Father Benoît Grière, with the consent of his Council, has given an indult of exclaustration to Fr.Francisco CAMINO RODRÍGUEZ (Europe), for one year, on Sep- tember 24, 2019.

4 5 6

4 n OCTOBER 2019 n no 10 The Mission << Assumptionist Missionaries Review Their Experience

From June 27 to July 4, 2019, a session brought together about fifteen religious in Rome for a work of renewal and deepening of their experience. This, was an opportunity for both personal and collective reflection on the mission at the Assumption. Fr. Ngoa Ya Tshihemba, a Congolese and missionary in the Philippines gives an account of the assumptionist mission, followed by his personal testimony.

Participants and animators of the re-reading session of the missionary experience in Due Pini.

Reunion, discovery and car for more than 47 years: this aptation, discovering the local exchange of experiences kind of exchange can only mo- environment and Church, com- The sessions I attended, in tivate and strengthen fraternal munity life... were almost the Rome or elsewhere, were always bonds in the congregation, where same, but lived at different times a great opportunity to meet with finally we participate in the same and circumstances. brothers I had not seen for years, mission: that of the Church or to discover other brothers I through the Assumption. A time of training had heard about without having One of the moments I per- The quality speakers, whether met them yet. This may seem sonally appreciated was the op- Assumptionists or guests, helped trivial, but it is important when I portunity to share our different us to rediscover the meaning consider the different exchanges missionary experiences. As I of mission in the Church today between us. Thus, during last listened to each other, I realized (see box on page...). The para- summer’s session in Rome, I had that our stories, except for a few digm shift, which our Superior the opportunity to share with one details, are similar. The experi- General spoke of at the opening of our elders in the mission, Fr. ences related to realities such as of the session, leads us to think Daniel Carton, a Frenchman who preparation for leaving on mis- and do mission differently today, has been on mission in Madagas- sion, welcoming on arrival, ad- without opposing those ad intra 

5 >> The Mission

and ad extra as if they were two on a mission in the distance, my - A good preparation for the totally different realities: «The experience would probably have mission change of missionary paradigm been different. But it is never - Accompaniment and evalua- therefore lies in the observation too late, they say. The mutual tion of the missionary experience that there are no longer Chris- encouragement, the calls of the - How to pass the torch in tian territories vis-à-vis mission congregation and the Church missions? territories. All the land is placed have only further motivated us - A certain Assumptionist under the regime of the first an- to accept and live the mission- style in the way we do the mis- nouncement. If every land is a ary experience in faith, hope and sion. «land of mission», then the dis- charity. It was also important for tinction between the life of the us, as a congregation, to reflect Practical guidelines to this Church ad intra and its mission on practical ways of awakening end will be included in the syn- ad extra must be erased, in fa- the missionary spirit, prepara- thesis of the activities of this ses- vour of a single perspective of tion, accompaniment, etc. There- sion. And the Superior General decentralization that defines the fore, mission training is needed. asked that the proceedings of the very life of the Church. «This is session be published. I therefore perhaps the reason why, towards A time to refine a certain wish everyone in the congrega- the end of his message, he told us pedagogy tion a good reading of these acts. that «missionary renewal at the As for training religious for Fr. Ngoa Ya Tshihemba Assumption requires the avail- mission, some of our fundamen- ability of all». tal texts already give us guide- The visit to the Congregation lines for living this mission in an for the Evangelization of Peo- Assumptionist spirit. Our Rule ples and the meeting with Cardi- of Life, for example, in its n. 20, nal Filoni, Prefect of this dicast- reminds us this: «Our missionary ery, brought us into contact with vocation calls us to make our- the orientations of our mother selves «all to all». This availabil- On the session menu the Church. Two speakers were ity requires in particular: waiting for us to present to us - Openness of mind and heart - 15 participants: 7 Congoleses the way to be missionary in the to the cultural, social and reli- (in 6 countries), 3 French (in 3 spirit of Francis. They also gious values of different human countries), 1 Belgian, 1 Mala- gave us clarifications regarding environments; gasy, 1 Mexican, 1 Russian and the reasons and objectives of the - Willingness to receive as 1 Vietnamese. extraordinary missionary month much as to give, in esteem and - Exchanges of personal expe- (October 2019) which will be respect. rience, based on a preparatory placed under the theme: «Bap- - concern for training, compe- questionnaire and with several tized and sent: the Church of tence and adaptation; more detailed testimonies. Christ in mission in the world». - an effort of initiative and in- - Lectures: Zust (Jesuit Our mission as Assumptionists vention; theologian), Stanley Lubun- is part of this great mission of - zeal, love of work, openness go (Superior General of the the universal Church. Still, we and boldness. » White Fathers), as well as Ben- oît Grière, Vincent Leclercq, must be burned by the love of Dominique Greiner, Joseph Christ, as our founder Emmanuel However, from a practical and Aï Nguyen Chi and Baudouin d’Alzon asks us to do. pedagogical point of view, we Ngoa Ya Tshihemba. had hoped that serious thought - A visit to the Congregation for A time to recharge the would be given (for example, at the Evangelization of Peoples batteries the level of the CGP) to the fol- and a meeting with Cardinal At the end of the session, I lowing points: Filoni, Prefect. had the feeling that my «mission- - How can we stimulate and - The preparation of elements ary spirit» was renewed. I shared develop in young religious the of Assumptionist missionary with the other participants the passion for mission? spirituality. conviction that, if I had been able - Criteria for the selection of to live this session before going missionaries in the future

6 n OCTOBER 2019 n no 10 Celebrate the joy of being missionaries and preparing for the future >> The Mission

Cardinal Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, received the sessionists in audience.

Fr. Vincent Leclercq, Secretary General for Formation, was one of the speakers in the re-reading session of the missionary experience. He delivers us here a synthesis of his daily «thread red».

lived this session in admiration for the Joy of being a missionary body commitment and success of our broth- Our congregation is characterized by a I ers. And with a question: does our cur- «family spirit». This spirit of the Assump- rent training meet the needs and realities they tion makes the difference on the ground. We discover on the ground? The Rule of Life propose unity against division, disinterested- requires us to check the quality of our apos- ness and not competition, openness to others tolates and to examine the necessary choices rather than withdrawal. This Assumptionist and adaptations (No. 21). The joy of being «counter-narrative» is from the outset mis- missionaries and the accompaniment of the sionary because it implements the hope of the new challenges of evangelization summarize Church for the world. It is also good news for these five days. us. Our greatest joy is to have been welcomed where we have been sent. Joy, because the story continues We are a small religious family, but our Joy of deepening our charism history reflects the universal of a Church em- The Assumption is missionary even in nu- bracing the whole world. It’s about writing ances. « Are we a missionary congregation or the rest of the story. Our missionaries want to a congregation that has missionary works? » do as well as their elders, without doing the asked the 33rd General Chapter in 2017. same thing. During our exchanges, we talked For the brothers present in Rome, the mis- about the past, the present and the future ... sion is of the order of the being, more than to which is a good sign! do it. It starts from the Assumptionist foun- 

7 >> The Mission

A moment of break in the garden of Due Pini.

dations: an opening to the world and to others, a generosity and audacity to any test. It character- izes who we are, what we do and how we do it. The poor and the la- Helping young people take Chi Ai, aa). When a culture of ity quickly perceive this identity. up the torch of the mission origin is considered as absolute, They help us to inculturate our The mission is for all a person- it can become an obstacle to the charism where we are sent. al conversion, not the ministry or discovery of the other or to ignore the obedience of a few. But how the values ​​of his country and fi- Joy of being followers of to convey this conviction? How nally interfere with our « living Christ to prepare the youngest to a con- together». More fundamentally, the mis- crete mission and not only to the Internationality is a new « sion is conversion to Christ. Jesus mission in general? missionary space». It prepares is our model, in deeds and words. The participants made propos- everyone to live an « efficient And it shapes what we are, before als to progress on the choice of mission». Yesterday, the Assump- we even guide us in what we un- candidates, specify the content of tion gave birth to new missions. dertake. We proclaim Christ to the mission or its evaluation, help Today, it is the mission that gives the extent that we have agreed to communities that welcome and birth to a whole new face of the follow him. We are all the more accompany religious outside their Assumption. Mission is part of missionary as we become dis- country. Their goal was to pass God’s plan for us. ciples. the torch by passing on their ex- perience to those who will come The Gospel is the power of Joy of living in community after them. Our fraternity is a grace on the In a divided world, God offers path of mission. The community Give a taste for us the grace to live together. But is an asceticism that allows us to interculturality there is « no low cost in the life of always start from Christ. It is also As our communities become grace. It is expensive to support a a help to discernment: «In com- more international, the mission community and to give oneself to munity, we complete each other, is no longer just ad intra or ad others in the mission» (Greiner). we nuance things. Gently and gentes but inter gentes. This in- Let God be God in our life and patiently, changes are made. » (P. ternationality places us in front for the world. The mission is a Milan Zust, sj) Attentive to each of multiple borders, geographi- «submission» to his work of sal- other, we take care of «a Church cal and cultural but also internal. vation: « The servant is no greater that listens and learns to inte- For «in the life of every Christian, than his master. »(John 13:16) grate the experience of each one there are spaces that are not yet Vincent LECLERCQ » (P. Dominique Greiner, aa). touched by the Gospel» (P. Joseph Secretary General for Formation

8 n OCTOBER 2019 n no 10 Bishop Louis-Armel Pelâtre, former bishop and still Assumptionist religious

Now retired to the Little Sisters of the Poor, the 79-year-old Vicar >> The Mission Apostolic Emeritus of Istanbul, evokes nearly 50 years of fidelity to this immense city and this tiny Church.

Fr Benoît Grière, Superior General, and his Council How did you feel when you were visited Bishop Pelâtre in Istanbul on 13 September. appointed Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul in 1992? Bishop Louis-Armel Pelâtre: It was a surprise! I did not been appointed here for that ... I love Turkey, and I was happy there as soon as Fr. Bugnard, Provincial of Lyon, appointed me there in 1970. There was also talk of appointing me in Greece, but there were still a number of Greek Assumptionist religious to ensure the mission. I was seduced by the Orient, and this since my arrival by boat from , impressed by all these mina- rets! I came with an ecumenical concern, but soon realized that, in the Turkish con- text, the dialogue with Islam was an even bigger issue- I was later a member of the Pontifical Council for interreligious dia- logue, in the Vatican.

Tell us about the Church of Turkey. It is a very varied local church, to the point that one could say that the first ecu- menism to be realized here is internal to the catholic community! Unity is to be built between our Church and the various Catholic Churches of Eastern Rite (Armenian, Greek-Catholic, etc.), just as between groups of very different origins: Italian, French, German-speaking ... As bishop, I had to work for this unity of the people entrusted to me. I did it, in particu- lar, by organizing three diocesan gather- ings every year (including that of Corpus Christi, in Polonesköy) to give a face to this community and bring together its di- verse components. 

9 >> The Mission

And your Vicariate? copal ministry as an Assumption- if all did not feel the need. Today, What characterizes it the most ist religious. We must remember I can only be worried to see the is its very great poverty, in finan- that our congregation, when it ar- closure of this or that of our hous- cial resources but also human. rived in Turkey, was not expected: es in the East. We must remem- For lack of our own revenues, we were perceived as intruders! It ber that, if Father d’Alzon came we can live only with external took the great work of our Insti- here, it was by obedience to the help, especially the Work of the tute of Byzantine Studies to earn pope: he did not choose to engage East (OEurvre d’Orient) and the us recognition. It is obvious that his Congregation in the East him- Holy See. This also applies to the the concern for unity that has al- self, being spontaneously turned ecclesiastical staff: The Vicariate ways inhabited me comes from more towards the Protestant no longer has any diocesan priests my Assumptionist genes. And the world. It is for the same reason (there were three at the time of my spirituality that I shared as a bish- that we, Assumptionist religious, episcopal appointment), but only op is none other than the one of must remain here today: because religious: thirty, serving in par- the Assumption, starting with the the Church asks us to do so. Of ticular a dozen parishes, and most triple love: I often preached from course, the modalities of our pres- often with a handful of faithful in there, because there are my spiri- ence in the East can change to each of them... tual resources - even if people did adapt to current realities: it seems not make the connection with the to me clear for example that in How did you realize your spirit of my religious family. Turkey, it is the dialogue with concern for Christian Unity? The other answer to this ques- Islam which must be our priority It has especially manifested tion concerns the way in which today. itself with the Orthodox Church, an Assumptionist religious can be Collected by thanks to my relations of friend- perceived by his confreres as soon Michel Kubler ship and trust with its leader Ecu- as he becomes a bishop: menical Bartholomeos, when that happens to you, known when I was priest of you can have the feeling Kadiköy and him, Metropolitan that, in the eyes of the con- of Chalcedon. Knowing that he is freres, you are now “lost to sensitive to the question of pros- the cause”, and so you are elytism, I have always refrained no longer counted as one of myself from actions that could be them. As far as I am con- interpreted in this sense, such as cerned, I have never felt giving communion to the Ortho- separated, cut off from the dox (what our fathers once did). congregation, even if some Patriarch Bartholomeos is an Assumptionist religious - exceptional man, affable and very not all, thanks to God! - did fraternal. But he has to face great not consider me anymore as difficulties, and has few people to one of their ... face them. Moreover, given its in- ternational stature, and above all Did your episcopal its universal ministry as an “ecu- ministry have a special menical” patriarch (in the etymo- meaning because it logical sense in Greek: of global was located in the significance - which annoys Eastern Mission of the Turks, who would like to keep Assumption? their hands on their subjects!), I had some responsibili- local ecumenism, on the Istanbul ties in the Eastern Mission scale, cannot be its priority. of the Congregation of the Assumption before becom- Are we still a religious when ing bishop, and I had the we become a bishop? concern to strengthen the I will answer in two steps. links between the commu- First, how I tried to live the epis- nities that formed it, even

10 n OCTOBER 2019 n no 10 Religious in the face of the Ebola epidemic in Butembo Clinical psychologists by training, two religious are engaged in the fight against this scourge that is ravaging North Kivu >> Testimonials t has been more than a year since the eastern Democrat- Iic Republic of Congo was hit hard by the Ebola epidemic, which appeared in a critical so- cio-political context. North Kivu is going through the worst mo- ment in its history in a form of terror: kidnappings (including our three fathers of Mbau and two diocesan priests from Bunyuka), massacres of the population by militias (ADF-Nalu) in the pres- ence of the national army and UN forces (Monusco), proliferation of uncontrolled rebel groups, suf- focation of the economy, against the background of an apparently deliberate absence of the State. This is where a terrifying epi- demic emerges: the Ebola virus disease, known as MVE. From August 1, 2018, the be- ginning of the epidemic, to Sep- Health workers from the "Riposte against Ebola" evacuating a victim in tember 30, 2019, there were 3191 Butembo. registered cases in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, including years. The Assumption itself anthropologists, communicators, 3077 confirmed cases and 114 responded very quickly to this political-administrative authori- probable cases. Of these, 2086 (or call. Two religious, Fr. Remacle ties, police, etc., are joining forc- 67.8%) died and 991 (or 32.2%) Kambale Kamavu and myself, es to tackle this disease, which, in recovered. Since the start of the have joined the Riposte as clini- one year, killed more than 2,000 vaccination campaign in August cal psychologists, responsible for people in eastern DRC. 2018, 230,489 people have been the psychosocial care of victims treated. within the framework of an Ebola Psychological aspects of the Treatment Centre (ETC). MVE The Assumption at the La Riposte is for us a place Ebola is a contagious and rap- rendezvous to save life of witness of faith and support idly fatal disease, characteristic for man «broken into a thousand of a traumatic event. To discover Since the outbreak of this pieces». In team with other na- oneself affected is shocking and scourge, the Church of Butem- tional and international experts, shocking news. The challenge bo-Beni has supported the teams we work up to our own risks to for caregivers is to care for pa- of the «Riposte against Ebola», cut the transmission chain of the tients through a relationship of whose enormous consequences disease. Epidemiologists, doc- trust and hope. Because this dis- have to be managed over the tors, clinical psychologists, socio- ease generates a strong anguish 

11 >> Testimonials

of death, against a backdrop of nals to patients that they will not other bodies involved in the fight guilt and anger. Faced with death, die from this real but preventable against MVE: surveillance, medi- man feels helpless, hence, on disease. The aim is to bring the cal care, infection protection and the mental level, a breach of the affected people (patients, carers, control, vaccination, laboratory, conscious psyche, a stupefaction Riposte workers and the commu- and the dignified and secure buri- and amazement on the cognitive, nity) back to a normal, rational al committees. emotional and psychomotor lev- and justified fear. The Ebola epidemic leaves els. Our interventions are mainly stigmas that will take time to heal, From the anguish of death focused on announcing results to starting with the 1,296 orphaned comes a denial of the disease: patients and families, as well as children in the city of Butembo «Ebola doesn’t exist, so I don’t psychological and spiritual sup- and Lubero territory alone. Its im- die. «The population has there- port for all: confirmed patients, pact on the lives of the population fore sought scapegoats in the suspects, healed, caregivers, or- is enormous, given the thousands form of rumours: «It is not Ebola, phaned and separated children, of Ebola victims. Prophylactic it is witchcraft; it is punishment bereaved and affected families in measures are needed in several inflicted on the population of the different ways. We provide social areas to accompany the people of East by the power of Kinshasa; assistance to affected families. God in the region. The challenge people are poisoned or sterilized We teach new behaviours that is big. We must act. with the vaccine and people are do not encourage the spread of P. Jean-Marie WAYIVUTHA killed at the CTE, etc. » the virus. Finally, we support the These speeches caused pub- lic opinion to be poisoned. Any act or message that confirms the Fr. Jean-Marie Wayvutha (right) puts on his protective clothing before starting his work as a psychologist in an Ebola Treatment Centre in Butembo. existence of the disease arouses hostility or aggressiveness. We talk about «resistance»: people refuse to be followed as a high- risk contact, to authorize safe burials, to go to the ETC, to be vaccinated, to take a sample... As a result, risk behaviours, and therefore the number of Ebola cases in the region, are increas- ing. Hence the objective of our fight against MVE: to cut the transmission chain.

Spiritual and psychological care Our psycho-spiritual interven- tions against these resistances focus on the anguish of death. In a context of generalized fear, empathy helps to understand the suffering of the other and to con- sider it normal. Psychotherapies and spiritual accompaniment aim to reassure, both individually and collectively, by making the Ri- poste system as uninhibited as possible: humanization of care, psychological debriefing with caregivers. We give strong sig-

12 n OCTOBER 2019 n no 10 An encounter in

The religious in formation from the Province of North America >> Story gathered in June for a time of exchange and formation

Participants and animators of the meeting of young religious in .

hey were part of a cohort of young from his Province---especially those he had religious Assumptionists from the never met and really wanted to meet. “I am TProvince of North America, who very happy that this gathering was held, as responded to the call from Father Peter he explained in English. I wanted to meet Precourt, responsible for formation in the my brothers, and I realized that other peo- Province. He invited these young Assump- ple counted on me and I counted on them. tionists to a session so that they could meet This gathering gives me the light of hope one another and exchange ideas. The ses- in listening to other brothers; in realizing sion took place in Mexico from June 9 to that Pacifique, Sadiki and Jean-Bosco can June 13, in a house run by the Josephinos. also face difficulties in Quebec; Ciano (for Brothers Jean-Bosco Kambale Kanyama, Marciano), Rodel and others in Mexico.” Daniele Caglioni and Germán Gonzalez Al- For his part, Jean-Bosco reiterates that varez, respectively from Quebec, , the session had its purpose in a Province the and Mexico, represented where we seem to live in isolation. “The the languages of French, English and Span- gathering responded to my needs,” he ish. They speak here of their experiences. noted in mentioning the moment in which the brothers presented themselves to one A favorable moment that has been another and shared their personal experi- long-awaited ences. The session in Mexico was one long- Germán spoke in Spanish of an enjoy- awaited for by Daniele. It was an enjoyable able encounter, an event that not only gath- time, in which he met the young brothers ered the brothers from Canada, the United 

13 >> Story

brothers to better communicate with them.

A beacon that lights the future This meeting in Mexico con- stituted, for these three brothers, a beacon that lights the future. This bright beacon illuminates certain aspects of meeting to- gether and of encountering other youth. The religious who were gathered in Mexico hope for other similar moments: they can be regular, by changing lo- cation. “We will look to future occasions, like an ordination,” noted Jean-Bosco. “Despite the States and Mexico, but that was guage. According to him, igno- expenses connected to a trip, a a mix of different cultures. rance of a language of a physical presence in a place al- impedes an effective communi- lows one to feel the reality of An experience of cation with him. “It is from our that place---like the popular de- internationality: riches languages that we can exchange votions in Mexico and the near- and obstacles the richness of our internation- empty churches in Québec.” A « This session enabled us to ality and our inter-culturality,” magazine or journal would also live in a concrete way the inter- believes Germán. He stressed allow for exchanges and con- nationality that we speak of to- that he has been able to live well nections. day in our congregation”, Jean- with other brothers, being able « I leave with one mission: to Bosco realized. In effect, ex- to relate to them and to benefit encounter the youth,” excitedly plained Germán, “Our interna- from their cultural richness, de- remarked Jean-Bosco, regarding tional congregation encourages spite the difficulty that comes the impressive numbers of youth us to exchange ideas based on with a difference in common we met in the churches and with our cultural wealth. This gath- language. “We are fortunate to the Assumptionists in Mexico. ering mutually enriched us and have brothers to translate for “This country inspires the future made us think about our other us, so that we can easily under- for the Province of North Amer- brothers in the Philippines, in stand.” Jean-Bosco spoke of ica,” he noted but along with a Africa, and elsewhere.” For certain brothers who played the question: “How can we be pres- Daniele, “people who saw us role of intermediary in translat- ent in the world of our youth? walking together in the park ing the words of the other broth- How can we share the experi- or in the museum certainly ers. They have made communi- ences of Mariadelcarmen , An- asked the question: What gath- cation easier. “The brothers who drew and others responsible for ers these Africans, Philippinos, know at least two languages the ministry of youth and for As- Mexicans and Americans, these helped us communicate, to live sumptionist vocations in Mexico young men from all corners of the encounter among us and to and in the United States?” Jean- the world?” According to Dan- talk about numerous subjects,” Bosco nurtures one conviction: iele, the answer is always---Je- he explained. Jean-Bosco under- “We must commit to this aposto- sus Christ. stands the importance of having late among the youth.” Jean-Bosco points out one these brother translators. He obstacle of internationality, thinks it is very important to Fr. Sadiki KAMBALE KYAVUMBA which is to understand the lan- learn the languages of the other (Community of Québec)

14 n OCTOBER 2019 n no 10 Postulation << We come in pilgrimage One of the events marking the 175th anniversary of the Congregation, in 2020, will be the session of the Plenary General Council (CGP) in Nimes. This pilgrimage to the source will not fail to set an example. The experiences of these last years, as well as personal or collective initiatives, show us the steps that contributed to the promotion of the cause of sainthood of Father d’Alzon.

ather d’Alzon’s reputation for holiness may be well Festablished. And yet, we can ask how we can expand it . . . We have every right to won- der why, in this area, we are too often satisfied with some clichés and collected ideas. His holiness is confirmed by the devotion at- tested to those that we consider close to God, because of the vir- tues that he practiced to the point of making his life like a mirror of God. We know that from the be- ginnings of Christianity, Europe was born on a pilgrimage and developed in the shadow of high places where the faithful came to Pilgrims of the Lay-Religious Alliance in front of the tombs of the family forge a common conscience and of Fr. d'Alzon in Lavagnac, June 2019. a common expression of fervor, close to revered founders, bish- ops, , and in From all backgrounds, they A place of whom the faith was like cement converge toward the chapel on convergence for the Christian people. the street of Séguier where Fa- It is in this same spirit that to- ther is buried. Whether the steps Bernard Franot, a Lay As- day some faithful will go to Nimes are individual or in a group, those sumptionist familiar with a visit to the tomb of Father d’Alzon who come from the ends of the to the tomb, recounts: “It was and desire to rediscover, in the earth add to their itineraries this 10 years ago, when an Assump- steps of this man, the excellence provincial stopover like an oblig- tionist who was preparing for of his virtues. This reputation atory passage. The places of for- the priesthood followed the psy- of holiness goes beyond France mation of the Assumption family chology training that I animated. and its borders and spreads to- have become a milestone: the no- Upon becoming a master, day throughout the entire world. vitiate of the Little Sisters of the he asked me to take part in the The sons and daughters of Father Assumption, the proba- formation of in his care. d’Alzon come from all over the tionists, the Lay Assumptionists, That is how I discovered the As- world to reinvigorate themselves etc. sumptionist community and the near the one they consider to be personage of its founder, Fr. their model. Emmanuel d’Alzon, through the 

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booklets in the collection “Vi- us of him. Our human condition time between us. The knowledge enne ton Règne”. This discovery moves us to rediscover concrete of the individual is transmitted was very quickly enriched by the manifestations and to come to a through this concrete and physi- books suggested to me by Fr. Pat- more tangible understanding of cal experience. “This year, it rick Zago, so as to understand him who turns us toward the es- will be made through the angle more fully this extraordinary per- sential.” of four conferences: one devoted sonality, in love with the Kingdom The first words of God to to the upheaval of the century in of God. I participated, with curi- Abraham, are: “Go, leave your which he lived; of a reflection osity, in exchanges with several country.” The pilgrimage con- on his earthly family and on the religious who spoke to me of the nects to this first experience and beginnings of his vocation; of an relevance of d’Alzon’s thinking on is also an occasion to give hom- exposition of the major themes of various current topics.” In many age to the one to whom we feel his spirituality; and, finally, of a ways, Fr. d’Alzon appeals to us so indebted. To go where he has clarification on his creative and by his visionary outlook, his in- lived and worked, to uncover his founding works.” tuition as a precursor and his au- familial surroundings, his places The pilgrimage is equally a dacious spirit. These aspects are of travel, his places of spiritual huge moment of fraternity com- revealed little by little in his reli- renewal, of preaching, of foun- prising enriching moments of gious journey and in the richness dations of his works . . .these are encounter, of contemplation of of his spirituality: « I am touched all opportunities to deepen and to places such as monuments as well by his passionate desire for the strengthen the convictions that as nature, of time to listen to all Kingdom, with his staunch faith are gradually established in us by those who have been fellow com- in Jesus Christ, with his affection- our readings and by our exchang- panions of Fr. d’Alzon during one ate attachment to the Blessed Vir- es. Ultimately, this pilgrimage long period of existence: “Esteem gin Mary and with his unfailing that we make together, religious and mutual consideration possess faithfulness to the Church and to and lay, “is a way of living to the the virtue of strengthening unity the successors of Peter, whatever extent of the world. This year, we and communion among people,” the price to pay,” continues Ber- will represent the Churches of also remarked Bernard. nard by focusing on the dynamics France, of Vietnam, of the Phil- What can one say, therefore, inspired by such an individual. ippines, of Togo, of Madagascar, of the holiness of Fr. d’Alzon? etc.) in a climate of simple, uni- There is nothing better, to discov- An experience that versal fraternity. What a joy to er it, than to take his route and to concerns me participate in these blessed mo- live it like a fully traced model. ments, that will make Emmanuel “Four days to realize a certain To come on a pilgrimage and d’Alzon rejoice and that will objective isn’t much, but it allows walk in the steps of a person show him that his work is always one to know more fully the one we whose posterity shines through is alive!” came to encounter in his lands certainly a complex journey: “It and in the region to which he was was necessary, at times, for me A moment of fiercely attached.” to put myself in his footsteps and universal fraternity walk in his rhythm,” confessed Impossible is not Bernard in adding: “I gradually The pilgrimage is not an insig- Christian understood that his experience nificant walk. It requires that one touched me in a way that was leave the comforts of his daily life Obviously, we know the per- much more intimate, and three to uncover a spiritual reality that son’s strong character, his pe- years ago, I followed up by com- takes hold in the meeting of the remptory convictions and his to- mitting myself as a Lay Assump- other, lived between the religious tal immersion in a very complex tionist of the Alliance. My discov- and the lay; in daily Eucharist and era. Do not confuse holiness and ery of Father d’Alzon moved me the celebration of the liturgy of perfection! The roughness of to want to see his surroundings, the hours; in symbolic places all his personality could shock or travel his sites and touch the ob- still filled with the memory of the disturb one or the other. For his jects with which he was familiar practices of Father d’Alzon and contemporaries, could he have and which continue to speak to of his way of praying, beyond the been otherwise? When a man of

16 n OCTOBER 2019 n no 10 >> Postulation

Pilgrimage of the Lay-Religious Alliance to the castle of Lavagnac, where Fr. d'Alzon lived from 1816 to 1832.

conviction puts all his energy and Bernard, “this one gives me the make it known, dare to testify his imagination to the service of feeling of being more present to to it based on our own discover- the mission he has been assigned, the realities of the world. Often, ies, to become promoters. This his zealous response to the call the pilgrimages are directly ori- isn’t easy in a world bombarded of the Lord ignores all obstacles. ented toward Jesus or Mary. This by thousands of demands! Pray “For me, the holiness of Father one invites us to fall back advan- to him, it is to hope for the sup- d’Alzon is revealed in his will, tageously on the human experi- port of one of our elderly broth- his courage, his perseverance in ence of an exceptional person, ers in the faith: “I am hopeful that the accomplishment of his work but who reassures us on the real his evangelical model will bring for the Church, that in which he possibility of rejoining Christ us responses to the question of put his total person, with his re- through the path that he opens today, as long as we trust him,” sources, his intelligence and with to us. A pilgrimage following a concluded Bernard. his intuition that did not fail him, great witness gives us the feeling An intercessor toward God is with the goal always clearer to of being overtaken and accompa- a big brother. “This year, during spread the Kingdom of God.” nied on a difficult path, but a pos- the preparation of this pilgrim- As such, it is a stimulating sible one.” It is a pilgrimage that age, I am surprised to be asking example that helps everyone do makes us say: “Impossible is not him for “a helping hand” so that their part, as modest as it is, to- Christian.” this walk will be well received, in ward this construction. The gran- alignment with the spirit of his deur of his soul is like an encour- An older brother work and with his spiritual life. agement to follow the path that I am sure that he will be present he traced and to put our lives in To expand the reputation of there.” full accord with the call of Jesus: sainthood for Father d’Alzon, it Fr. Bernard Le Léannec “That your Kingdom come.” goes like good wine: it is not suf- Postulator General « Of all the pilgrimages to ficient to breathe it in, to taste which I could participate,” says it, but one must talk about it, to

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Emmanuel d’Alzon and the Youth Work in Nîmes (1/2)

The history of Fr. d’Alzon’s relations side of the Œuvre Argaud and the Municipal with the Youth Work in Nîmes (later called Archives of Nîmes, documents exist. They «The Argaud Work») has never really been were exploited by Mr. Bernard Petit as part studied. There are some references to it in of a master’s thesis in contemporary history Volume 1 of Siméon Vailhé’s La vie du Père defended in 1996 at the Paul Valéry Univer- d’Alzon, which deals with the beginnings in sity in , under the direction of the apartment on rue de l’Arc Dugras and Gérard Cholvy, a good connoisseur of the the episode of the purchase of the Mont Du- early days of the Assumption. plan building called «Maison Prophette» The sole purpose of the following pages named after its owner. is to gather this previously dispersed knowl- In Fr. d’Alzon’s correspondence, espe- edge, to enrich it with more refined research cially in his letters to Fathers Picard, Bailly in Fr. d’Alzon’s correspondence, and to and Marie Eugénie de Jésus, we must be draw information from other sources in Mr. vigilant to note here and there some lines Petit’s brief. explicitly referring to this Work and the ad- It is a subject that, for the Assumption- ventures of the years 1872-1877. Jean-Paul ists, has the interest of illustrating the spirit Périer-Muzet did not have the opportunity of initiative of their founder, and the vision to go into the subject in more detail, confin- he had of action with young people. ing himself to what can be drawn from this Incidentally, we can see here that he too correspondence. The only summary we have has experienced failures, for lack of the is a two-page note written by Bernard Le Lé- means to achieve his ambitions, especially annec. in terms of manpower and time. The Diocesan Archives are practically si- Jean-Michel Brochec lent on this subject at this time. But, on the

18 n OCTOBER 2019 n no 10 n , 1835, lived on the first floor of a spa- du Mûrier d’Espagne in 1837, rue Emmanuel d’Alzon, cious but austere building, while de l’Enclos Rey (Bassot house) Oa 25-year-old priest, the second floor was occupied in 1842, then Petit Chemin moved to Nîmes, rue de l’Aspic, by another young priest, Father Gilles, currently rue Briçonnet to the home of a great uncle. Or- Daudet (relative of the writer of (Gibert building), in 1846. dained a priest in Rome eleven the same name). months earlier, he has just spent An education project a family vacation in Lavagnac. Youth training Despite many flattering requests In November 1837, the date

from Paris and Montpellier, he On the Sunday after Vespers chosen as the date of the foun- Lines >> Archives opted for the young diocese of in the chapel of the Royal Col- dation of the work, he gave the Nîmes, which was reconstitut- lege, he taught a «catechism of children the rules of the Mar- ed in new frontiers in 1817 and perseverance» attended by a seille work founded by Father given a bishop four years later. large number of young people Jean-Joseph Allemand (1772- To keep this brilliant subject, but also adults. With the help 1836), whose motto could be Bishop de Chaffoy immediately of Father Daudet, he welcomes summarized as follows: «Here appointed him honorary canon children from 10 to 15 years we play, here we pray». and honorary vicar general (then old from wealthy families into The formula, pronounced by called «Grand Vicar»). his apartment. Meetings are fre- the priest in response to the visit Father d’Alzon arrived in quent and are held mainly in the of a government inspector who Nîmes with three projects: work- late evening. D’Alzon prepares came to close the work and asked ing on the «conversion» of Prot- some for communion and con- him what was happening there, estants through conferences and tinues the Christian formation hides a real educational project debates of a theological and his- of others. He plays with the chil- based on three bases: torical nature; creating a college dren (pool, fencing, wrestling...), - the socialization of young for the formation of a Catholic eats with them, talks in a relaxed people through games and team elite; bringing in to way and leads a time of prayer at sports, carry out a prayer mission. the oratory arranged in the apart- - Christian and spiritual for- Alas! His bishop feared to ment. This group quickly be- mation through prayer, the prac- awaken secular tensions between came an association: the Société tice of the sacraments, readings Catholics and Protestants and Saint-Louis de Gonzague. and instructions, opposed this first project. On the He asked Father Daudet, who - the responsibility and sense other hand, d’Alzon was rushed lives on the second floor, to take of responsibility of others, the by Father Vermot who created a care in the same spirit of children older ones having to take care boys’ boarding school (the As- and young men from middle and of the younger ones and get in- sumption House); finally, the working class backgrounds, volved in the general good run- bishop delayed and did not show most often already at work, con- ning of the Work. any enthusiasm for the idea of stituted by D’Alzon in the Saint- In 1846, four members of the hosting a Carmelite . Stanislas Society. Between the Allemand’s work came to Nîmes The young and dynamic priest is two groups, which share com- to advise Father Daudet. He him- limited to frequenting libraries, mon spaces and the oratory, re- self, accompanied by the elders preaching, confessing, distribut- lations are sometimes difficult. of the Work of Nîmes, went a ing the sacraments, leading peo- When D’Alzon, who became little later to Marseille to see Fa- ple spiritually... while the dio- Vicar general in title, moved to ther Allemand’s method applied cese still struggles to meet many rue des Lombards, in an apart- in the field. In agreement with needs, especially in the field of ment more in line with his posi- Fr. d’Alzon, Daudet then revised catechesis for children, Christian tion, he appointed Father Daudet the rules of the work. formation for older youth and director of the two associations What is striking about this adults, and in the social field. in 1839. regulation is its requirements and A few months after his arrival, Success has been achieved, the training for responsibilities it d’Alzon changed apartments and the number of employees is in- implements. The «Maison» in moved to rue de l’Arc Dugras, creasing and more suitable prem- Nîmes welcomes its members on in a shiny neighbourhood. He ises must be found. It will be rue Sundays, Thursdays and every 

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day between 1pm and 2.30pm, Games are perceived as a On the advice of Fr. d’Alzon, and between 8pm and 9.45pm. means of personal development who did not resolve the disap- To register, you must have made and socialization. Group games pearance of the Work, the bishop First Communion (around 12 on the courtyard are preferred. asked Father Argaud, mission- years old); the age limit is 30 But indoor games are also avail- ary of Father Soulas (2), to take years old. The new member, able. Members over 16 years of charge of the financial manage- accompanied by an older tu- age have a lounge for this pur- ment of the Youth Work, while tor (called a zélateur), under- pose, the youngest members forbidding him, for reasons un- goes a probation period of three have rooms supervised by a se- known, to take charge of it! Fr. months before being solemnly nior one. d’Alzon continued to work to integrated. A wide distribution of prevent the work from sinking tasks is planned, so that as many A first test and finally convinced Bishop young people as possible have Cart to support it and allow Fa- a responsibility: superiors, zéla- In January 1851, the number ther Argaud to at least ensure its teurs, treasurers, secretaries are of members reached about 150; spiritual direction. chosen from among the oldest in October it was down to 75. Thanks to the commitment and form a Management Board The causes seem to be the firm- of the senior members and the that can replace the director in ness of the rules, which have support of Fr. d’Alzon, the Work the event of a vacancy. The Con- clarified the Christian purpose was saved. But the division into sultation Council brings together of the work, and the amount of two sections and two locations is members who fill so-called sec- the contributions (12 francs). problematic. It was then decided ondary charges distributed on a However, Father Daudet accepts to group everything together in yearly, monthly or weekly basis: young people who cannot pay the Mont Duplan building (Mai- playroom supervisors, doorman, this sum, or he sends them to son Prophette, named after its sacristan, choirboys, choristers... the patronage of the Assumption owner) where the young people The older ones must take care (1), which is more appropriate of Saint-Stanislas already lived. of the younger ones. As a young to their social environment and It is a 1000 m² plot, overlook- person progresses, he or she can where they will receive appro- ing the city, with a vast court- thus move on to increasingly im- priate assistance. yard and a sufficient number of portant responsibilities until he In 1852, the financial dif- rooms. On January 1, 1854, on or she becomes a superior, i.e. ficulties were such that Father the occasion of the vows that the assistant to the director. Daudet had to resign and retire elders had come to present to the The Sunday Mass, which is to Beaucaire, before joining the bishop, he announced to them mandatory, takes place at 8 a.m. diocese of Marseille. It is also that he had just bought the prop- Vespers are sung around 4 p.m., necessary to leave the premises erty of Mont Duplan for 8,000 followed by a short instruction. on rue Briçonnet, which are too francs, that he gave it to them, On Thursday, school rest day, expensive, and find others. The and that he officially appointed Mass is celebrated at 7 or 8 a.m., elders, probably members of Father Argaud as director. and in the afternoon we go to the the Governing Council, went to Here is what D’Alzon said chapel to recite the and the bishop, Mgr Cart, to ask for about this episode in a letter to then do a short reading and hear his support. They are received Marie Eugénie dated April 30, an instruction. Young people are coldly. The priests of the city’s 1854: invited to confess every eight or parishes are no more welcom- «Some time ago, an associa- fifteen days. Communion should ing. A space was found for the tion of young people was led by be as frequent as possible. Outside Saint-Louis de Gonzague sec- a certain Abbé Daudet, chaplain the days when the house is open, tion, rue Coutelier, and another of the Ladies of Saint-Maur; he young people are encouraged to rue de la Poudrière, at Mont did some business badly, was participate in Mass in their parish, Duplan, for the Saint-Stanislas forced to leave the diocese. to devote about fifteen minutes to section. Masses are celebrated Monsignor decided that the as- a spiritual reading, an examina- in the chapel of the Collège de sociation would be dissolved, tion of conscience, a visit to the l’Assomption or in a parish. In called Mr. Argaud for chaplain, Blessed Sacrament, and to recite the evening, an oratory is impro- in place of Mr. Daudet, and in- the Rosary. vised on site. formed him that first of all he

20 n OCTOBER 2019 n no 10 which the conditional sale be- comes final with the approval of the government (T.D. 43, pp. 333-338). It was the premises of the Youth Work, founded in 1837 by Fr. d’Alzon, saved by him in 1854 and entrusted to Father Argaud. The bishop cited the

financial difficulties of his ma- Lines >> Archives

jor seminary as a reason. It is a thunderclap that amazes the el- ders, who are very involved in material management. They ask themselves: why did the Vicar general and founder of the Au- gustinians of the Assumption wish to acquire this property? Partial view of the Maison Prophette, from Poudrière street. The buildings Fr. d’Alzon has always shown still look the same from outside since the middle of the 19th century. his attachment to his creation through his gifts, his visits, his influence (3). He was also inter- forbade him to take care of the such as the chartreuse! Very ested, that’s for sure, in the land Work of the Young Men. But I quickly, adjustments are neces- and buildings of Mount Duplan. allowed myself to prevent the sary in the face of excesses and According to Canon Argaud, Work from perishing. Ignor- the fact that the older ones are «for a long time, Father d’Alzon ing the defense given to Father becoming less and less involved had his eyes full of envy on the Argaud, I asked him to help me with the younger ones, which Prophette house and when Bish- support the Work, and today I runs counter to an important ob- op Cart acquired it, he was on have just blessed a chapel in a jective of the educational proj- the verge of raising the price». room bought with Monsignor’s ect. By buying this building from money for this association, the bishop, the founder of the which has Father Argaud as its The return of Fr. Augustinians of the Assumption director. And the Bishop is de- d’Alzon wished to establish the mother lighted with all this, since he is house and of his con- paying. » In July 1872, we learned that gregation there and find voca- A prosperous period then be- the bishop, Bishop Plantier, sold tions (letter to Fr. Galabert, 4 gan for the Work of Nîmes, fi- the Mont Duplan property to Fr. June 1872). Indeed, the Collège nancially supported by elders, d’Alzon, and that he undertook de l’avenue Feuchères is not the bishop, Fr. d’Alzon and a few to maintain the Youth Work in the ideal place for a novitiate. priests - few in number, because this property. Indeed, on June On the other hand, according to many priests saw in this work a 22, a double contract was signed the records kept by Argaud, the competition that impoverished between Fr. d’Alzon and Bishop work provides a large number their parishes. We are innovating Plantier. By the first, the Bishop of priests and religious: about in terms of sports, cultural and of Nîmes rented to Fr. d’Alzon 70 over a period of fifty years religious activities. Adaptations for nine years, starting October since 1845, including three As- to the evolution of mentalities 1, 1872, an enclosure located sumptionists between 1869 and are being tested, for example the on Mount Duplan, «behind the 1872. Finally, D’Alzon thought creation of a swimming pool, the enclosure of the city of Nîmes» it would be easy to find a reli- installation of a gymnasium, the (TD, n° 450, p.74). By the sec- gious capable of leading it, as he authorization for older children ond, he sells it to him, with the had promised. to smoke in their room and to authorization of the government, On this project of Fr. d’Alzon, consume even alcoholic drinks the lease to end on the day on here is what Emmanuel Bailly 

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wrote to Fr. Alexis Dumazer on people are sad about it, but there there, the fruit of which will, I May 9: comes a time when you have to hope, first of all be a lay Brother. «For three or four months give yourself hours of retire- It seems to me that some other now it has been agreed with ment. Note that I go out every vocations are being prepared. I Monsignor that Father Argaud day, but these evenings are in- have arranged to have the Broth- for 20,000 francs will transfer valuable for me and allow me to ers’ honor class on hand: they the house, garden and outbuild- work. « (to Marie-Eugénie, De- are their 30 strongest students. ings of the Youth Work to the cember 25, 1872). We will make them good Chris- Fathers of the Assumption. In «I am writing to you from tians, if we do not make them October, Fr. d’Alzon will estab- Father Argaud’s house, whose religious, and that is still a lot. lish his «residence» there with apartment I took from the Youth Already I had a small intimate four or five more serious nov- Work. I have a splendid view of conference of 5 or 6 priests (4). ices, more capable of a more ad- the young people with whom I Today we are extending it: I have vanced and complete formation. hope to find vocations. Priests been asked to admit all those This will be the «true» novitiate come to see me a lot, and I have who would like to come to us. and the Vigan will only be a de- resumed the meetings of the I have accepted and I intend to veloped alumnate. » past. « (to Fr. Galabert, 12 Dec. do something good, which will 1872) affect the itself, because I Responsibility therefore «Pray, you too, for this work am sure we will have vocations passes to Fr. d’Alzon. It seems that makes me perch on a rock. for you and for us. Already here that discussions took place be- Young people, men, priests, re- I more easily receive the confi- tween him and Argaud as early ligious, that is what I would like dences of some clergymen who as May (letter to Fr. Vincent to make heaven grow. « (to Miss would rather come to find me de Paul Bailly, 22 May 1872). Cécile Varin d’Ainvelle, Decem- in solitude, and yet I am rid of Nevertheless, the situation is ber 6, 1872) a lot of unwelcome people. « (to difficult for the ousted director. «Since I have been in my fu- Marie Eugénie, December 10, The latter considers that the di- ture scholasticate, I am, it is true, 1872). rector of the work must live on a little less disturbed; neverthe- (to be followed) site. In July, Fr. d’Alzon sent less, I have preached a retreat Fr. Norbert Mathieu, an elder of the work (he had been with it for three years) and, on August 5, Fr. Alexis Dumazer to ensure 1) Patronage run by the religious and students of Collège de the transition. He himself settled l’Assomption for popular neighbourhoods children. there on October 2, 1872 and ap- 2) André Soulas (1808-1857), a priest of the diocese of Montpellier, co- pointed Father Blanc as director, seminarian with Father D’Alzon, founder of Our Lady Auxiliatrix Sisters a diocesan priest who had en- and of an association of diocesan missionnairies. tered the novitiate a year earlier. 3) In the publication of the feast of the Centenial, the Argaud Work, Fr. d’Alzon is very happy in 1837-1937 (Nîmes 1938, pp. 34-49), recognizes that Father d’Alzon had his new environment. He enjoys been the founder. It is, as one can read, an initiative of the youth, in the fresh air, the panorama, a line with the patronages and following the spirit ot the youth works of relative tranquility that allows Fr. Timon-David of Marseille. This statement is anachronistic since the him to work more efficiently. foundation was inspired by Fr. Allemand before the work in Nîmes ever Diocesan priests come to meet existed, much later, under the congregation of Timon-David. It was him more discreetly than at the sved, as here reported and as confirmed by the history of this rescueing College. Here are some excerpts by one of the young man of the Work during a public session held in from his letters: Nîmes on 10 December 1854 (Revue des bibliothèques paroissiales, «I never cease to bless God Avignon 1855, p. 48 and ff.). for the idea he inspired in me to 4) It is to this group that were meant the ‘Tuesday conferences for come and take refuge at the top the priests of Nîmes; he still have notes of Fr. D’Alzon for the years of Nîmes. I’m too good there. 1872-1873. It was some kind of on-going formation for the clergy of Loneliness will give me ten the town. more years of life there. Some

22 n OCTOBER 2019 n no 10 A book to read << The memoirs of an Assumptionist under the Soviet dictatorship

Fr. Eugene LaPlante, a religious of the North American Province who died on July 27, published a few years ago in the Russia Review, this review of the memoirs of Fr. Braun, his colleague to whom he succeeded from 1960 to 1965 in our mission in Moscow.

r. Léopold Braun has at torical context of the Assump- Because Fr. Braun lived long last received his due, tionist Mission in Russia, and and worked among the Russian Fsome forty-two years after later in the Soviet Union, with people even if most of the time his death, with the publication of all the ups and downs the mis- his residence was in the French the memoirs of his long service sion would have over the years. embassy, he was able to seize to the American Embassy Com- Hamburg also gives a finely the facts in reports from various munity of Moscow and especial- tuned analysis of the strengths parishioners and acquaintanc- ly to his beloved Russian Catho- and flaws of the various ver- es, and their implications, bet- lic Community during the most sions of Fr. Braun’s manuscripts. ter than anyone. In Lubianka’s trying of times and in the most Section V of the introduction Shadow is an honest, generally dire of circumstances. His mem- analyzes with flair Fr. Braun’s very accurate, though not com- oirs have been meticulously ed- efforts to publish his memoirs, pletely unbiased, and true histor- ited by Professor Gary Hamburg. and the long, laborious, and of- ical account of life and politics It took the preparation for the ten stormy negotiations with the in Moscow and the Soviet Union centennial celebration of the As- superiors of this religious con- during twelve years of grim sumptionists’ presence in Russia gregation and also the Vatican; it government-sponsored terror to bring about even the possibil- also illustrates well the politics, and turmoil, and World War II. A ity of their publication, after Fr. both secular and ecclesiastical, lesser man than Léopold Braun Braun’s long and unsuccessful that Fr. Braun had to face, unsuc- would not have been able to en- battle with his ecclesiastical su- cessfully. dure the extremely high level of periors to win permission. The saga of the writing and stress for so long a time. Even if Over the years, the memoirs rewriting of the memoirs and the at the end of his stay in Moscow had fallen into the oblivion of struggle to have them published he had become somewhat para- the Assumptionist archives, un- make for fascinating reading. The noid, he was misunderstood and til Professor Hamburg was com- memoirs themselves, however, mishandled by his ecclesiastical missioned by the then provincial make for even more fascinating superiors. I agree with Profes- superior, Fr. John Franck, A.A., reading, because in Fr. Braun sor Hamburg that, “happily, the to prepare a study of the Rus- we have an eyewitness to twelve memoirs of Fr. Léopold Braun sian Mission from the American years of persecution of a people can now take their rightful place Assumptionists’ point of view, on the religious front, as one among the primary sources of for a presentation to the Centen- might expect from a priest caught the Stalin epoch” (p. x).. nial Symposium held in Rome in the turmoil of the Stalinist at- Fr. Eugène V. LAPLANTE in November 2003. Gary Ham- tempt to purge the country of re- burg was a felicitous choice. He ligious belief and of all religion Léopold L. S., A. A. In Lubianka’s quickly recognized the impor- in the name of godless commu- Shadow: The Memoirs of an tance of Fr. Braun’s memoirs and nism, despite the so called “con- American Priest in Stalin’s Moscow, has produced this excellent and stitutional guarantees,” but also 1934–1945. Edited by G. M. extraordinary edition. of any political opposition, in- Hamburg. Notre Dame: University of The eighty-two-page preface cluding the people who adhered Notre Dame, 2006. lxxxii + 352 pp. and introduction expertly and ac- to any of the democratic ideals so $35.00. ISBN 0-268-02199-6. curately portray the greater his- dear to the American culture.

23 3 Editorial Editor  Happy are those called to the supper of the Lord Michel KUBLER, General Secretary 2 official  Agenda  Jubilee of the Province of Africa 4  Calls, nominations, changes... So that AA News can “talk” about you, 5 the Mission please send information about the life  Assumptionist Missionaries Review Their of the Assumption in your countries Experience to the General Secretariat  Celebrate the joy of being missionaries and [email protected] preparing for the future before the end of each  Interview with Bishop Louis-Armel Pelâtre General Council. Thanks especially 11 Testimonials for sending photos and  Religious in the face of the Ebola epidemic in illustrations. Butembo 13 Story  An encounter in Mexico

15 Postulation [email protected]  We come in pilgrimage

18 Archives Lines  Emmanuel d’Alzon and the Youth Work in Nîmes Composed in Translator (1/2) Patricia Haggerty and September 30, 2019 23 A book to read Gilles Blouin, English This no 10 of AA- info  The memoirs of an Assumptionist under the Soviet José Antonio Echaniz ; is printed in 220 dictatorship Spanish copies: 160 in French 24 Our deceased brothers ... and the help of 30 in English DeepL 30 in Spanish Model and laid out And 350 electronic Loredana Giannetti shipments.

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Our deceased brothers

† Father Paul † Father Antonius † Father Mutien † Father Eugene † Father Regis † Father Charles † Father VAUDREUIL, of GAUTIER, of the LAMBERT, of LAPLANTE, of PHARISIER, of MONSCH, of Jean-Marie the Old English community of the community the Old English the community of the community MUTULIRANO Road community Leuven (European of Brussels-Rue Road community Layrac (Province of Albertville LWAYIVWEKA, of (North American Province), died on Braves (European (Province of North of Europe) died on (Province of the community of Province), died July 22, 2019, at Province), died America), died on August 6, 2019, in Europe), died on Kyondo (Province in Worcester Leuven, Belgium. on July 22, 2019. July 27, 2019, in Layrac (France). August 29, 2019 in of Africa), died on (USA) on July 6, His funeral was His funeral was Worcester (USA). His funeral was Albertville (France). September 19, 2019. His funeral celebrated on July celebrated on July His funeral was celebrated on His funeral was 2019, in Goma (DR- was celebrated 26th in the chapel 27 in the Basilica of celebrated August August 9 in the celebrated on Congo). His funeral in the chapel of the community. the Sacred Heart at 1 in St. Anne’s chapel of the September 2 in the was celebrated on of Assumption He was 93 years Koekelberg. He was Church in Fiskdale, priory. He was 101 chapel of Notre- September 21 in College on July 12. old. 88 years old. followed by years old. Dame of the Vines. Butembo. He was He was interred at internment at St. He was buried in 36 years of age. St. Anne Cemetery, Anne’s Cemetery. Albertville. He was Fiskdale, MA. He He was 87 years 97 years old. was 81 years old. old.

We have recently learned of the death of Father Anton TOPLISKY (Province of North America), who passed away on July 30, 2014, at the age of 92.