April, 2014 n no 12 ligious and lai News Re ty th AAof the Assumption e same mission EDITORIAL A New World Is Already Born The Assumption is imbued with a force That it receives from God. >> Official Agenda Ordinary General Councils Marcelo ● June 19-28 ● April 10-15: Visit to Istanbul ● September 11-22 : Local Chapter of the Rome ● May 8-22: Session of the Masters of Novices Community, September 14 or 22 ● July 10-20: Session on Eastern Europe at Bucharest ● November 10-14 (Rumania) Plenary General Councils John ● June 7-16 at Saint Lambert (France) ● May 1-4: Centennial of the Basilica of Hippo (Algeria) ● November 30 to December 10 or December 1-11 ● May 8-22: Session of the Masters of Novices (December 5: Wenger Colloquium) ● May 28 to June 2: Chaplaincy of a university group from Worcester in Rome Benoît ● June 3: Preparatory Commission for the Education Congress in Paris ● Turkey : Canonical Visitation in Istanbul : April 10-15 ● July 7 to September 4: United States (retreat for ● Lyons: First Chapter of the Province of Europe: April the Novices, 8-15 August and three week-ends 22 to May 1 preaching for the solidarity fund) ● USA: Canonical Visitation: May 2 to June 1 ● August 15: National Pilgrimage to Lourdes Didier ● Vietnam: Canonical Visitation: August 21 to September 3 ● March 17 to May 12: in the Americas (Colombia, ● Meeting of the USG on November 21: Opening of Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, USA) the Year of Consecrated Life ● May 30: Meeting of the General Treasurers of the ● Meeting of the Superiors General of the Assumption: Assumption Family in Paris December 22 ● July 1-2: in Paris: Council of Consultors and Council of Bayard Emmanuel ● July 3 to August 10: visit to Vietnam and the Philippines ● April 21 to May 4: Chapter of Europe (Valpré) ● September 23: Council of Bayard (Paris) ● May 8-22: Session of the Masters of Novices ● September 24 and 25: Board of Trustees of ● July 22 to September 4: Africa Assumption College Struggling against despair Our three brothers, Edmond, Jean-Pierre and Anselme, are still missing. It is 18 months already that they were kidnapped and we are without any news. Lately, the Congolese armed forces began the long work of securing the zones that had been controlled by the rebels, notably in the region of Béni. Unfortunately, the searches have not resulted in freeing the numerous persons kidnapped. Mass graves have been found and a cruel uncertainty remains. Our religious family must continue to pray and to hope. We must not resign ourselves to silence. Lately a verse of Apollinaire came to my mind: “As life is slow, and as Hope is violent.” The faith of the Chris- tian is to hope despite everything. As we approach the feast of Easter, let us continue to struggle against forgetting. Let us also pray that the Congo finds anew peace and stability in its recognized borders. Let us ask the Lord of justice that the Congolese people might live in tranquility. Father Benoît Grière 2 APRIL 2014 n no 12 Editorial << A New World Is Already Born. he feast of Easter reminds us countries of the continent of Europe that the olden times are over must be re-thought in new ways. Tand that a new world is already The Assumption, modest and fragile, born. The Resurrection of Christ must mobilize itself for this grand is the burst of energy that renews project. D’Alzon had no more than everything, beginning with us, who 60 religious at his death and yet he are believers. I wish with all my heart succeeded in mobilizing them for a that each Assumptionist in the world grand project. We must follow their might benefit from this overflowing example. energy that makes new creatures stand The Assumption is imbued with a up. Thanks to death and resurrection, force that comes to it from God. We we become sons of the Father in the can be confident and go forward one Spirit. We are re-created. in peace. I have returned from the The Assumption is old with a Philippines where the annual meeting history of more than 150 years, but of the Inter-Asian Coordination took P. Benoît Grière it continues as it can on its way place. Progressively our Congregation General Superior through the trials of the times. Soon is taking root in countries where even of the Augustinians of a new province will see the day: recently it was absent. Young people the Assumption the Province of Europe. Fruit of the are joining us and we are setting up union of three old provinces – those our apostolic project: the press, social of Spain, North Europe and France – commitments and formation. We are the Assumptionist Europe will in fact looking towards China and towards be a new creation: “For new wine, India. Will God give us a sign so new wineskins!” The religious of this that we have the courage to advance province will have the important task towards these immense countries of building an unprecedented reality. where some two and a half billion We must pass over old habits and people live? abandon fears to look forward with The force of the Resurrection must faith and hope. work in each of us in the first place. Jacques Delors, a profoundly Christian We have a great challenge that French politician, said that Europe consists in each of us changing. is in need of a soul. The political We must allow ourselves to be Europe is marking time because of transformed by the life that gushes national egoisms and the primacy from the side of Christ on the Cross. of finance. The politicians do not It is important that we be new succeed in giving a breath of life to creatures, renewed to give witness the European project that too often to the Kingdom. The Assumptionist appears to be without an ideal. The brotherhood exists to proclaim God. Assumptionist Province of Europe The force of the Resurrection is to will need a soul in order to answer contest the values of the world and it the call of God who asks that we transforms hearts. I believe that we are be intrepid and audacious apostles. all capable of this transformation to The proclamation of faith in the answer the call of the Spirit. n 3 >> Official(continued) The nomination of the Provincial of Europe. reacted with humor saying that the ambition was too strong and «I have the joy of announcing to you the nomination that only one man could have all of Father Benoît Gschwind to the responsibility of the qualities mentioned: Jesus Provincial of Europe.» Christ. That was said humorously of course but that reflects a goodly part of the truth. If the Provincial named and each of the religious does not leave the whole place to our Lord, his mission will be marked by fra- gility and will risk becoming a failure. Benoît Gschwind is a man who for many years has displayed his love for the Assumption. He is a religious who assumes with sincerity his commitment in re- ligious life and loves Christ. He has an astounding dynamism and a remarkable apostolic zeal. During his mandate as Provin- cial he has showed a true open- n a letter dated on February make place for a new creation. ness to the diverse realities of 8 addressed to the brothers “The old world has disappeared, the Province as well as to those Iof the Provinces of Spain, a new world is already born” of the Congregation. He weaved North Europe and France, and (2Cor 5, 17). I thank you for amicable ties with his brothers to the lay friends of the As- the strong participation in the of the Plenary General Council. sumption, after having obtained consultation. Some among you Of course, Benoît does not have the consent of his Ordinary were perplexed. all the qualities foreseen in the Council, Fr. Benoît Grière made “How can we answer when we consultation. He knows that and public the nomination of Father do not know the other provincial is ready to improve certain as- Benoît Gschwind (see picture in realities? pects of his personality to listen AA-News of July 2011, p. 5). How can we choose a man when better to one and all. Here is the text: the responsibility he receives Before making his nomination “I have the joy of announcing will be so important?` official, at the request of the to you the nomination of Fa- You expressed many questions, Ordinary General Council, Ben- ther Benoît Gschwind to the and with my Council, I was at- oît was able to present to it his responsibility of Provincial of tentive to study them well. hopes for the new Province. He Europe.” The profound desire that comes knows that he will have to be at- He will begin his functions at out of the consultation is the tentive to the cultural diversity the Provincial Chapter that will necessity of constituting a new and to the various sensitivities be held at Valpré at the end of foundation open to the future that are expressed in the com- April-beginning of May. It is an and marked by a strong apos- munities and the countries of important event since it begins tolic and spiritual dynamism. the Province. Benoît is very a new chapter in the life of the Some among you in reading conscious that he will work with Assumption in Europe. The his- the profile that I gave for the a team and that a part of his re- toric realities will disappear to choice of the future Provincial sponsibilities will be delegated 4 APRIL 2014 n no 12 Official(continued) << Calls..