On Sunday, April 25th, the Assumptionist Community celebrated the first in a series of year-long events commemorating the Bicentennial of the Birth of Venerable Emmanuel d'Alzon, founder of the Augustinians of the Assumption. Families, relatives and close friends gathered in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Assumption College in Worcester for  Mass, with Fr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A., Regional Superior, presiding.

In his homily, Fr. Dennis developed the theme of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, as He continually speaks to us as God's children who are often scattered and in need of "finding our way" back to our God who loves and cares for us. Similarly, on this Vocation Sunday, we find a model of God's continual desire to gather His children, in the life and faithful service of Fr. D'Alzon, as he strove to be counter-cultural during the disintegration of  French society during the mid-ninteenteenth century, post-revolutionary time in France. His passion, as a man of vision, action and hope, was to gather all people "...wherever God is threatened in man and man is threatened as image of God." (RL 4) 

Meeting with Assumptionist Families

On behalf of the Assumptionists, Fr. Dennis concluded by thanking everyone present for their love and support over the years, as the congregation continues to minister to God's people in the spirit of Fr. d'Alzon. Following the Mass, the community and guests continued the celebration by sharing time together and a delicious brunch which nourished hearts and souls, as well as bodies. In the name of all present, Fr. Dennis thanked Fr. Claude Grenache, A.A., Chair of the Planning Committee, and all who worked so hard with him in bringing to fruition this most significant and graced event. The afternoon ended with more than a few guests expressing the hope that such a gathering as this might become an annual event.