“We’re happy to see that the first draft of our project includes many of the options taken by the General Chapter.” While making this observation, the Assumptionists of the Province, gathered in Mexico City for a four-day “Chapter of Application”, also recognized the additional challenges that the General Chapter had presented to the entire Congregation, such as the need to take the Mission among Orthodox Christians and in Eastern Europe seriously and the call to conversion at all levels.

More than twenty religious and lay people, speaking three different languages but managing to understand each other, have gathered for a four day Chapter, from January fourth to the seventh, to review the decisions of the General Chapter and their own Regional and Provincial projects. Father Richard Lamoureux, Superior General, attended the session and offered his own reflections on the work of the General Chapter and the priorities it had decided on for the entire Congregation.

The work of this Chapter is to determine what will be its major emphasis for the six years to come. Acknowledging that its resources are limited in all three Regions that make up the Province, the capitulants will focus their energies in areas they consider to be most important at this time of their history and in light of the needs that they are confronting. Even before the work is finished, it seems clear that re-invigorating the common life will be a major investment in the years to come. Strong apostolic communities in themselves evangelize, and only this kind of community attracts possible religious vocations and additional lay associates.