Very dear Sisters and Friends,
I wish you a Happy Anniversary on this Foundation Day!
It gives me immense joy to write the editorial for the maiden issue of #Assumpta which will be released on our 181st foundation day, the 30th of April 2020. The congregation has traveled one hundred and eighty-one years with many ups and downs. We thank God for the gift of Saint Marie Eugenie and the rich charism that we have received from her as a congregation. The celebration of the foundation day invites us to return to our sources and reminds us of both our humble beginnings, and of the fundamental convictions of Saint Marie Eugenie such as: "Everything comes from Jesus Christ. Everything belongs to Jesus Christ. Everything is for Jesus Christ” and “Each one of us has a mission on earth.” Each anniversary is a golden opportunity for us to deepen our charism and to witness to it in a creative and meaningful way for our times.
We had Partage Auteuil for many years, until it was discontinued in 2011. I am glad that we can resume this sharing of the news and stories of the Assumption family and circulate its life and dynamism in the congregation and in our respective local churches. As we share our stories, the message of Pope Francis for the 54th World Communication Day, published on 24th January 2020, is very insightful, giving us a wider orientation and clearer focus:
I believe that, so as not to lose our bearings, we need to make our own the truth contained in good stories. Stories that build up, not tear down; stories that help us rediscover our roots and the strength needed to move forward together. Amid the cacophony of voices and messages that surround us, we need a human story that can speak of ourselves and of the beauty all around us. A narrative that can regard our world and its happenings with a tender gaze. A narrative that can tell us that we are part of a living and interconnected tapestry. A narrative that can reveal the interweaving of the threads which connect us to one another.
In response to the call of the General Chapter 2018, to “make life circulate among ourselves and in the world beyond the Assumption", the general community asked Sister Mercedes Méndez and her communication team to undertake this important and challenging mission. I thank them for their prompt response and whole-hearted commitment carried out with great zeal and creativity. I also congratulate and thank all those who have contributed to this first issue.
Let us share our stories and enrich the lives of one another. It is my hope that our stories help us become closer to God, more connected to people and committed to our mission of extending God’s Kingdom on earth!
I wish you good fortune and God’s choicest blessings upon all – publishers, editors, writers and readers!
Rekha M Chennattu, RA
Superior General