From the very beginning of the Congregation, our Holy Mother Marie-Eugénie of Jesus envisioned collaboration and sharing between lay people and Religious Sisters to carry out the work she had undertaken. Today, more than ever, this is a reality: several lay people commit themselves to living in collaboration with the Religious of the Assumption. The names have varied over time: Friends of the Assumption, collaborators… today, we speak of “Assumption Together”, that is, lay people and Sisters together for one same passion, one same charism.
“Assumption Together” is therefore a fraternity composed of Sisters of the Assumption and lay people who, attracted by the life of Saint Mother Marie-Eugénie of Jesus and following her, wish to live the spirituality and charism of the Religious of the Assumption.
The Fraternity of Koudougou in Burkina Faso, in the Province of West Africa, was born in 1994. The members share fellowship through daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, formation sessions, retreats during the major seasons of the Church, as well as the sharing of the Word of God in the families of the members. By visiting the families of the members, people in the neighbourhoods are delighted to see lay people and Sisters together, in homes, simply sharing the Word of God and the joy of being together; it is a living testimony of our faith in the Risen Christ!
It is within this fraternity of Koudougou that Mr. Apollinaire TOHOUMO, after having immersed himself in the “way of life”, which is the charter of the Friends of the Assumption, decided to commit himself as an Assumption lay person on 30 April 2026, when the entire Congregation celebrated the anniversary of the foundation. He was surrounded by the community, the members of the fraternity, as well as collaborators in the educational work. During the Eucharistic celebration, Mr. Apollinaire received the cross of the Assumption lay people as a sign of his commitment, the “way of life” as a sign of confirmation of the path already travelled and of the remaining journey to continue to live and love Jesus Christ, to make Him known and loved.
We wish that, following the example of Mr. Apollinaire, other lay people may commit themselves to living the “way of life” and working with the Religious of the Assumption in the mission of transformative education.
“Assumption Together: a charism for the Church and for the world”!
Sister Marie-Madeleine AGONOU R.A