Dear brothers and sisters in the Assumption family:
When Archbishop-Elect Henning of Boston was asked about the affection he has for the diocese of Providence of which he has been in charge just for one year, he said, “as a priest, your first assignment—your first parish—is your first love. And that is the way I feel about Providence.” “I hope it’s always going to be a place where I can go back and visit.” Appointed as auxiliary bishop of Rockville Center (New York) in 2018, Richard Henning became bishop of Providence in May 2023. Thus, Providence is his first assignment as a bishop and his first love.
Earlier this month, we celebrated the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Like Peter in the Gospel chosen for this feast, we attempt to remain in a glorious moment and say, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here!” (Mark 9:5) This way of thinking prevents us from making progress in our spiritual journey. Indeed, far from preserving our peak experience like an enduring feeling as Peter was tempted to do, we need to consider it as a touchstone to which we may return at different stages of our lives. Our peak experience gives meaning and direction to our spiritual journey without being its constant companion.
In the second reading for the feast of the Assumption of Mary, Saint Paul talks about Christ as the first fruits since he is the first person being raised from the dead by God (1 Corinthians 15:20-27). As God-bearer, Mary took part in this privilege. In the company of Mary, the “first on the way,” we, too, can share the same grace in a fruitful harvest. Unlike Peter, Mary, in the Gospel for the feast of the Assumption, did not want to remain in a gracious moment (Luke 1:39-56). She took it as a starting point of her love story with God. For her, everything was dynamic and nothing static. After the encounter with Gabriel, she moved at full speed from one place to another place to share with her cousin the joy she had received. Mary acted as if this joy was not fulfilled until it was shared with the other. She acted as if her joy of being the mother of God was not fulfilled until she joined Elizabeth in her joy of being the mother of man. It is through an encounter that this double joy becomes perfect. Divine joy and human joy embrace each other.
While celebrating the patronal feast of our Congregation, we are invited to go back to our first love for Assumption in order to see the foundation of our vocation again. What is your first story with Assumption? What is your love story with Assumption? Share it with your community and friends. Why did you choose Assumption in the first place? How did this choice make a difference in your life journey? How did this first love help you overcome the difficulties you encountered along the
way? For us, Assumption is not just a name or a place. Assumption is our first love. Once Assumptionists always Assumptionists! Happy feast day to all of you!
Chi Ai Nguyen, A.A.
Provincial of North America
