Be an Assumptionist!
Basic Requirements:
We invite young men to share our passion for the Kingdom. If you are a college graduate or a young professional, willing to commit your life to the Assumptionist ideals, we welcome you.
The criteria for an Assumptionist? Aptitude and desire, but above all a passion to bring the message and wisdom of Jesus Christ to today’s world. As Emmanuel d’Alzon, founder of the Assumptionists, wrote: Our Lord said: “I have come to set a fire”. Whoever wants to join in the work of Jesus Christ must be ablaze with an immense love. That is the Apostle’s cry: “The love of Christ impels us”.
Vocation Ministry Activities:
- Mini-retreats and visits
Twice a year, a search-in retreat is organized in Antipolo, Cagayan de Oro and Antique for contacts who want to deepen their desire to follow Christ more closely and share their hopes, dreams and struggles. It is one way also to get to know Assumption, the spiritual legacy of Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon, our founder, and flesh out the ways to maintain a sense of prayer in their daily life. From time to time, the Vocation Ministry team visits the candidates to keep contact with them and up-date them on the life of the community.
- Discovery visit
One means for the contact to better know the community in its day-to-day life is the discovery visit, usually a week-long stay at the Adveniat community in Manila. They observe from inside what community life, daily prayer, chores and responsibilities really mean in the Augustinian spirit. It is also a time for personal dialogue and to evaluate the vocation journey of the person. The contact is sent back home to ponder his own ability to live this life and test the strength of his desire to join the community.
- Home visit
When we come to see that living a community experience would benefit the discernment for a possible vocation to religious life, visiting the family of the contact has proven necessary to better understand his background, his family story, his environment and his commitment in his home parish. It is also good for the parents and siblings to get familiar with the Assumption family.
- Summer work camp
Eventually, an invitation is extended to the contact to participate in a summer work camp whereby one can volunteer with other contacts in helping victims of natural disasters. As an example, in April 2008, such a camp is organized in Albay (Legaspi) to help build homes for the families who were victims of the typhoon of November 2006, when ashes of the slopes of Mount Mayon covered part of the village and destroyed their property. A similar camp was organized in 2009 in Piat (Cagayan Valley).
- Ten step program
In order to help the candidate discern his vocation, a series of questions is sent through e-mail covering ten aspects of his life: vocation story, family background, prayer life… It becomes a basis for on-line dialogue with a member of the Vocation Team.
- Staying in contact
All along the process of discernment, the best means to stay in contact is the regular e-mails and text messages; they help keeping up-dated on the activities and the life of everyone. Once in a while, a text is circulated or the Chronicles from Manila is sent.
Contact Details:
Address:
Galabert House: 11 Regidor St., Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Telephone Number (02) 990 1290
Vocation Director: Fr. Gilles Blouin, AA
email: gillesblouin46@yahoo.com
website: http://www.assumptionists.ph
THE ELLIS EXPERIENCE 