Religious of the Assumption

Religious of the Assumption

Abbreviation	RA (Post-nominal initials)
Established	1839 (1839)
Founders	Saint Marie Eugénie Milleret
Founded at	Paris, France
Type	Centralized Religious Institute of Consecrated Life of Pontifical Right (for Women)
Purpose	To transform society through education
Headquarters	Mother House & Generalate: 17 rue de l'Assomption Paris, France
Region served	33 countries in Europe, Asia, Americas and Africa
Members	1200
Leader	Sr. Rekha M. Chennattu, RA
Parent organization	Roman Catholic
Website	http://assumpta.org/

Marie Eugénie de Jésus Milleret de Brou

The Religious of the Assumption, also known as the Sisters of the Assumption, is an international Catholic women's congregation founded by Saint Marie-Eugénie Milleret in 1839, and dedicated to the transformation of society through education.

Foundation

On 30 April 1839, under the guidance of Abbé Combalot, Anne-Eugénie Milleret de Brou (religious name Marie-Eugénie de Jésus) founded the congregation in Paris. Combalot was a well-known orator of the time, who had been inspired to dedicate a congregation to Our Lady of the Assumption during a pilgrimage. He instructed Marie-Eugénie and the first community for two years, before parting ways with them in 1841.

The congregation expanded quickly with new communities and schools founded in France and beyond: England (1850), Nîmes (1855), Bordeaux (1860), Lyon (1862), Spain (1865), Italy (1888), Rouen (1889), Nicaragua (1892), and the Philippines (1892). In 1857, the Mother House was established in Auteuil, a village on the outskirts of Paris.

Now at the head of a rapidly-growing congregation, Marie-Eugénie dedicated herself to the writing of Constitutions inspired by the Rule of St Augustine. In 1867, the congregation officially became an institute of pontifical right and in 1888, the final Constitutions were approved.

In 1894, Marie-Eugénie was relieved of her office as Superior. She died on 10 March 1898, was beatified on 9 February 1975 by Pope Paul VI, and canonized on 3 June 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Along with a white veil, the original habit of the sisters was purple with a white cross on the breast. Today, the habits vary across the continents, but all retain some dimension of the original purple (symbolic color of penitence) and white (symbolizing joy).

Present day

The Religious of the Assumption is a contemplative and apostolic congregation rooted in the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Their commitment to the Divine Office, Adoration, community life, and education enable them to respond to the challenges and calls of modern society. They are present in:

• Europe: Belgium, England, France, Italy, Lithuania, Spain
• Asia: India, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
• America: Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, United States
• Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Niger, Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo

With lay associates, the sisters live the mission of transformative education in a wide variety of forms: schools, formation centers, student hostels, spiritual retreats, pastoral ministry, and social work. The Assumption Mission Associates (AMA) is an affiliated organisation providing volunteer placements for young adults in one of the congregation's projects.

The Mother House and the Sanctuary of Saint Marie-Eugénie are located in Paris, at 17 rue de l'Assomption (16th arrondissement). The chapel, dedicated to Christ the Mediator, was constructed in 1961 by the architect Noël Le Maresquier and features stained glass panels by Maurice Max-Ingrand.

Superiors General

• Mother Marie-Eugénie de Jésus (1844-1894)
• Mother Marie-Célestine of the Good Shepherd (1894-1921)
• Mother Marie-Catherine de l'Enfant-Jésus (three months in 1921)
• Mother Marie-Joanna de l'Incarnation (1922-1953)
• Mother Marie-Denyse du Saint-Sacrement (1953-1970)
• Sister Hélène-Marie du Saint-Sacrement (1970-1982)
• Sister Clare Teresa Tjader (1982-1994)
• Sister Maria Cristina Gonzalez (1994-2006)
• Sister Diana Wauters (2006-2012)
• Sister Martine Tapsoba (2012-2018)
• Sister Rekha M. Chennattu (2018-present)

The Assumption family

The Assumption family is made up of five congregations with ties to Saint Marie-Eugénie and/or Father Emmanuel d'Alzon. With each their particular charism, they work for the extension of the Kingdom. Including the Religious of the Assumption, there are also:

• The Augustinians of the Assumption (Assumptionists), founded in 1845 by Emmanuel d'Alzon, Marie-Eugenie's spiritual director and great friend
• The Oblates of the Assumption, founded in 1865 by Marie Correnson and Emmanuel d'Alzon for the evangelisation of the East
• The Little Sisters of the Assumption, founded in 1865 by Antoinette Fage and the Assumptionist priest Etienne Pernet to serve the most disadvantaged
• The Orantes of the Assumption, founded in 1896 by Isabelle de Clermont-Tonnerre and the Assumptionist priest François Picard to pray for the works of the Assumption family

The Religious of the Assumption also have a particular relationship with the Missionary Sisters of the Assumption, who separated from them in 1853.

External links

• Religious of the Assumption - official website
• Bories, Sr Hélène-Marie (1993) - "Marie Eugénie Milleret, Foundress of the Religious of Assomption". Paris, Religious of the Assumption.
• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Sisters of the Assumption" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.