“The Solemnity of the Assumption is an important feast in the Church’s calendar, not only because it’s one of the greatest celebrations in honour of Our Lady, but because, in a sense, it is our feast as well.
Mary’s Assumption into Heaven is a sign of hope that we, too, are called to share one day in the glory of Heaven if, like Mary, we listen for God’s voice and faithfully respond to His will.
Dear Marian Helpers and Members of our Marian Family,
Some of my favourite memories from growing up are family celebrations. Christmas, birthdays, graduations, ordinations, other rites of passage or simply holidays spent with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents…these were happy and special days.
My family has never needed much of an excuse to celebrate; anything and everything served as an excuse to eat! There were plenty of occasions spent laughing together, enjoying one another’s company, and making memories that have stayed with me ever since.
As members of the Association of Marian Helpers, you are part of our Marian family, made up of millions of people around the world who support the work and mission of the Marian Fathers and share in the charism and spirituality of our community, especially through Marian devotion and praying for the souls in Purgatory.
And so, as part of our Marian family, there is much to celebrate!
August is a particularly joyful month for the Marian Fathers in the English-speaking world, as we celebrate many important milestones in the life of our community. We usually make our First Profession of Vows on 15 August, the Solemnity of the Assumption, when our brothers profess the three vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, entrusting themselves to God through the care of Our Lady.
During the days leading up to the Assumption, new men also enter the novitiate, the first stage of religious life. Many of our brothers have also made their Final Profession of Vows or been ordained to the priesthood around this great feast. In fact, this year we will celebrate five men making their First Profession of Vows, with another five entering the novitiate. If you ask me, that’s certainly something worth celebrating!
Please pray for these men and pray that the Lord will raise up others to serve Him and His people and, perhaps, that He will raise up men to be Marian Fathers in the British Isles, too.
The Solemnity of the Assumption is an important feast in the Church’s calendar, not only because it’s one of the greatest celebrations in honour of Our Lady, but because, in a sense, it is our feast as well. Mary’s Assumption into Heaven is a sign of hope that we, too, are called to share one day in the glory of Heaven if, like Mary, we listen for God’s voice and faithfully respond to His will.
In Mary, we see not only our mother, but also the first fruits of a life completely dedicated to Christ. Her Assumption reminds us that she now stands before her Son, praying for us and interceding on our behalf. What a wonderful consolation it is to know that we are never alone! The Mother of God, who is also our mother, continually brings our needs before her Son.
In preparation for this great feast of Our Lady and of the Church, we will once again be praying a novena during the nine days leading up to the Assumption. I warmly invite you to send us your intentions and to join us in prayer, asking Our Lady to wrap her mantle around us and all those we hold dear.
As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, if you are unable to make a donation, that is perfectly fine. We will always pray for you and your intentions, no matter what. As the Code of Canon Law reminds religious, our “first and foremost duty is the contemplation of divine things and assiduous union with God in prayer” (Can. 663, §1). That is our privilege and our promise to you.
As the Marian Fathers continue our ministry here in the United Kingdom, we are constantly reminded that God continues to call His people into new seasons of grace. Like Mary at the Annunciation, we are invited to listen carefully to His voice, trust in His Providence and respond generously wherever He leads. Sometimes that means stepping into the unknown, embracing new opportunities, making uncomfortable changes or finding new ways to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Yet when Christ is at the centre, we need not be afraid.
As Marian Helpers, you are an essential part of that mission. Thank you for your prayers, your generosity, and your support. Together, under the mantle of Our Lady, may we continue to proclaim God’s mercy, honour His Mother, pray for the souls in Purgatory, and look with hope towards all that He has prepared for us.
May God bless you now and always!
Fr Alex Pumphrey, MIC
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Contact Father Alex at info@divinemercy.org.uk
Please send us your prayer intentions! (click here). We will place them at the foot of our altar in the Divine Mercy Apostolate’s Chapel here in West Ealing, London and will remember them in our daily Chaplets of Divine Mercy
