Who are we?

The Adveniat Youth Hostel, where you will be staying, is run by a Catholic religious congregation known as the Augustinians of the Assumption (Assumptionists). There is an Assumptionist religious community living on site where brothers share a spiritual and fraternal life. By their religious profession and out of love of Jesus Christ, they have made the choice of responding to God’s call and dedicating their whole lives to Him.
Our goal is not to offer you a simple hotel experience. For us, the Adveniat Youth Hostel is a place that should allow everyone of you to have a profound experience of getting to know each other. We mean a real encounter which presupposes that one is interested in the lives of those one meets. We will look for every means possible to facilitate such an encounter while you’re here.
For us, the division among Christians is a deep wound. That’s why we have invited Christians of other Churches to help us in running the hostel. Our Christian faith leads us to see the face of Christ in every man and woman we meet and we are convinced that this vision makes our lives more beautiful and freer. Our faith rouses us to love the world of the 21st century and to offer it the joy which the life of Christ brings day in and day out. If you would like, we would be happy to talk to you about this faith.

The Assumptionists:

It was Fr. Emmanuel d’ALZON who founded the Congregation of the Assumptionists in Nîmes in the 19th century.
This founder studied in Paris and one of his first communities was established in the capital. Fr. Emmanuel d’ALZON wanted a religious family that was at once modern and rooted in Tradition; that is to say, one sensitive to the great causes of God and of Man, in both ethical and social matters. The vocation of the Assumptionists flows from their motto taken from the Lord’s Prayer, the “Our Father,” “Thy Kingdom Come” (Adveniat Regnum Tuum).
His religious are present on five continents. Heirs of Saint Augustine, they carry out their faith, their prayer, and their work in community following a Rule of Life. Together they are called to face three great challenges: understanding the faith, exclusion, and injustice.
The Assumptionists have a long history of educating and forming individuals. They are priests in parishes, teachers, missionaries, pilgrimage leaders, campus ministers, hospital chaplains, prison chaplains, and journalists. From the beginning they have accompanied young people in their intellectual and spiritual development whether in academic institutions or student residences.
The activities of the Assumptionists go from theological research to far-off mission work, not to mention a real concern for the Eastern Churches and ecumenical dialogue. Two other priorities include working to increase vocations for the Church and communicating the message of Christ through social action and the media.
In addition, the Assumptionists founded the Bayard publication house which publishes a daily newspaper, numerous magazines, journals, and books. In collaboration with many lay-people, it continues to oversee its development.