The strength of Christian charity is to be able to love those whom we judge to be impossible to live with and who, in turn, consider us impossible to live with as well. - Emmanuel d'Alzon
Bro. Ryan Carlsen, A.A., a member of the formation community at Pavel House in Brighton, MA, graduated from The Theological Institute at St. John’s Seminary on Tuesday, May 17th, 2016, with a degree of Master of Theological Studies.
While a student at the Institute, Bro. Ryan had been active in music ministry in his local community as well as serving at the Holy Trinity Nursing Home in Worcester. He is grateful to the Assumptionists for providing the opportunity to study and he looks forward to continuing his studies at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline.
On Pentecost Sunday, May 15, 2016, family, friends, Lay Assumptionists and the greater Assumptionist community of priests and brothers gathered in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Assumption College to celebrate Fr. Claude’s 50th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. Concelebrants included Very Rev. Miguel Diaz Allon, AA, Provincial Superior, Rev. Peter Precourt, AA, Delegate of the Provincial, priest friends and community members. Among the guests in attendance were classmates from Assumption Prep and Fr. Claude’s college days at Assumption.
In his homily, Fr. Claude preached passionately on the Solemnity of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. As did the apostles, in coming together with their diversity and limitations in the upper room and then their miraculous ability to go out and preach to peoples of all languages and cultures after the power of the Holy Spirit came in wind and fire, so we, too, are called through our Baptism to bear witness to Jesus and his gospel in our daily lives. He concluded by expressing his heartfelt gratitude to his family, friends and brother Assumptionists for their support and prayers over the years. Of particular significance to Fr. Claude was the quote found in the liturgical aide from 1 Corinthians 15:10, “By the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective.”
Each summer, Assumption College invites students to develop proposals to receive grants that enable them to explore a particular vocation or to conduct academic research. This summer, Global Studies major Sarah Clancy ’18, of Dedham, MA, will use her High Impact Summer Grant to work closely with immigrants and their children while attaining a better understanding of God’s calling for her in Chaparral, New Mexico.
While in Chaparral, Clancy will work with the Religious Sisters of Assumption as an Assumption Mission Associate (AMA), serving as a leader of a summer camp for children of immigrants. Over the years, the Sisters have built a bond of trust with the local people, which has allowed them to help the immigrant community in many different ways. A cornerstone of the mission is the educational and recreational programs offered to children and youth, with an eye to helping them develop leadership skills and a culture of community service. During the summer, the Sisters will welcome groups from other parts of the country and Mexico for three or four weeks of camps; in addition to all the fun, these groups get a chance to learn about the realities of life on the border (Chaparral is located near the U.S. and Mexico border).
April 30, 2016, on the 177th year anniversary of the Foundation of the Religious of the Assumption, the sisters of the US province gathered at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Assumption College not only to celebrate the anniversary of their foundation but also to witness the First Vows of Sr. Akeneta, their first vocation from Fiji Islands. Gathered around her were her relatives who came all the way from California, the Assumption family, past and present AMA volunteers, and the friends of the Assumption. Indeed "Purple Reigns!", We were there to celebrate it!
