- Would you share with us a bit of your family background and education?

– I was born in St. Petersburg, Florida into a Methodist family. From an early age I was active in my church and really got more involved in their youth program as I grew older. When it came time for me to decide on a college, I attended Washington/Lee in Virginia. It was there and through the influence of a biology teacher that I began my journey toward Catholicism.

Finding a moment in Elizabeth and Thierry’s calendar is a real challenge. Little Adele is almost four. Elizabeth works as a social assistant in a large establishment for persons with multiple handicaps. Thierry is an engineer with the French branch of a Japanese company.  Still, they manage a few evenings and some weekends for the numerous commitments for the Assumption.  Recently, they accepted further responsibilities in the Religious-Lay Alliance in the Congregation.

The Assumption has been part of the life of this little family for some time.  “I met my husband at the World Youth Day in Paris in 1997,” says Elizabeth.  “I played the oboe and Thierry was translating a skit prepared by the Assumption contingency for the Youth Festival.”  But Elizabeth is familiar with the Congregation since childhood.  Her parents are members of the Assumptionist Parish in Montpellier and several of her summers were spent in camps and other activities organized by the Assumptionists in France.  She even came to New York on one of those summer projects.  “Little by little I became involved in the Liturgy where I met several Assumptionists.  This was very enriching and engendered many precious friendships.”

On the day following his graduation, Bro.Ron Sibugan, A.A. was conferred the Minor Orders of Lector and Acolyte at the community’s daily Mass by Fr. Miguel Diaz-Ayllon, A.A., provincial of the North American and Philippine Delegation of the Assumptionists, at the Center in Brighton, MA. May the Lord continue to bless Bro. Ron on his faith journey of proclaiming God’s Kingdom as an Assumptionist!

As colleges and universities around New England, the country and world honor their recent graduates, here at the Assumptionist Center in Brighton, MA we have four special reasons to celebrate. During graduation ceremonies this week, Fr. Patrick Bridgman, our resident from New Zealand, received his Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Mr. Dan Finucane, our resident from St. Louis,  Missouri, received his Masters in Theological Studies and Bro. Ron Sibugan, A.A., our Assumptionist brother, received a Masters in Divinity, all from Boston College. A few days later, Mr. Alex McKinley was granted a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard University. It is with great pride that we congratulate Patrick, Dan, Ron and Alex on their significant academic and pastoral achievements!