Instead of visiting the beaches of Florida or the Caribbean, nearly 80 Assumption College students have opted to volunteer during their upcoming spring breaks by performing acts of community service in cities and towns up and down the eastern seaboard.
This year, 2014, the Assumptionists of the Province of Africa have accepted responsibility for the administration of three parishes in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Assuming responsibility for the two parishes in Tanzania, Murugunturu in the diocese of Bunda, and Digodigo, in the archdiocese of Arusha, came in conjunction with the silver jubilee of the Assumptionist presence in East Africa and as a sign of the Congregation's commitment to serve the Church throughout the area. The first Assumptionist community was founded in Nairobi in 1988, a joint effort of three provinces of the time, the Congo (now part of the Province of Africa), England, and North America.
For our first ‘Conversations at the Center’ this semester, we were privileged to hear of three conversion stories of young men who live in the house here in Brighton. Sharing their faith journeys were Ian Parelius, a lay resident, Bro. Jonathan Adams, A.A., an Assumptionist novice studying at BC and recently professed Bro. Ryan Carlsen, A.A., also a student at BC.
(East London is a melting-pot of individuals from the four corners of the world. At the center of the Bethnal Green neighborhood is located the Assumptionist parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, which has been at the forefront of an effort to create a welcoming climate for all, no matter one’s religion, race, ethnic origin, economic status, or level of education. It has been and continues to be a long-term project.)
As he arrives at St. Elizabeth Elementary School, Fr. Tom O’Brien sets his umbrella down and begins to shake hands with the parents of some of the students, with teachers, and with members of the staff. Then he’s off at a brisk pace to the school’s gymnasium. On this gray Thursday afternoon, the Assumptionist pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bethnal Green will spend two hours with the school’s 300 students.….. some blonds, some brunettes, a few redheads; some Caucasian, some African, some Asian. Even a few veils can be seen. They are all waiting for Fr. Tom to celebrate Mass at the end of one hundred days of prayer for peace.
For our first ‘Conversations at the Center’ this semester, we were privileged to hear of three conversion stories of young men who live in the house here in Brighton. Sharing their faith journeys were Ian Parelius, a lay resident, Bro. Jonathan Adams, A.A., an Assumptionist novice studying at BC and recently professed Bro. Ryan Carlsen, A.A., also a student at BC.