October marked the end of a yearlong, worldwide commemoration of the bicentennial of the birth of Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon, founder of the Augustinians of the Assumption. The College has joined the Assumptionists in celebrating this important anniversary in a variety of ways – liturgical celebrations, an academic conference, the publication of two volumes focusing on d’Alzon’s view of education and a pilgrimage, “In the Footsteps of Fr. d’Alzon,” to Paris, Nimes and Rome last May. Each of these events has given us an opportunity to come to a better appreciation of the man whose vision continues to inspire the mission of the College. The founding of Assumption College in 1904 realized Fr. d’Alzon’s dream of establishing a Catholic university that would be known for its excellence. For Fr. d’Alzon, education was a mission with one goal – to bring Christ into the lives and hearts of students, hence the motto of Assumption College, “…until Christ be formed in you.”

To celebrate the life and vision of this extraordinary nineteenth-century spiritual figure to whom we owe our existence, the College commissioned a sculpture of Fr. d’Alzon in conversation with two contemporary students. The life-size sculpture was installed in the plaza in front of the d’Alzon Library and was dedicated during Homecoming/ Family Weekend on October 23. Sr. Margaret Beaudette, a Sister of Charity from Mt. St. Vincent College in New York, and a well-known sculptor, was present for the installation and dedication of her work. The sculpture has brought a new aesthetic to our campus that is as magnificent as it is meaningful. More importantly, we now have a visible reminder of the great vision of Fr. d’Alzon and the transformative power of an Assumption education as we open the minds of our students to the truth and prepare them for a meaningful life and a successful career.

This year has given us many opportunities to revisit our history and look to our future. With the continued hard work and dedication of our faculty, administration, and staff, Assumption will remain a strong institution that provides our students with a distinctive educational experience.