I am Joseph Kakule Munduvuyira. I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC), August 14, 1978.

My parents are Ferdinand Muhindo Muhuwo and Madeleine Kahambu Muhiwa. They are Christians. I come from Mbau, a small village in the Eastern part of the DRC. I am a native of an Assumptionist Parish. Thus, I knew the Assumptionist family since I was young.

Katherine Vachawski ‘14 Will Conduct Research on Catholicism and National Identity Formation in Lithuania.

Assumption College alumna Katherine Vachawski ’14 of Coventry, R.I., has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarship. Vachawski will conduct research in Lithuania during the 2014-2015 academic year on how and whether the shared experience of Catholicism works to integrate the Polish community in Vilnius, Lithuania.

“Katherine Vachawski represents the best of an Assumption College education and embodies the finest qualities of a Fulbright Scholar,” said Assumption College President Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D., a former Fulbright Scholar himself. “The Assumption community is proud of her commitment to intellectual growth and cultural awareness. Katherine wants to make a difference in our world, and the Fulbright scholarship provides her the opportunity to contribute to discovering solutions to shared international concerns.”

On the Feast of Saint Augustine, August 28^th, 2014, five novices from four continents and two provinces professed their first vows in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Assumption College in Worcester, MA. The Most rev. Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester, presided at the Eucharistic celebration. Fr. Jose Miguel Diaz Ayllon, A.A., Provincial of North America and the Philippines and Fr. Juan Carlos Cisterna, A.A., Provincial of Chile-Argentina were concelebrants.

I had an opportunity to go back to visit my home country, Vietnam during 2014’s summer. It was good for me to be back after many years away from home and also it was a great time for me to be allowed to do my apostolate work during summer there. Although I was born and grew up in Saigon, when I came back, I realized that things have changed a lot since I was away from the city. I spent three weeks with my family. During that time, I just paid some visits to the altar-servers in the parish by joining with them in their weekly meetings. I was asked by them to give a short sharing of the Gospel in their meeting, because I was actually the one who initiated it when I was in charge of them, and that custom has been keeping up to the present.