WORCESTER, MA (February 6, 2017) —Assumption College Associate Professor of Spanish Esteban Loustaunau, Ph.D., has been selected among a number of professors from throughout the country to participate in a Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) summer seminar on Teaching Vocational Exploration. The seminar will provide valuable information to enhance the College’s Sophomore Initiative at Assumption (SOPHIA) Program.

Assumption’s SOPHIA Program is designed to help students discover a deeper connection between their spiritual, personal and professional lives by combining residential, academic and travel opportunities under the guidance of four dedicated faculty mentors. SOPHIA strives to foster a culture of vocational exploration at Assumption College that will help students pursue productive lives of meaning. As director of SOPHIA, Professor Loustaunau teaches students and also assists faculty members who serve as small-group mentors to students in the program.

In 2009 the Assumptionists, under the leadership of Fr. Jean-Paul Sagadou, launched a new and ambitious initiative, called African Integration Trips (AIT). African Integration Tours are organized by the Youth Network for African Integration (YNAI) and are tours of inter-African cultural discovery. The main objective is to transmit to African and Afro-descendant youth the ideal of a plural, integrated and united Africa, in its religious, cultural and political aspects. The AITs have a strong educative and civil dimension. Every year, a tour tackles a specific theme and proposes to participants: training, workshops and conferences that include history, economics, entrepreneurship, the arts, humanities, etc.

Written by Cori Fugere Urban
Published in Diocesan /Vermont Catholic Magazine
Photo by Cori Fugere Urban/Vermont Catholic

Two men were ordained to the diaconate Feb. 11 at the Chapel of St. Michael the Archangel on the campus of St. Michael’s College in Colchester: one to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Burlington and one to the transitional diaconate as he prepares for priestly ordination as a member of the Society of St. Edmund, the order that founded the college.

Burlington Bishop Christopher J. Coyne ordained Philip J. Lawson to the permanent diaconate and Edmundite Brother Michael R. Carter to the transitional diaconate.

“Today, in this church, two roads are about to diverge: one road moving forward into the transitional diaconate, the witness of celibacy, and -- all things being equal -– ordination to the priesthood as a member of the Edmundite religious order, and the other road leading into the permanent diaconate, a continuing witness to the sacrament of marriage and the gift of family,” Bishop Coyne said in his homily after reading from “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost.

On January 16^th, 2017, a dream became a reality for the Assumptionists of the East African Region. After years of planning and recruiting, the doors of the new Assumption High School for Boys and Girls opened its doors. Rooms were being painted, floors swept, classrooms and kitchen equipped, security gates put in the place, books and offices arranged, shrubbery planted, blackboards installed right up until the last minute.

The school is located within the boundaries of the Assumptionist parish of St. Monica on the way to Nairobi’s international airport, and more specifically in the Katwa neighborhood where the Assumptionists maintain an outstation and the house for postulants. Fr. Ignatius SILIOLIO MATONGWA, who completed his M.A. in educational administration, has been named headmaster and Fr. Benard ODHIAMBO YALA the school’s treasurer. Both attended the Assumptionist international education congress. They expressed their gratitude for this gathering which helped them to understand better the fundamental characteristics of an education inspired by the educational vision of the Assumptionist founder, Venerable Emmanuel d’Alzon.

The Assumptionists run high schools, universities, and language centers on five continents, in ten countries.

The first of this semester’s “Conversation’s at the Center” in Brighton addressed the topic of “Encountering Immigrants as Our Siblings in Christ.” The presenter was Danielle Huntley who shared her work with immigrants through the dual lens of being a professional lawyer and as a Catholic. A Lay Assumptionist, Danielle is the Principal of Huntley Inc., a full service immigration law firm in Boston.  In her presentation, Danielle masterfully led us through the complexities of this timely and complex specialty of immigration law. She successfully relieved the anxieties of many in our diverse community of religious, residents and invited guests and sees her work as living out the corporal work of mercy of receiving the stranger.  After fielding many questions, the animated discussions carried into the dining room and the sharing of a delicious brunch.

With the theme, “Virgin of Lourdes, watch over our country and bring us to  Jesus”,
the annual shrine novena began on Thursday, February 2,  2017,
in preparation of the 159^th anniversary of Our Lady’s appearance to Bernardette Soubirous.

On Saturday, February 4, 2017, about 50 singers gathered at the shrine to mark the 40^th Vigil of “Singing God’s Praises”, a celebration that has given thousands of people an opportunity to know, appreciate, and understand this beautiful tradition that has provided an effective evangelization of the Central Region of Chile, although its effects have been felt from north to south of the country.

Fr. Julio Navarro, former vicar general of the Assumptionists now residing in Santiago, presided at the Eucharist for this group of singers and in his homily pointed out, “You have come to sing to the Virgin not in your name only, but in the name of your families, your neighbors and friends. In fact, you come to the Virgin in the name of the entire People of God in Chile, in the name of the whole Church. You represent many --- all those who have a devotion to the Virgin”.

Assumption Joins Yale University, Villanova University and the University of Michigan in Recognition for Efforts to Create a Culture of Life on Campus

WORCESTER, MA (February 6, 2017)— Assumption College has announced that one of its student organizations—whose purpose is to educate, pray, advocate and act on issues related to the dignity of human life at all stages—was awarded a prestigious award recognizing their steadfast efforts to foster a campus climate that respects the sanctity of life. The award includes $1,000 to enhance their outreach efforts.

The student club, Advocates for Life, was awarded the Rev. Thomas King, S.J. Award from the Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life. The group meets each week when school is in session to plan efforts that educate the campus community on pro-life matters.  In collaboration with Assumption College’s Office of Campus Ministry, Advocates for Life co-sponsors a number of on and off campus efforts to educate the community about life issues and provide for those in need.

Posted by ZENIT Staff on 30 January, 2017

Here is the Vatican-provided translation of Pope Francis’ address to participants of the Plenary Assembly of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, on the theme: “Fidelity and perseverance: intertwined responsibilities” on Saturday morning in the Vatican:

Dear brothers and sisters,

It is for me a cause for joy to be able to receive you today, as you are gathered in the plenary session to reflect on the theme of faithfulness and abandonment. I greet the Cardinal Prefect and thank him for his words of presentation; and I greet you all, expressing my gratitude for your work in the service of the consecrated life of the Church.

by Jonathan Bishop

For Emmanuel d’Alzon, founder of the Assumptionists, education wasn’t merely about the memorization of important facts and the earning of grades.

It was about formation:  intellectual, moral, and spiritual.

After all, d’Alzon wanted to make sure human beings understood their purpose as creatures of God.

Members of the Assumptionists and the Assumption College community again learned about d’Alzon’s educational project at this year’s Assumption Day, which was held Jan. 13.

Much of the day consisted of reflections on the summer’s Education Congress, which brought Assumptionists and lay collaborators from all over the world to Assumption College, and also general thoughts on d’Alzon and education in the 21^st century. Speakers included Fr. Dennis Gallagher, vice president for mission, Fr. Richard Lamoureux, director of formation, and Dr. Louise Carroll Keeley, provost and vice president for academic affairs.