Assumption aims to educate mind, heart

By Tanya Connor

WORCESTER – Assumption College freshmen and transfer students were told of God’s love and urged to place themselves before him, study well and live right Monday at the school’s first matriculation ceremony.

“Matriculation literally is an invitation to become part of a group,” Mary Beadle, the new provost, told the Class of 2011 in her welcome. She spoke of English universities welcoming new students who are entered into the register (in Latin matricula).

Catherine WoodBrooks, vice president for student affairs, called senior student leaders to distribute crosses to the Class of 2011, “in the spirit of mentoring, welcoming and caring.”

The crosses bear the college’s motto, “…until Christ be formed in you.” The wallet-sized card accompanying them says: “This cross speaks of God’s love for the world and for each of his sons and daughters. It speaks, too, of an Assumption education, an education of the mind and heart which transforms those who give themselves to it. May the promise of this education be realized in you.”

“This message and your cross will remind you that you are a member of Assumption College, a Catholic college whose members treat each other with respect and act with integrity,” Ms. WoodBrooks said. “As you accept membership into the college community, you accept the principles and values that guide all of our work. We expect nothing less than honesty, your best effort in your academics and behavior that reflects high moral standards, remembering that we are called to glorify God in all we do and be Christ-like in our behavior.”

As crosses were distributed, the Assumption College Chorale, directed by Michelle Graveline, sang about letting one’s light shine.

Father Dennis Gallagher, the college’s vice president for mission and regional superior of the Augustinians of the Assumption, said this cross is used by Assumptionists and will connect students to the spirit of Assumption. He urged them to wear it, not consider it “uncool” to do so.

The cross is a reminder of how precious each person is to God, who loved them so much he laid down his life for them, he said. The cross can remind students of this when they think they are not important, even to the point of abusing the gifts given to them, he suggested.

Its horizontal arms indicate God’s wide embrace of the human community, and solidarity with its suffering members, he said. An Assumption education does not simply intend to fill students’ minds with facts, but also to widen their sensibilities, so that they can see more clearly those in need, he said.

Explaining the vertical beam, he quoted St. Augustine, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, O God.” All human desires are an expression of that deepest longing – for God – he said, and added that he prays students discover God’s longing for them.

“Our goal is to provide you with an education that is both formative and transformative,” Francesco Cesareo, the college’s new president, said. “We seek to foster here a climate where intellectually curious students recognize that the right question is sometimes more valuable than an easy answer … where one is not afraid of challenge … and where true learning means stretching your heart and soul as well as your mind.

“One of the goals of an education is to prepare leaders who will become responsible citizens and agents of change and renewal. Responsible citizenship means attention to public policy and its implications for the life and well being of all persons. … It means careful attention to the sacredness and dignity of all persons from the unborn child to the inmate on death row to the dying elderly, rooted in a religious vision that all persons are created in God’s image. It means social responsibility to the poor, the marginalized, and dispossessed. In other words, the liberals arts should set us free from a selfish preoccupation with only our concerns and motivate us to selfless service to others. This reflects the vision of Father Emmanuel d’Alzon, founder of the Assumptionists, who stated that ‘a person needs all the resources of an intelligence and a heart transformed by Christianity.’”

President Cesareo told students they will explore questions that recognize the role of faith and reason in the search for truth and urged them, “In the course of your studies place yourself before God, desirous of being fully available to him.” He told them their studies must take priority.

Frederick Bayon, chairman of the board of trustees and a member of the Class of 1965, told the students about growth in student numbers and facilities since he was a student there.

Assumption is still a Catholic institution that will, in Pope John Paul II’s words, “train you to think vigorously, so as to act rightly and thus serve humanity better,” he said. He said students will learn what an Assumptionist, Catholic, liberal arts education is.

“You will study many disciplines ... you will learn that there is a unity to all knowledge. Truth is one and, regardless of discipline, scholars pursue the same truth,” Mr. Bayon said.

He urged them to focus on who they are, not just what they have and keep the college alive among family and friends and in their jobs after they graduate.

“It was awesome having the whole freshman class together,” freshman Gaetano Giambrocco said afterwards.

“I liked it because, like, we were spiritually, like, united,” said his classmate Zach Jacques. “I went to a Catholic high school (St. John’s in Shrewsbury) so it brought back memories.”

“I felt like they welcomed everybody,” said freshman Jamie Marrone. “It was a nice start to the school year to meet all the administration.”