Enduring Values, New Opportunities
Campus Ministry has seen some bittersweet changes recently, as longtime director Deacon Paul Covino has decided to retire and begin a new mission, and as we have welcomed new director Luis Melgar to our community. We are sad to see Paul go after 11 years of dedicated service to Assumption, but we are excited for the future that Luis will help usher in.
Paul’s service to the worshiping communities in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, already strengthened by his academic background in liturgy, was further enhanced by his ordination as a deacon not long after his arrival. His wide-ranging efforts, always in view of the deepest well-being of our students, included program and staff development, faith formation, and outreach to those of other religious traditions. Paul was especially keen on providing opportunities to serve those who are marginalized, including through several recent SEND programs connected to the migrant ministry in El Paso, Texas.
In Paul’s new mission, he and his wife Anne will continue the service Paul did on those SEND trips. Paul and Anne have traveled together to Chaparral, New Mexico to assist with the Religious of the Assumption’s ministry to recent immigrants.
Our SEND trips to El Paso and Chaparral will continue, with the next one scheduled for May 2026. For those who may not be aware, these trips now include both faculty and students, giving even more members of the community the opportunity to truly live the mission.
Additionally, in partnership with Rostro de Cristo, a new SEND trip to the Dominican Republic will be held during spring break, focusing on participants being immersed in and alongside the local community rather than on doing service for them, helping to develop a greater understanding of the realities of these communities through visits and dialogue. We are excited for this new, immersive experience, and for the new ideas that our campus ministry team, headed by Luis, will bring to our entire campus. Luis has come to Assumption with an uncommon understanding of and appreciation for the contemporary challenges faced by young people. Moved by a clear desire to bring students closer to God, Luis’ genuine and joyful presence will surely be a gift to our community.
Luis himself is also no stranger to Catholic liberal arts education, with 15 years of experience in Jesuit Catholic education, first at the University of Scranton for his undergraduate degree and then at Boston College for his graduate degree in divinity. He comes to us from Boston College High School, where he was most recently a theology teacher.
Luis already has big plans for campus ministry at Assumption, including new experiences to help students deepen and engage with their spirituality. One such example, the Emmaus Hiking Retreat, invited students to disconnect from daily life and hike together while sharing reflections on life and faith.
We are excited about the future of Assumption’s campus ministry. We extend a warm welcome to Luis and bless the work he will do with and for us.