Spiritual Growth at Assumption
Assumption invites students to develop and deepen a longing for God. Whether just beginning their spiritual journey or having walked the road of faith for some time, students find many opportunities for spiritual growth on campus including retreats, spiritual direction with a campus minister, Bible study, men’s and women’s discussion groups, Christian Initiation, and presentations on integrating faith in one’s life.
Retreats
Whether an hour or a day on campus or a full weekend off campus, retreats provide students with a chance to take a break from their usual routine to deepen their understanding of, and relationship with, God while growing in community. First-year students are invited to participate in an on-campus retreat that focuses on their desires and goals for their first year of college. Short retreat sessions are offered throughout the academic year before Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday evenings. A weekend retreat with students from Assumption and other local colleges and universities is offered in February at Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, Connecticut. Retreats are also offered for student athletes, for seniors, and during Holy Week. For more information, contact Brother Elmer Vergara, A.A.
Other Opportunities for Spiritual Growth and Development
- Spiritual Direction: Spiritual direction is “help given by one Christian to another which enables that person to pay attention to God’s personal communication to him or her, to respond to this personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with this God, and to live out the consequences of the relationship (William A. Barry and William J. Connolly, The Practice of Spiritual Direction). Several of the campus ministers, Assumptionist priests and brothers and Religious of the Assumption sisters on campus are available to meet with students for spiritual direction. The first step is a conversation to determine what you are seeking from spiritual direction and to explore the “right fit” for a particular spiritual director who can accompany and support you. For more information, contact Brother Elmer Vergara, A.A.
- Christian Initiation: Campus Ministry offers formation for unbaptized students who are interested in the sacraments of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist), for baptized Catholic students who have not received Confirmation and/or Eucharist, and for students baptized in another Christian denomination who are interested in being received into the full communion of the Catholic Church. Contact Sandy Bousquet to be connected to the appropriate campus minister.
- Bible Study: Join a member of the Campus Ministry staff and fellow classmates to dig deeper into the meaning of the Bible in a conversational setting. No previous experience with the Bible is needed. Contact Scott Brill for more information.
- Fireside Chats: In collaboration with other offices on campus, Campus Ministry co-sponsors occasional conversations in Pierre’s Pub about issues related to spiritual development, meaning, and purpose. Contact Una Murphy for more information.
- Grief Support and Pastoral Counseling: Campus ministers reach out to students who have experienced the death of a family member or friend and offer support for students who are going through the process of grief. Campus ministers are also available to meet individually with students seeking a safe, supportive, and confidential setting to discuss problems or struggles that may arise in their daily lives.”
- Residential Hall Ministry: Four members of the Campus Ministry team live in apartments among students as Ministers in Residence in Alumni, Salisbury, and Wachusett halls. They support students living on campus through hospitality, pastoral care, and spiritual development. Complementing the Minister in Residence in Alumni Hall are two students who live among first-year students in Desautels Hall as Resident Peer Ministers and who encourage spiritual development through hospitality, relationship building, and accompaniment.
- Athletic Team Chaplains: Members of the Campus Ministry staff and members of the Assumptionist community serve as chaplains for some of the University’s athletic teams. They develop relationships with the student athletes on the team by their presence at games and practices, pray with the team before games, and are available for spiritual support and confidential pastoral counseling.