The AMA UPDATE. A Note from the Director. Note from the Director & Celebrating a Community Quinceañera! Meaghan s Reflection 2-3.

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April AMA Year 2015-2016 Assumption Mission Associates Inside this issue: Note from the Director & Celebrating a Community Quinceañera!

Marie Eugenie Quote of the Month: Try to allow the Spirit entrance everywhere, that He penetrate everything that He reign everywhere, enlighten everything, transform everything, lead all on the paths

In this issue, you ll read about the Quinceañera celebration of the Sister s presence on the US/Mexican Border.

1 April AMA Year Assumption Mission Associates Inside this issue: Note from the Director & Celebrating a Community Quinceañera! Meaghan s Reflection 1 AMA Pictures Associate Missionaries of the Assumption St. Marie Eugenie Quote of the Month: Try to allow the Spirit entrance everywhere, that He penetrate everything that He reign everywhere, enlighten everything, transform everything, lead all on the paths of eternity, on the paths to heaven. St. Marie Eugenie, MME, Chapter 13 April 1879 A Note from the Director Dear AMAs, Sisters, and AMA Families! Happy Easter! So much to share since our last newsletter that I will keep my message brief! As we celebrate new life during this Easter Season, it is with great joy that I share the new happenings and celebrations of life in the Assumption family! In this issue, you ll read about the Quinceañera celebration of the Sister s presence on the US/Mexican Border. Although this happened back in February, the last newsletter was published before the event, so we wanted to include it in this one! Next, Worcester AMA Meaghan Hickey shares about her life-giving work as an AMA and what work means to her. We also invite you to Sr. Akeneta s first vows later this month, on April 30th, the Foundation Day of the Assumption. And as always, this update has pictures and news from the AMAs. Happy reading! Michelle Sherman The AMA UPDATE Celebrating a Community Quinceañera! This story was originally published on February 22, 2016 at Visit the website for more news stories! The tradition of the Quinceañera, the celebration of a girl s fifteenth birthday, goes back a long way in Latin American culture; it s a big celebration, with a lot of food, music, dancing and fancy dresses, where a girl s family and friends gather to welcome her to the next stage of her life. The Quinceañera held [Feb. 13th] in Chaparral, NM, may have broken new ground; instead of one teenaged girl in a long party dress and new high heels celebrating her coming of age, four Assumption Sisters in their familiar purple and white (and sensible shoes) joined with the larger community of St. Thomas More church to rejoice over the fifteen years of Assumption presence and action in this little colonia near the U.S.-Mexico border. It was a time to remember, to be grateful, and to celebrate not just the fact that the Sisters have been there for those years, but even more important, that they live in and work among a community of people as generous and as welcoming as the people of Chapa. After a Mass celebrated by Bishop Emeritus Ricardo Ramirez (complete with music by the youth choir, 12 different offerings representing the 12 ministries that Sisters and parishioners participate in together, and a beautiful bouquet of red roses offered to Our Lady of Guadalupe after the Mass), everyone went over to the parish hall. The hall had been set up and decorated by the Youth Group of the parish, who also served the food all prepared and given by the members of the parish. Speeches, toasts, music, dancing and a great video montage filmed and edited by Maria Palacios, our AMA, left the Sisters of Chaparral -- Chabela, Diana, Evelyn and Maria Teresa all very happy and grateful. Here s to the next 15 years of Assumption life on the Border!

Page 2 The AMA Update AMA Year 2015-2016 Work Is... Meaghan s Reflection from Worcester, MA I find it hard to quickly and efficiently describe what an AMA is.

Although I teach ESL and although the mission of the Assumption Sisters focuses heavily on education, I am not a student.

AMAs live off of a stipend, and our hours can be relatively unpredictable. I usually answer by placing AMA in the other category: Oh, neither, actually. I m doing a postgrad year of service.

2 Page 2 The AMA Update AMA Year Work Is... Meaghan s Reflection from Worcester, MA I find it hard to quickly and efficiently describe what an AMA is. When people ask are you still in school, or, do you work? I never quite know how to respond. Although I teach ESL and although the mission of the Assumption Sisters focuses heavily on education, I am not a student. Most people consider work to be a typical 9-5 job with either a salary or an hourly wage. I suppose I wouldn t fall into that category, either. AMAs live off of a stipend, and our hours can be relatively unpredictable. I usually answer by placing AMA in the other category: Oh, neither, actually. I m doing a postgrad year of service. Although it cuts to the chase, this answer never quite satisfies me. My friends and family often refer to AMA as work. They will say things like what time do you have to be at work in the morning? or How was work today? For most of the year, I didn t think My work is too much of my daily life being referred to as work. But, then, I began to sharing myself completely reflect on what work really means. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines with the people around me. work as mental or physical activity as a means of earning income; employment. Indeed, most people associate work with employment. The connotation of the word, particularly in today s society, tends to suggest labor aimed at material or financial gain. Oftentimes, one associates work with competition, stress, or obligation. It can be seen as a means to reach the weekend, or a day off, where one can finally live freely. Society generally accepts such definitions of the word work. However, I do not. To describe my AMA responsibilities as work would drastically change the word s definition. My work is being a teacher, a mentor, and a friend. My work is getting the chills when I read my ESL students weekly journal entries. My work is learning the harsh realities and beautiful truths of the personal lives of my students. My work is playing card games at mentoring that become so intense, I end up with tears of laughter streaming down my face. My work is making bets with mentees that I can beat them in soccer, trying my hardest, and losing to them anyway. My work is picking up cereal at the Sisters house only to end up staying for an hour filled with tea and giggles. My work is listening to the funny, inspiring, or heartbreaking stories shared by the women at the knitting circle. My work is skyping my director for a monthly meeting and smiling the whole while through. My work is sharing myself completely with the people around me. My work is getting even the shyest of middle schoolers to open up (by talking about boys). My work is inadvertently creating a plethora of inside jokes with nuns (and cows). My work is attending tear-jerking Live Stations of the Cross performed by middle schoolers. My work is sharing meals with people who have become some of my closest friends.

The AMA Update AMA Year 2015-2016 Page 3 My work is getting to know even the families of the people I work with.

My work is knowing many of the people at church.

My work is waking up every day knowing that I ve fallen in love with what I do. My work is building relationships.

My work is learning. My work is dreading the day my work ends. So, if I choose the AMA definition to describe work, then, yes, I work.

The programs conclude in the next few weeks, and the end of the AMA year is fast approaching, which means the end of my work the

Fear tells me my newfound definition of work gradually fading into society s definition.

So, next time someone asks me what I do, I ll let them know. My work is living out the instructions tattooed on my heart. Sr.

Akeneta of the Incarnation makes her first profession of the three vows of religious life: poverty, chastity, and obedience.

ravocation@hotmail.com or 508.793.1954 Please join us if you re in the Worcester area!

3 The AMA Update AMA Year Page 3 My work is getting to know even the families of the people I work with. My work is attending masses in two languages, and with multicultural choirs. My work is being so incredibly gracious. My work is knowing many of the people at church. My work is being supported, encouraged, and inspired by the people around me every day. My work is waking up every day knowing that I ve fallen in love with what I do. My work is building relationships. My work is always having a friend to talk to or to laugh with. My work is becoming fulfilled. My work is growing. My work is loving. My work is learning. My work is dreading the day my work ends. So, if I choose the AMA definition to describe work, then, yes, I work. I work a lot. The programs conclude in the next few weeks, and the end of the AMA year is fast approaching, which means the end of my work the beautiful work which I have come to cherish is also fast approaching. Fear tells me my newfound definition of work gradually fading into society s definition. But, my heart tells me that the insights and love gained this year have been tattooed on my very soul. So, next time someone asks me what I do, I ll let them know. My work is living out the instructions tattooed on my heart. Sr. Akeneta s First Vows: April 30th! The Religious of the Assumption of the U.S. Province invite you to celebrate with us as our Sr. Akeneta of the Incarnation makes her first profession of the three vows of religious life: poverty, chastity, and obedience. 2:00pm Eucharist and Profession Saturday, 30 April 2016 Chapel of the Holy Spirit Assumption College Worcester, MA Please RSVP: ravocation@hotmail.com or Please join us if you re in the Worcester area! And please be with us in prayer and spirit if you can't physically be with us! My heart tells me that the insights and love gained this year have been tattooed on my very soul. So, next time someone asks me what I do, I ll let them know. My work is living out the instructions tattooed on my heart. Cana Community (Worcester, MA) HAPPY EASTER! The community in Worcester had an especially festive Easter season! Sharon Leonard, aunt of Cana member Ally Longchamps, led the Sisters and Cana members in the art of pysanky -- Ukrainian egg decorating! Thank you, Sharon! Below are only a few pictures of this very special evening! For more pictures, follow our Facebook page!

Elliot Simmons-Uvin (Worcester, MA) George, an ESL student and Maria Palacios Paz (Chaparral,

drivers license. / ESL Basic Level Class- Raul's last day of class before he returns 1.

Posada We song took outside a class of photo.

(Mexican candy that literally (Carmen, translated Elliot, to smack) Raul, John) / On Good

Sister Evelyn and Sister Diana with Satan Kate, and it's Me, Demons Will, Scott, at the Mark)

Enjoying my Birthday with my Bestfriend Alex who came from California to visit beautiful

Idalia (right), Maria (middle), and Maria s friend Alex (left) took advantage of the beautiful

Catherine and I try on the masks we made during mentoring 2.

Catherine and I try on head scarves during Meet a Muslim Day at a nearby mosque 4.

4 More AMA Updates with Pictures! with Pictures! Elliot Simmons-Uvin (Worcester, MA) George, an ESL student and Maria Palacios Paz (Chaparral, NM) I sharing a moment of success as we both passed out road tests this year and received our drivers license. / ESL Basic Level Class- Raul's last day of class before he returns 1. Elementary and Middle School kids singing to the Ecuador. Posada We song took outside a class of photo. Casa Maria Eugenia with the guidance of Sister Chabela. N No Chachetada! (Mexican candy that literally (Carmen, translated Elliot, to smack) Raul, John) / On Good Friday, I attended the Catholic Worker Stations of the Cross. (Teresa, 2. Sister Evelyn and Sister Diana with Satan Kate, and it's Me, Demons Will, Scott, at the Mark) Pastorela! / A I was Satan! recent drawing during this month 3. Putting my selfie stick to good use! Picture with the kids, Michelle and Sister Chabela at Elementary Friday Night! 4. Enjoying my Birthday with my Bestfriend Alex who came from California to visit beautiful Chaparral! Idalia Mora (Chaparral, NM) Idalia Mora (Chaparral, NM) Hitting the trails! Idalia (right), Maria (middle), and Maria s friend Alex (left) took advantage of the beautiful weather to hike in the mountains! Meaghan Hickey (Worcester, MA) 1. Sr. Catherine and I try on the masks we made during mentoring 2. Knitting is so addicting, I knit my stuffed duck a sweater 3. Sr. Catherine and I try on head scarves during Meet a Muslim Day at a nearby mosque 4. Helping (or trying to, at least) with homework at mentoring 5. See above Cana Community (Worcester, MA) Having some fun in the snow at Green Hill Park in Worcester! (L to R: Kate Carew, Elliot Simmons-Uvin, Meaghan Hickey, and Ally Longchamps) Maria Palacios Paz (Chaparral, NM) [Clockwise, from above] Fun Days at Casa Maria Eugenia! (Activities for the kids during school breaks.) / A packed house for the Sisters Quinceañera liturgy at St. Thomas More Church! / Sister Diana and sister Chabela rocking paper flowers that Alex made, while doing the dab dance move! / Confirmation class...

The AMA UPDATE. Letter from the Director

The AMA UPDATE. Letter from the Director Assumption Mission Associates February AMA Year 2015-2016 Inside this issue: Letter from the Director & Year of Consecrated Life 1 Elliot s Reflection 2-3 AMA Pictures 4 Associate Missionaries of the Assumption