CAMPuS NEWS
BY FR. DENNIS GALLAGHER, A.A.’69, VICE PRESIDENT FOR MISSION
The following is an excerpt from Fr. Gallagher’s homily at this year’s Mass of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel text was the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37). Noted here is Jesus’ reformulation of the question posed by the scholar of the law at the beginning of the scene. o far, so good, but the end of the story has a surprising wrinkle to it. The question that Jesus asks by way of conclusion is not the same as the lawyer’s original question. Instead of asking who the neighbor is, Jesus asks which of these three proved to be neighbor to the man who fell among robbers. Neighbor is, in the first place, then, not a category to which one belongs, even a category of the broadest possible scope, but rather something that one becomes by actively responding to those whose humanity makes a claim on us. We become neighbors by virtue of our attentiveness to the needs of others. Beginning with this shift of focus at the end of the parable, let me link this to a few brief observations about an Assumption education. Shining the light on the Good Samaritan is consistent with the overall approach of the Gospel in these matters, emphasizing above all the responsibility and the conversion of heart required of those in a position to do good. The education that Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon, the founder of the Assumptionists, had in mind was an education inseparable from the formation of character, which certainly included a clear-
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eyed understanding that yes, I am my brother and my sister’s keeper. Our story today is a story of the overcoming of estrangement. The Fathers of the Church identified both the man stricken, beaten and left for dead, as well as the saving intervention of the Samaritan, with the redemptive work of Christ: He who took upon himself our estrangement, stricken for our sake, so as to bind up our wounds and restore us to health. Fr. d’Alzon insisted that education was nothing less than a participation in the ongoing redemption of the world. The redeeming activity of a college is teaching and learning, the movement toward the light of truth and the overcoming of the estrangement of ignorance and mere self-seeking. One last word. Much has been written in the last few years about the growing divide in our country between the haves and the have-nots, a division that increasingly has each side of that divide living in isolation and estrangement from each other. One of the principal markers of that division is access to higher education and all the benefits it affords. No one wishes to begrudge anyone those benefits, but certainly the purpose of an Assumption education cannot be exhausted by assuring that its graduates are on the right side of that divide. Rather, Assumption should inspire students to be beacons of hope in an ever more fragmented world by reaching over that divide in lives of thoughtful citizenship and compassionate service.
The Mission
PhOTO: DAN vAILLANCOuRT
Becoming Neighbors
Honoring excellence Two faculty members and a pair of College administrators were honored at the fall convocation with Presidential Awards for Excellence in recognition of their outstanding contributions to teaching, scholarship, service and the College’s mission. Since 2009, the Presidential Awards have recognized dedicated members of the faculty, staff and administration. Nominated by any member of the Assumption community, recipients are selected by a committee and President Francesco Cesareo.
guerra, ColbyDavie, Murphy and Campbell
American Catholic discourse and his work furthering the conversation between faith and reason.
Excellence in Service Excellence in Teaching Elizabeth Colby-Davie, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, joined the faculty in 2007 and is widely lauded by her students for facilitating research projects and expanding learning opportunities. She holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from M.I.T. and was honored for her commitment to the College, her pedagogical excellence and her commitment to her students.
Excellence in Scholarship Marc Guerra, Ph.D. ’90, G’94, associate professor of theology, chairs the Department of Theology and will serve as director of the new Core Texts and Enduring Questions Program, beginning in 2017. A part-time instructor at the College for several years and a full-time professor since 2012, he was recognized for his contributions to the
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Assumption College Magazine
Fall 2016
Conway Campbell P’19, dean of Campus Life, has been a key member of the Student Affairs staff for 13 years, helping to develop and support each student through the College experience. Due to his dedication to all and his representation of the spirit of service, Campbell was this year’s recipient of the Excellence in Service Award.
Excellence in Contribution to the Mission Kathleen Murphy G’76, P’12, dean of Admissions, has served the College for 43 years, all in the Admissions area. She has watched the department grow from a small, paper-driven entity to an expansive, electronically-driven, comprehensive enrollment management operation. Murphy was honored for her consistent demonstration of love, humility and excellence, contributing toward and enhancing the mission of the College.