We are ready to begin the new academic year with our new teams of Assumption International Volunteers.

Niña, Joan and Rasheed from the Philippines, Leah from Kenya and Fiorella, from Peru gathered in London to travel to their mission areas in Newcastle and Middlesborough for a week-long orientation and community building.

At the same time, two young women from London, Isabel and Izzy, were boarding a plane from Heathrow to the Philipines, to reach their own mission areas, Manila and Iloilo, where they will live in small communities with other lay missionaries and work in their respective projects.

Having just graduated from London universities, Isabel and Izzy chose the Assumpion Catholic gap-year programme to work in a country very different from their own, meet new cultures and put their knowledge and skills to the service of others in need. They heard about the programme through Newman House Catholic University Chaplaincy and were immediately enthusiastic about it. We got to know each another and after a few months of preparation they were ready to journey to the other side of the world. Let us pray for them to have a blessed and enriching year on this mission!

As for our Newcastle and Middlesborough volunteers, this is how they describe their first induction: “The first week was full of surprises about English culture, we discovered the delights of British cuisine and got to know one another as we begin building our AV community for 2024/25. It was a great opportunity to deepen our understanding of our motivations and share our hopes and dreams for the year ahead. We were immersed in the spirituality of the Assumption with Srs Josephrita and Francesca joining us, together with Anne Marie who lead the week.” After their  initial training in Kids Kabin, the team are now ready to start their full-time work: “We are not yet experts in woodwork or pottery” they say, “but had a good introduction and look forward to honing our skills in the coming months.” Let us accompany them with our prayers!