Making the 'Global Neighborhood' a Tangible Reality

Assumption College for Sisters moves
to Morris Catholic campus

DENVILLE  If they weren’t wearing habits, the sister-students at Assumption College for Sisters (ACS) could have been mistaken for movers as they transported boxes, suitcases, furniture and even mattresses to the college’s new home on the campus of Morris Catholic High School here.

On July 21, the college sponsored by the Sisters of Christian Charity (SCC), which educates religious sisters called to consecrated life from the Paterson Diocese and around the world, officially moved to Denville. The college had been located since it’s origin at Mallincrodt Convent in Mendham.

The relocation of ACS to Morris Catholic was necessitated to accommodate 55 sisters living in the SCC’s Danville, Pa. property, which formerly served as the order’s retirement home/infirmary for sisters. The property was sold to Geisinger Health Care System last June.

Sister of Christian Charity Joseph Spring, president of Assumption College, said, “While we are moving out of necessity, this is an exciting and new journey for the college. When we found out about the move, the students were so hopeful and helpful.”

The college will conduct classes in the former convent of Morris Catholic for the 35 sister-students currently enrolled and orientation begins August 24 for the sister-students. The former convent will also house 20 international sister-students from Burandi, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam and El Salvador. Classes will also be held in the high school building. The college also offers lay students the opportunity to earn college credits through its programs and welcomes lay students to study at the college this year. Enrollment is currently open to anyone interested in earning college credits, especially those involved in parish ministry.

To welcome ACS to it Denville campus, parents, faculty, administration and trustees of Morris Catholic hosted a housewarming and “shower” with many practical gifts for the sisters and staff on June 16. The event opened with remarks by Michael St. Pierre, president of MCHS, and Dixie Douville, a trustee of the school.

Students at Morris Catholic can expect to see the sisters walk down the school’s halls on Sept. 1 when school begins. “We are thrilled to have Assumption College for Sisters come to our campus,” said St. Pierre. “We see this as an opportunity for our students to meet sisters from around the world and see what religious life is like. It has been a long journey to ACS and MC together and we are grateful and excited.”

ACS lives by the motto “teach a sister, touch the world” because it educates religious women from all nations around the globe. The international sister-students return home once they finish their education to evangelize developing nations and mission areas with their religious orders.

The new location of ACS includes a 22-bedroom student residence, a chapel, student center, classrooms, computer lab and administrative offices. While the college will appear like a “regular” college, a special room in the college’s new location will be a heritage area dedicated to the sister-students’ diversity featuring items from each students’ countries.

The joining of Assumption College and Morris Catholic brings the history of the college full circle. Founded in 1953, ACS has been sponsored by the Sister of Christian Charity at Mallinckrodt Covent in Mendham, the motherhouse of the order. The college originally educated novices of the order and through the years, sisters from other religious orders were welcomed to study at the college. In recent years, ACS has welcomed sisters from Vietnam and developing African nations as full-time, resident students. The sisters represent several religious communities, many of which are unable to provide such an educational opportunity for their sisters due to lack of resources as well as social and political challenges in their homelands.

At Morris Catholic, the order has taught at the school since its founding in 1957. The partnership with Morris Catholic and ACS is in line with the school’s Global Solidarity Initiative and the college’s commitment to educate women from all over the world. The high school already is involved globally through its international exchange student program inviting students from countries around the world to study at Morris Catholic. The school is also involved with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the U.S. bishop’s international humanitarian agency. Through partnership with CRS, MC is preparing students to enter and serve the increasingly connected world. The administration of the high school believes that the presence of sisters from developing nations on their campus makes the “global neighborhood” a tangible reality.

For the international sister students, informal contact with American students broadens their experience of education. They will return to their own countries with first-hand knowledge of the structure of American Catholic secondary education.

“We are very grateful for the fact the school welcomes us with open arms and also see this as an opportunity for the students of Morris Catholic,” Sister Spring said.

According to Sister Spring, the move to Morris Catholic would not have been possible without the help of many volunteers, such as the Denville and Mendham Knights of Columbus and Columbiettes, volunteers from Morris Catholic and St. Clare’s Hospital, area Eagle Scouts and the ACS faculty and friends. Also, Sister Spring is especially grateful to generous benefactors who support the school and the sponsorship of the Sisters of Christian Charity. Since many of the college’s alumnae are religious sisters, ACS does not have the financial support of an alumni association. As more and more sisters in need apply to study at ACS, the college has to find financial support from friends and benefactors.

“We trust God that this change will make our college greater,” Sister Spring said. “We educate women in consecrated life who will give a life of service. While the looks of our campus and student body are changing, the heart of Assumption College will continue to beat the same.”

Information: acs350.org.