About Us

We commissioned our new group of volunteers for 2008-2009 in August....Congratulations and God Bless you as your join Assumption Communities around the world!  

Jeff: England           Ellie: New Mexico      Kirsten: England    Travis:  Mexico

           Letty:  Ecuador              Paul: Mexico           Nicole: The Philippines

              "There is more happiness in giving than in receiving."
                  ---Acts, 20:35

What is AMA? 

In 1954 the Assumption Sisters founded the Associate Missionaries of the Assumption (AMA) as a way of answering the many appeals of the world. Young women and men committed themselves to work and live with Assumption communities in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe, sharing their vision of the Christian transformation of society and working to make it happen. Today, the work continues.  While at their volunteer sites, AMA's find new insight into God's gifts through service to others. It is through their service that they come to understand more fully the rule of life of The Religious of the Assumption: "Love never remains idle: it makes us creative and impels us to heed all the appeals of the world and to find new ways of answering them."   The mission of AMA today, as it began over 50 years ago, remains the same and continues to enrich the lives of volunteers, religious, and those served. 

AMA Mission

AMA is a lay community of persons whose life and mission are rooted in the love of Jesus Christ and His Church. Their lives are marked by bearing witness to:

-a community life characterized by a commitment to personal and communal growth, the values of a simple lifestyle, the spirituality of the contemplative in action, and a spirit of trust;

-a prayer life deeply rooted in Jesus and Mary, the celebration of the Eucharist, and the celebration of prayer in community;
-a life in mission impelled by the faith to work for the Christian transformation of society, which comes from faith.

What's It Like to Be an AMA?

AMA volunteers see and experience life through the eyes of others: those to whom they minister and those with whom they live. Living in community with other volunteers, AMA’s find the support of peers and shared experiences. In addition, AMA's will receive guidance from the Religious of the Assumption and the Assumptionists, women and men who have vowed to live a life dedicated to service to God, education, and community living. Whether you want to serve as a teacher in Rwanda, in a parish in Worcester, MA, in one of the many community development projects in the Philippines, or in ministry in Mexico City; whether you are a recent college graduate or a young professional dissatisfied with the workplace and looking for more meaning in your life, your primary role as an AMA will be to empower the poor, the young and the marginalized.  Living with and serving the poor,  AMA's discover who they really are and how their faith is deeply a part of them.  They also realize that "You may never know what results come from your action.  But if you do nothing, there will be no results."  --- Gandhi   They take a chance, put their beliefs into action and find that their lives are made fuller beyond words along the AMA journey. 

Who Are the AMA's?

AMA's are young people from all over the country who find the beliefs of Saint Marie Eugenie appealing.  She believed that "this Earth is a place of glory for God"  and that  each of us has a responsibility to reflect that glory.  AMA's come from Florida and Rhode Island; from San Diego and Philadelphia; from St. Louis and Sweet Home, Oregon.  They are graduates of Gonzaga University and Stanford; Assumption College and Tulane University.  Some have spent some years in the work force; some are new graduates.  What unites them is a common zeal for service, for building the Kingdom of God here on Earth.  They choose to make a commitment to spend a year or two in service to others, living in communities marked by sharing, direct service to the neediest in society, and prayer.  And growing a bit themselves along the way. 

How Can You Become an AMA?

Please refer to the Apply Now page for more details on how to become an AMA.  If you think AMA may be a good decision for you, and if you are between 22 and 40 years old, we invite you to begin the process of application.  We require:

• Completed application form
• Two letters of recommendation
• Medical Certificate
• Psychological evaluation
• $15.00 application fee

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with preference given to those received first. 

Once your paperwork is complete, we schedule a personal interview to get to know you better. This completes the application process. Our volunteer year begins in mid-August with a mandatory orientation program in Worcester, MA and continues through the following July.  Please feel free to call or e-mail Beth Fleming (508.767.1356 or ama-usa@juno.com) at any time during the process if you have questions or concerns. 

We are taking applications for our New Mexico and Worcester sites from December graduates to begin service in January.  All other sites will begin August 2009.  Please look for us at your college Volunteer Fairs in the Fall! 

Missions     Apply Now

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"God led me into this program for a reason, and one of the most important things that
has been revealed to me is that the more I give myself away, the fuller I become.  I’m not sure exactly how it works, but I am not one to question God’s graces.  I am reminded, though, of a song I used to listen to when I was younger. It says simply that, “Love isn’t love, unless you give it
away,” I guess that is where the service aspect comes in."

Robin LaRouche

AMA, 2005-2006