Kids' creativity captures young man's spirit

By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press

Connecting with religious sisters is altering a young man’s life. He’s been offering children a chance for positive change too – in England and in Worcester.

Tyler Reese, 24, is youth program coordinator for Assumption Center, operated by the Religious of the Assumption in the former St. Andrew’s rectory in Worcester, which the sisters now own.

As part of his job, Mr. Reese developed a week-long summer program that is a cooperative venture between Assumption Center and St. Peter Parish. The Religious of the Assumption in Worcester have been affiliated with St. Peter’s and Assumption University for decades.

The summer program, held at St. Peter’s, was inspired by a program Mr. Reese helped with in England, which is also connected with the Religious of the Assumption.

On Tuesday, children in St. Peter’s meeting room were happily chatting, creating artwork and playing games with each other and their adult leaders. The free program is for children ages 7-12. Mr. Reese said it does not include religious education, but prayer is said before lunch.

His story about what led to this opportunity goes back to his college days. He got his bachelor’s degree in actuarial science (math and statistics) from Niagara University in New York in May 2021. As a student there, he volunteered with the university’s chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, helping at a weekly soup kitchen and other projects. He also had a work-study job in the campus ministry office. Its director had done a year of service and encouraged him to do so too.

That’s how he ended up volunteering in Newcastle, England, from August 2021 to August 2022 as an Assumption Mission Associate for the Religious of the Assumption. He served with Kids Kabin, a program the sisters started in the 1990s and still support, which involved teaching children such skills as cooking, woodworking, and pottery.

Mr. Reese said the creativity he saw in those children from underserved communities unleashed creativity in him. He learned to make pottery so he could teach them how to do so, and this form of art captivated him.

When he gave the children an opportunity to create whatever they wanted to out of pottery or wood they had “a million ideas,” he said.

Mr. Reese said he found that creative imagination lacking in children at St. Peter Central Catholic Elementary School in Worcester, where he helped this spring.

He said he didn’t think this signified a difference in the children of the two countries, but rather the difference Kids Kabin has made in the communities it serves. Newcomers to Kids Kabin followed the example of the more experienced participants.

After finishing in England, Mr. Reese stayed in touch with the Religious of the Assumption. This past February they hired him as part-time coordinator for the youth program. He lives and has his office at the Assumption Center.

His job included helping last spring with after-school clubs that Assumption Center coordinates at St. Peter’s school. Sister Nuala Cotter, one of the Religious of the Assumption, collaborated with him to run the clubs along with college volunteers.

Sister Nuala Cotter, RA, plays scrabble with Daniel Nyguen, 12, as his brother Andrew, 8, watches.

When Mr. Reese helped the college student who ran the 3D printing club, the children asked, “When are we going to be able to design whatever we want?”

Granted that permission for creative freedom, they didn’t know what to do with it, Mr. Reese observed. Most opted to copy a candy wrapper they had. He figured maybe they were used to being told what to make.

“I’m hoping that this week (at St. Peter Parish) the kids are able to try new, creative endeavors, and maybe develop a passion for one of the new things, or just (for) creativity in general,” Mr. Reese said. He said he wants them to have freedom to do unplanned projects that interest them, in addition to the planned projects.

Marjorie Waweru, 8, seemed to have caught that spirit by Tuesday.

“I’m going to make a lot of art and wait until they dry and take them home,” she said after placing a painted circle next to a similarly colored heart.

What does she like about the summer program?

“It’s fun to play games and it’s fun to go to the gym and have lunch and get messy,” she said. “And I just got messy now. And I’m ready to paint – because I’m an artist.”

She continued by singing a song she apparently made up: “I love camp.” (Repeat a few times.)

“It’s very enriching for the young” said Sister Victoria Kiwale, one of the Religious of the Assumption. “They are so happy to be together … ready to learn from each other. They really care for each other.”

Anna Murphy, an Assumption University student helping with St. Peter’s summer program as a campus ministry intern, said the children revived her with their joy.

“I could never have done it without Tyler,” Sister Nuala said about the summer program and the after-school clubs at St. Peter Elementary.

“It’s like a dream come true” to see Mr. Reese use his gifts and discover his love of working with children, said Sandra Piwko, director of volunteer and vocation ministry for the Religious of the Assumption.

Mr. Reese said his work is “not just a job, but more … an opportunity to do something I enjoy doing.” He said he would like to someday combine work with non-profits with his studies of math and statistics.

“It changed my life,” he said of being an Assumption Mission Associate in England. “I’m not working for an insurance company or a bank. I’m very happy about that.”