The Saint Mary's Class of 2009 is bringing tradition to life this weekend as the mothers of the class arrive in South Bend for the College's annual Junior Mom's Weekend.
"[This weekend] is a chance for mothers to visit their daughters at school and see what their lives are like away from home," said Katie Putz, secretary of the Class of 2009.
Activities begin Friday with a wine and cheese reception and a silent auction. The class board asked students and their mothers to donate a basket or gift for the auction.
Proceeds of the auction will go to fund the Class of 2009's senior dance and senior week next year, Putz said.
"Professors from every department have been invited [to the event as well]," she said. "This gives the mothers and their daughters a chance to mingle with their peers as well as casually talk to their daughters' professors."
The class board will also host a Mass and formal dinner on Saturday evening.
The board sent out a list of various activities in which the mothers and daughters can participate on both Saint Mary's and Notre Dame's campus and in the South Bend area along with the invitations so that they can pick and choose what they want to do, Putz said.
"There are no scheduled events on Saturday because we want to allow mothers and daughters a chance to spend time doing what they like to do," she said. "The free time is meant to allow mothers and daughters time to do what they like to do without the pressure of participating in planned events."
Class of 2009 president Jenny Antonelli echoed Putz's sentiment.
"On Saturday, we offer a few options so everyone is not limited on what is available for them to do," Antonelli said. "These options include spa packages at local salons for manicures and pedicures, and tours of the Heritage Room."
Junior Emily Croft's mother will be traveling to South Bend from Bloomington, Ill., to participate in the event with her daughter.
"We're going to go to the wine and cheese event and then we'll probably watch a movie or something," Croft said. "My mom really wants to meet my friends and their mothers so we're going to try to hang out with them a bit too."
Croft said she will also allow her mother to spend time with her sister who is a sophomore at the College as well. The three will go out to lunch on Saturday before Croft and her mother attend the Mass and dinner.
Croft said she has been looking forward to this weekend since she found out that the juniors' mothers would be invited to campus at the beginning of this year.
"It's going to be a really fun weekend to show my mom what my life is like here at school," Croft said.
