As the school year begins, new rectors are getting acclimated to their roles as community leaders and mentors in Cavanaugh Hall, Farley Hall, Keough Hall, Lewis Hall, O'Neill Hall and Ryan Hall.
All of the new rectors have studied at Notre Dame or Saint Mary's College in the past and have returned to give back to a residential system that allowed them to grow.
O'Neill Hall rector Chris Tarnacki, who lived in the dorm as an undergraduate, said he felt called to be a rector because of the unique nature of Notre Dame's residence life.
"I wanted to become a rector because I believe deeply in Notre Dame's residential mission. It really is as simple as that," Tarnacki said. "There isn't another career choice I could make that would give me the fulfillment of working with the young men and women that come here."
Keough Hall rector Pat Reidy, a seminarian who lived in Sorin College as an undergraduate, said Notre Dame's Holy Cross heritage is his inspiration for becoming a rector.
"The University's founder, Fr. Edward Sorin, had a dream that Notre Dame would become a powerful means for good, that its graduates would be good people who cared deeply about the world and one another," Reidy said. "That lofty dream is shaped in the day-to-day, in classrooms and dorm rooms. Rectors strive to build community in the dorms through the work of family, an ideal strongly resonant with my own upbringing and my discernment of religious life in Holy Cross."
Reidy, who will be ordained a priest next year, said his only long-term plan is to preside over Mass in the dorm.
"I'm most looking forward to] celebrating Mass in Keough's Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe as a newly-ordained priest next Easter, surrounded by the men with whom I've been privilege to journey this year," Reidy said.
Farley Hall rector Elaine DeBassige said she will model her actions as rector on those of her former rector in Lewis Hall.
"One of my rectors (both are still on campus!) was in Lewis when my dad died. It was during finals of my junior year. I was devastated and she was amazing, along with my AR," De Bassige said. "They made things happen and got me home so that I could be with my family. That kind of support is unheard of. Friends who went to other schools are always shocked when I tell this story."
DeBassige said she has big plans to open a café within Farley Hall.
"My first big project is to create Café Far Far in the basement in a part of Farley that is rarely used," she said. "I want to maximize the use of the space that we have for study groups and be a place where everyone wants to be."
Cavanaugh Hall rector Jeannine DiCarlantonio said she intends to emphasize a sense of community in her hall.
"Community truly can have an incredible impact on our life and experiences, and the residence hall system at Notre Dame reflects the importance of community in helping us lead lives full of faith, hope, and love," DiCarlantonio said.
Ryan Hall rector Allison Greene said she was overjoyed at how welcoming the residents of her dorm have been toward her.
"They impressed me from the beginning by introducing themselves to me and offering sincere welcomes; they were also quick to show me what bright, fun, spiritual, and fully engaged students they are," Greene said. "I am looking forward to supporting them, being present for their athletic and club events, celebrating liturgy together in our beautiful chapel, and living a year of campus life at Notre Dame together."
Lewis Hall rector Katy Patterson said she is looking forward to building relationships with her residents as they continue on their life's journey.
"I am excited to journey with the women of Lewis Hall through their years of undergraduate education and formation," Patterson said in a press release. "I feel honored and blessed to be the rector of this community as these women discern who they are called to be and what they are called to offer for the good of the world."
