The Observer is a student-run, daily print & online newspaper serving Notre Dame, Saint Mary's & Holy Cross. Learn about us.
-Campus Ministry | Monday, April 8, 2019
March 17 is a day most people highlight on their calendar. It’s a day to celebrate a great saint, an honorable heritage, a beautiful country and, simply, a reason to turn anything and everything green. I’m Irish and only Irish, and green just so happens to be my favorite color, so you won’t hear me
Campus Ministry | Monday, March 25, 2019
This May, the Folk Choir will make a three-week pilgrimage to six Holy Cross mission sites throughout Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. During this trip, the choir will encounter and walk with the people there, striving to discover and learn from the spiritual and cultural wisdom of these communities. Our aim is not to “save” the
Campus Ministry | Monday, March 4, 2019
It finally happened. After months and months, it finally clicked. For two years, each time our now three-year-old daughter was given something, whether it be a toy, candy, crayon, coloring book, tissue or whatever, either my wife or I would say the same phrase, “Felicity, what do you say?” “Thank you… (insert giver’s name here).”
Campus Ministry | Monday, February 18, 2019
How many times have we rejected something and/or someone because of his or her supposed “insignificance?” Recently in my Moreau class, my students were asked to reflect on a YouTube video about St. Andre Bessette. In the video, Fr. Steve Lacroix states, “Brother Andre is very special to Holy Cross because, of all the people
Campus Ministry | Monday, February 4, 2019
I can’t help but notice how the weather outside parallels my experience coming back to Notre Dame for the spring semester. After a wonderful Christmas vacation followed by a beautiful weekend with students on the Becoming Retreat, the following days were like a snowy, uphill climb to get the semester up and running. The grind
Campus Ministry | Monday, January 21, 2019
For nearly a half century, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration Week the week following the Epiphany (this year, the celebration was Jan. 6-13, 2019). The week is an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the circumstances confronting immigrants, refugees, children, victims and survivors of human trafficking. The theme
Campus Ministry | Monday, December 3, 2018
Nov. 7, 2018, was the day I decided that I needed my own list. On that beautiful morning, I read the Davis Gonsalves column “Ranking the spineless, copycat rankers” and thought … it’s time. The work of the list-makers has been extensive, as Mr. Gonsalves notes. So, like Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga did with the
Campus Ministry | Monday, November 12, 2018
Black Catholic History Month began Nov. 1. Did you know? Well, honestly, neither did I. It wasn’t until about a year ago that I even knew Black Catholic History Month existed, but I have known what it’s like to be black and Catholic my whole life. It means having a deep love for both Motown
Campus Ministry | Monday, October 8, 2018
“Can I ask you a very direct question? Do you struggle with using pornography?” In my role in Campus Ministry, I have asked this question several times over the past year. Each time I asked, the respondent simply said “yeah.” I ask not to shame or guilt the responder, but to bring out into the
Campus Ministry | Monday, September 24, 2018
Republican vs. Democrat Poor vs. Rich American vs. Immigrant Gay vs. Straight Black vs. White Colin Kaepernick vs. #BoycottNike The Carolinas vs. Hurricane Florence It’s becoming almost a cliche to state that our country and our world are becoming more and more fractured these days. Everything from politics to religious and social issues to pop