Principal’s Message 10/20/19

This week’s Principal’s Message is of a personal sort.  You see, as an ex-football coach and big follower of college football in particular, it’s always been a dream to go see the University of Notre Dame play in South Bend, Indiana.  Last weekend I had the opportunity to do just that!  Not only did I get to see a game, but it was against the Irish’s biggest rival, the University of Southern California!  This is one of the biggest and most storied rivalries in all college sports.
 
I’ve heard many people say that Notre Dame has lost much of its Catholic identity and has become too liberal in many respects.  So, upon arriving on campus, I paid particular attention to just how vibrant and evident the university’s Catholic identity truly was.  I am happy to report that the Faith is alive and well in South Bend!  I do not believe it’s possible to keep the growing trend of secularism totally off campus, but there is evidence everywhere that the students are immersed in good Catholic teaching.
 
The University of Notre Dame has an itinerary of events for the entire weekend of a home football game.  This itinerary includes sporting events, plays, concerts, pep rallies, dinners, assemblies and other “happenings” that are open to all visitors.  What struck me was the number of Catholic theological offerings during the weekend as well.  There were tours focusing on the religious sites on campus such as the seminary, grotto, basilica, and any number of chapels.  There were discussions led by priests and professors of theology addressing the Eucharist, the pro-life movement and “Catholic citizenship issues as they pertain to elections.  All around campus, different student organizations sold hamburgers, hot dogs, beverages and snacks with the proceeds dedicated to charitable organizations in the United States and abroad.  The weekend mass schedule was also included in the itinerary with three locations to attend. 
 
Two of the most impactful moments of the weekend occurred at the Grotto and Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday.  While waiting to light candles and pray for our intentions at the Grotto, a seminarian introduced himself to us and, after speaking for a short while, asked if we could pray together.  Of course we gladly accepted and joined hands in prayer right there in front of hundreds of onlookers waiting their turn to enter the Grotto!  The other incident occurred in the stadium just before kickoff.  As we awaited the Fighting Irish coming through the tunnel to the field, the PA announcer came on informing us we were going to “go to the Irish locker room for the pregame prayer”.  On the Jumbotron screen, the team chaplain asked the team to kneel and began with the sign of the cross, prayed the Our Father, and closed with a resounding “Our Lady of Victory”, to which the team roared back, “Pray for us”!  Now this wouldn’t have seemed odd if this was all that was going on.  But, I witnessed most of the 80,232 fans in attendance praying right along with the team!  It was the largest prayer service I’d ever been part of!  
 
I feel blessed to be able to work in a school where this type of behavior is more typical than not.  I believe there is hope for our futures as Catholic educational institutions.  I have been heartened by all I saw this past weekend and know that, regardless of the struggles we face, the future will be in good hands as long as institutions like the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary School exist.   

Please continue to pray for our school, its staff, students and families, and our clergy as we strive to provide an education that is unapologetically Catholic, family centered, caring to others and respectful to all. Please check our website, Facebook page and the Church bulletin for updates and upcoming events that you can enjoy with us.
 
God bless,
Craig Palmer