Letter from the Executive Director: November 20, 2025

Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends,

Earlier this month, we hosted members of the Notre Dame Alumni Association Board of Directors for our annual fall meeting. In our planning, we strive to provide board members with unique experiences as a show of appreciation for their dedication to our collective mission to serve the Notre Dame family, but I think this one was particularly special.

To kick off this fall’s meeting, the priests and brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross graciously welcomed us into their home and we joined them for Mass and dinner at the beautiful new Corby Hall. As we gathered together, I shared an anecdote about a talk my husband, Dan, and I attended many years ago where the speaker discussed the charisms of different religious orders. When he got to Holy Cross, with its charism rooted in hospitality and education in the faith, I remember turning to Dan and saying “If I were a priest, I’d be a C.S.C.”

Of course, I’m not eligible for the priesthood, but as I looked around the room at tables filled with our staff, board members, and our hosts, I was reminded that each member of the Notre Dame community has been impacted by the order in some way. That evening of fellowship was a touching testament to the lasting influence the congregation has had on the University and its mission to serve as a force for good in the world.

How has the Congregation of Holy Cross made a difference in your life? I’d love to hear your stories!

All the best,

Dolly Duffy '84
Executive Director
Notre Dame Alumni Association