Letter from the Executive Director: October 22, 2026
Published on October 22, 2026
Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends,
Since announcing my upcoming retirement last month, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what my time at Notre Dame has meant to me. I’ve lost count of all the meaningful, moving moments I’ve been blessed to experience thanks to Our Lady’s University, but as the calendar continues to tick by, I’m suddenly struck by all of the things I’d still like to get done here before I go. At the top of the list: attend Mass at every residence hall chapel on campus.
It’s hard to believe that after 46 years since I first arrived at Notre Dame that there are still corners of it I have yet to explore. Yet here I am, at the world’s most beautiful Catholic university, and I’ve visited only 13 chapels of the 32 active residence halls on campus. Over the next eight months, I intend to change that. I’ve even printed out the campus Mass schedule and have been mapping out a plan! It looks like I’ll have a few 10 p.m. celebrations in my future, but that’s a small price to pay to be able to check this particular goal off the list.
When I was 18, I set out to meet every member of my Notre Dame class before graduation. And while I may not have gotten to everyone, putting myself in a position to make new friends and form those bonds was absolutely worth the effort. I’m much more confident in my ability to visit the remaining 19 chapels on my list by next July, but if I’ve learned anything from setting these kinds of objectives throughout my life, it’s that, sometimes, the joy is in the attempt.
All the best,
Dolly Duffy '84
Executive Director
Notre Dame Alumni Association