Letter from the Executive Director: February 27, 2025
The following message appeared in the February 27, 2025, edition of the Alumni Association’s Echoes e-newsletter.
Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends,
Growing up in rural South Dakota, we didn’t eat a whole lot of fresh fish — maybe a little walleye if we were lucky. So when a colleague asked me if I’d grown up going to fish fries during Lent, my answer was “no.” In fact, the one dish I can remember my mom making regularly were patties made from canned salmon, into which she’d toss whatever we had lying around: stale saltines, eggs, random spices. But for us, it was a bit of a Duffy family delicacy.
Fast forward to my junior year at Notre Dame, when I received an invitation\ to attend a cookout at Grace Hall. The friend who had sent the invitation had received a shipment of fresh salmon that his father had caught in Alaska, but I couldn’t imagine why anyone would go to all that trouble for the fish I grew up eating smashed into a patty with crackers. Let’s just say, that friend proved me wrong, and 40 years later we shared that story with our families when we met up in Atlanta at the national championship game in January.
With Lent just around the corner, I hope that — in addition to more salmon on your plates! — your preparations include some of the spiritual offerings provided by FaithND, including Lenten Perspectives: The Art of the Raclin Murphy Museum. Through this series exploring the profound liturgical art right here on campus, we are called to reflect on this season’s themes of prayer, sacrifice, mercy, and redemption in preparation for Easter. Receive a new video each Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, as well as during each day of Holy Week, by signing up for the Daily Gospel Reflection email or visiting our new FaithND website.
In preparation for this holy season, I am keeping you and the entire Notre Dame family in my prayers. May you know the blessings of God and Our Lady now and always.
All the best,
Dolly Duffy ’84
Executive Director
Notre Dame Alumni Association