Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers // Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers

More than 5,000 Graduate from Holy Cross Colleges, Universities this Spring

2012-05-18T08:00:00-04:00

More than 5,000 students will receive degrees from the four Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province, colleges and universities this spring.

Education is one of the three core ministries set by founder Blessed Basil Moreau, as he tasked members of the Congregation with being “educators in the faith.”

This weekend, students will graduate from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind., King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and Stonehill College in Easton, Mass.

More than 2,900 students will receive degrees at Notre Dame Saturday and Sunday, the University’s 167th commencement ceremony.

Of that number, 1,973 are undergraduates whose degrees will be conferred Sunday. In addition, Rev. David Tyson, C.S.C., University Trustee and Provincial Superior of the U.S. Province, will be among 10 receiving honorary degrees from the University. Fr. Tyson also received an honorary degree from the University of Portland earlier this month.

On Saturday, 324 students will receive master’s and doctoral degrees at Notre Dame’s graduate school commencement, along with 401 master’s degree students at the Mendoza College of Business.

Read more about Notre Dame’s ceremony.

Also on Sunday, 563 undergraduates will receive their degrees at Stonehill at the college’s 61st commencement. Find out more about Stonehill’s commencement.

King’s College will have its 63rd commencement Sunday, when about 500 students will receive associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Read more about the King’s College graduation.

Meanwhile, a record number of undergraduates – 803 – participated in the May 6 commencement at the University of Portland in Portland, Ore. There were about 760 spring bachelor’s degrees, with another 43 students walking in anticipation of a summer degree.

In addition, 165 master’s degrees were conferred to spring graduates and another 42 for end-of-summer graduates. Read more about Portland’s graduation ceremony.

Dozen ND Students to Visit Three U.S. Province Schools in East Africa

2012-05-17T10:00:00-04:00

At least three Holy Cross U.S. Province schools in the East African city of Jinja, Uganda, will be among those visited by a dozen University of Notre Dame students this summer.

The two-week trip is sponsored by Play Like a Champion Today through the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Notre Dame Department of Athletics. The aim of the program is educational research and to build character through youth sports.

According to Damian Kearney, associate program director of PLACT, the trip will include stops in at least three Bugembe Parish schools: Holy Cross, St. Andrew and St. Jude. ND students will conduct a couple of days of sports competitions there, he said.

The trip is the end result of a collaboration between the Catholic Church and the Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sports.

Leading the effort are Kevin Dugan, manager of youth and community programs for the ND Athletics Department, and Clark Power, professor of education and psychology and founder of PLACT.

The District of East Africa is one of the international missions of the U.S. Province.

For more on the program, read the Notre Dame Newswire.

Holy Cross Priest Donates Collection for Scholarship

2012-05-15T16:00:00-04:00

A 93-year-old Holy Cross priest has donated his collection of handmade, handcrafted Easter eggs to fund a scholarship in his name at Stonehill College.

Stonehill is an educational ministry of the U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers in Easton, Mass.

Rev. Albert Croce, C.S.C., former director of development at Stonehill in the 1970s, has elaborately decorated eggs as a hobby for about 40 years. In addition to donating the decorated eggs to be sold, Fr. Croce also gave undecorated eggs and supplies to the college’s art department in an effort to allow students to learn his craft.

Fr. Croce lives in the Holy Cross Community in North Dartmouth, Mass.

Read news stories about Fr. Croce’s donation on websites of The Summit and The Enterprise.

Stonehill Students Volunteer

2012-05-14T08:00:00-04:00

EASTON, Mass. — More than 800 Stonehill College students contributed more than 95,000 hours of service on campus, in the community and internationally during the 2011-2012 school year.

Stonehill is one of the educational ministries of Congregation of Holy Cross, U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers.

Students completed volunteer hours in nonprofit internships, community-based learning hours and in other types of service.

Students contributed to Stonehill’s Into the Streets Program, where they participate in service experiences that challenge them to be agents of social change striving for a more compassionate world. The program’s mission is in keeping with the Holy Cross tradition set by founder Blessed Basil Moreau to develop the moral, spiritual, intellectual and social competencies of students and bring them to bear on matters of social justice.

Students logged more than 2,000 hours in the ITS Program alone. ITS celebrated its 20th anniversary recently.

Read the entire story at Stonehill’s website.

Stonehill Commits to Campus Sustainability Efforts

2012-05-08T08:00:00-04:00

On Earth Day (April 22, 2012), Stonehill College became the 12th Catholic college to commit to the St. Francis Pledge.

The St. Francis Pledge of the Catholic Climate Covenant calls upon those who study, live and work at Catholic colleges to protect God's creation and to advocate on behalf of people in poverty throughout the world who are hardest hit by climate change. The pledge's namesake is St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment.

In the Holy Cross spirit of educating both the heart and mind and engaging students to be citizens of the world, Stonehill President Rev. Mark Cregan, C.S.C., signed the pledge committing the College to support sustainability efforts on campus. Stonehill has taken a number of steps to become more sustainable by eliminating bottled water, composting cafeteria waste, car sharing on campus, and reducing paper, water and utility use and increasing recycling.

Creating The Farm at Stonehill is also part of this effort. The Farm at Stonehill is an acre and a half organic farm that grows and distributes produce to local organizations to feed the needy and local families who lack access to affordable fresh fruits or vegetables. It was founded by the Mission Division at Stonehill in 2011. The Farm distributes produce to some 400 people through three organizations. On May 4, it was awarded a 2012 Green Difference Award from Project Green Schools, a Massachusetts nonprofit dedicated to creating "greener and healthier learning environments through education and awareness."

Fr. Sullivan Honored for Labor-management Work

2012-05-04T11:00:00-04:00

A Holy Cross priest is being honored for his work in the labor-management field.

Rev. Patrick Sullivan, C.S.C., , Executive Secretary-Chaplain of the Labor Guild of the Archdiocese of Boston and a member of the U.S. Province’s Easton Community in North Easton, Mass., will receive the John F. Kennedy Memorial Award from the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians.

The award will be given to Fr. Sullivan at the groups’ national convention in July in Verona, N.Y.

Fr. Sullivan entered the Congregation on Aug. 15, 1948, and was Ordained on June 8, 1956, in Fall River, Mass. He earned academic degrees from the

University of Notre Dame, Fordham University and Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

He served as Chairman of the Sociology Department at

Kings College and Director of the Undergraduate Program in Sociology at Notre Dame. Fr. Sullivan also has served as Director of Personnel and Planning for Holy Cross Fathers.

The

Ancient Order of Hibernians is the oldest Irish Catholic Fraternal Organization in the United States.

Read more about Fr. Sullivan’s honor by visiting The Irish Echo Online.

Fr. Groody Honored for Work with Latino Community, Scholarship

2012-05-04T11:00:00-04:00

Rev. Daniel G. Groody, C.S.C., associate professor of theology and director of the Center for Latino Spirituality and Culture at the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies, has received the 2012 Touchstone Award from the National Federation of Priests’ Councils (NFPC).

The NFPC annually gives the Touchstone Award to a Catholic priest “whose service in the Gospel of Jesus Christ exemplifies the purposes and goals of the Federation.”

In announcing the award, the NFPC, which represents 26,000 priests nationwide, praised Father Groody’s work in the Latino community and his scholarship in migration issues and theology.

Father Groody spent many years doing pastoral work and research in Latin America and along the U.S.- Mexican border, particularly in the Coachella Valley of California, where he worked from 1997 to 1999. In addition to the numerous books and articles he has written on U.S. Latino spirituality, globalization and the relationship of Christian spirituality to social justice, he has produced documentary films including “One Border, One Body: Immigration and the Eucharist” and “Dying to Live: A Migrant’s Journey.”

Founded in 1968, the NFPC supports member organizations and priests through collaboration, communication, ongoing formation, research and advocacy.

Originally published by Michael O. Garvey at newsinfo.nd.edu on May 03, 2012.

UP honors Fr. Tyson and Fr. O'Hara at Spring Commencement

2012-04-30T15:00:00-04:00

Provincial Superior Rev. David T. Tyson, C.S.C., will receive the University of Portland's highest honor, the Christus Magister Medal, at this spring's commencement. Fr. Tyson is concluding his tenure as Provincial of the United States Province of Priests and Brothers in the summer of 2012. He was the University of Portland’s 18^th president, from 1990 to 2003, before being elected Provincial. Read more about why UP is honoring Fr. Tyson with the Christus Magister Medal, by visiting UP's website.

UP will also honor Rev. Thomas J. O'Hara, C.S.C., with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Fr. O'Hara concluded last year a 12-year term as president of King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Penn., (his alma mater) and currently is a professor of political science at King’s. After earning his master’s degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame and a doctorate in political science from American University, O’Hara taught at King’s and at the Philosophical Centre of Jinga in Uganda. During his tenure as president of King’s, the college earned national honors for its academic programs and service to the community, welcomed the largest freshman classes in its history, and greatly expanded its campus. King's has been included on the national President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the past three years, was named to a national list of the nation’s top “best neighbor” colleges and universities, and conducted the most successful capital campaign in its history.

UP's graduation ceremony is May 6. University President Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C., will confer an anticipated 760 bachelor’s degrees on Sunday. Legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz will address the graduates. To read more about UP's commencement, please visit their website.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

2012-04-27T09:15:00-04:00

On Sunday, April 29, the Catholic Church celebrates World Day of Prayer for Vocations to publically fulfill the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life.

The Congregation of Holy Cross celebrates this day in union with the Church recalling the Congregation's Constitutions ...

Our mission is the Lord’s and so is the strength for it. We turn to Him in prayer that He will clasp us more firmly to Himself and use our hands and wits to do the work that only He can do. Then our work itself becomes a prayer: a service that speaks to the Lord who works through us (Congregation of Holy Cross Constitutions, 2:20).

Read more about how Holy Cross is recognizing World Day of Prayer for Vocations by reading the Vocations blog.

While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries, (priesthood and diaconate), to the Religious life in all its forms (male and female, contemplative and apostolic), to societies of apostolic life, to secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life, in the particular sense of mission "ad gentes." To learn more about World Day of Prayer for Vocations, please visit the USCCB's website.

District of Chile Celebrates Ordination

2012-04-25T15:00:00-04:00

Rev. Rodrigo Valenzuela Rios, C.S.C., was ordained in the District of Chile on April 21, 2012 by Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati of Santiago, Chile. Fr. Rodrigo teaches theology at Saint George’s College in Santiago, and serves as a campus minister there. He also assists at Nuestra Señora de la Merced, a parish in Calle Larga, near Santiago.

In the year before being ordained a priest, Fr. Rodrigo spent 10 days on a mission trip to a village in Chile called Quilacahuín. It was among the people of this small, rural village that Fr. Rodrigo discovered just what kind of priest he was called to be. Quilacahuín sits among winding and unpaved roads in rural southern Chile, and people there live in wooden houses that often do not outlast the winter winds and rain. Villagers suffer from the lack of a steady supply of drinking water and extremely hot weather in the summer.

During his mission trip, Fr. Rodrigo blessed houses and helped to celebrate the Mass. He even walked for many miles to bring the Eucharist to the sick and elderly who were unable to travel to the village chapel.

“For the people we visited, … and for me personally, it was unforgettable,” Fr. Rodrigo said. “There, fatigue did not bother me, nor did having few hours of sleep. The main thing was to share this immense joy of proclaiming a Christ who is alive. “I believe this was one of the experiences that … helped me decide the type of Holy Cross priest I have been called to be.”

Fr. Rodrigo said his work as a missionary showed him the true meaning of service, giving of oneself freely, and gratefulness. Serving the people of Quilacahuín changed Fr. Rodrigo, and set a course for his priesthood. He went from “being a missionary to being missioned to,” he said. “Without a doubt, it has been a time of grace, in which God has used our hands and our voices to proclaim his Gospel, and to proclaim his Good News.”

Rev. Paul Kollman, C.S.C., Appointed to Direct Center for Social Concerns at Notre Dame

2012-04-17T13:00:00-04:00

Rev. Paul V. Kollman, C.S.C., associate professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, has been appointed executive director of the University’s Center for Social Concerns, effective July 1.

“Father Paul Kollman’s scholarship and teaching, his commitment to Catholic social teaching and his administrative experience all uniquely equip him for leadership of the Center for Social Concerns,” said Don Pope-Davis, vice president and associate provost for undergraduate studies.

Fr. Kollman has spent this semester teaching theology at Tangaza College in Nairobi.

“I’m humbled and honored to be asked to lead the Center for Social Concerns,” Father Kollman said. “I look forward to building on the vision of my predecessors, Center founder Father Don McNeill, C.S.C., and Father Bill Lies, C.S.C., and working with the host of talented and committed colleagues who have made the Center a vibrant place of engaged scholarship and service learning. I’m confident that together we can deepen the Center’s role in bringing together education of mind and heart, a goal long central to the mission of the Congregation of Holy Cross and of Notre Dame.”

A native of Cincinnati and a 1984 Notre Dame alumnus, Father Kollman earned a master’s degree in theology from the University in 1990, and a doctoral degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 2001.

Fr. Kollman’s theological scholarship and teaching concern African Christianity, mission history and world Christianity, and he has pursued research in eastern Africa, Nigeria and South Africa, as well as in Europe and the United States. He has published articles and reviews in numerous journals of theology, religious studies and African studies, and a 2005 book, “The Evangelization of Slaves and Catholic Origins in Eastern Africa.” He is at work on a book on the Catholic missionary evangelization of eastern Africa and a study of the Catholic Charismatic Movement in Africa.

Recently serving as Acting Director of the Center for Social Concerns, Fr. Kollman has worked with the center since 2004, and in 2009, with Center for Social Concerns Assistant Director Rachel Tomas Morgan, he was co-author of an article in the New Theology Review on the challenges and opportunities of service-learning at Catholic universities.

In addition to his work with the Center for Social Concerns, Kollman serves as a fellow of Notre Dame’s Kellogg Institute for International Studies, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Nanovic Institute for European Studies.

As Center for Social Concerns Executive Director, Fr. Kollman succeeds Rev. William M. Lies, C.S.C., who was recently appointed Notre Dame’s Vice President for Mission Engagement and Church Affairs. Under Fr. Lies’ leadership, the Center for Social Concerns was designated as a University institute.

Originally published by Michael O. Garvey at newsinfo.nd.edu on April 16, 2012.

Fr. Matthew Kuczora, C.S.C., Ordained

2012-04-16T07:00:00-04:00

On Saturday, April 14, the United States Province of Priests and Brothers celebrated the Ordination of their brother Rev. Matthew C. Kuczora, C.S.C., to the priesthood at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

Provincial Superior Rev. David T. Tyson, C.S.C., presented Kuczora for Ordination to the Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, who conferred the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Kuczora made his Final Profession of Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, in August 2011. With those vows, he already committed to live his life in communion with the life and the work of the Congregation. As a Holy Cross priest, Fr. Kuczora will now focus his discipleship through a life of making God known, loved and served across all borders.

When Fr. Tyson received Rev. Mr. Kuczora’s Final Vows last August, he said in his homily, “Matt’s journey of discipleship led him to Holy Cross … he has found that the mission of Holy Cross is not one that belongs to us as individuals. Rather, our mission, which is the Lord’s, is a mission that we hold in common, and that is nurtured by our common prayer, our common life, and our common effort – all of this with the Eucharist at the center.”

Speaking about his Ordination to the priesthood, Fr. Kuczora said, "The diversity of ministry in Holy Cross and the joy with which its priests and brothers carry it out first drew me to begin this process. Now, years later, I stand on that firm foundation and feel God calling me to continue that work, making Him present for all people. As Fr. Jacques Dujarie, a driving force in the formation of Holy Cross, once said, 'I am a priest to be father to the orphan, the consolation of the widow, the support of the poor and the friend of the suffering.' I am overjoyed to celebrate a call fulfilled and a new life of service begun."

Fr. Kuczora, the oldest of five children born to Paul and Pamela Kuczora, grew up in Marion, Ind., where he and his family were members of St. Paul Catholic Church. He attended Marion High School and graduated cum laude in 2005 from Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accountancy. He also received a Master of Divinity degree from Notre Dame in May 2011.

Fr. Kuczora’s family members and close friends participated in his Ordination Mass. His parents Mr. & Mrs. Paul & Pam Kuczora along with Drs. Michael & Meaghan Keller (brother-in-law & sister); Ms. Madeleine Kuczora (sister); Ms. Molly Kuczora (sister); and Ms. Meredith Kuczora (sister) all were Gift Bearers.

For the past year, Kuczora served as a Deacon at Nuestra Madre Santísima de la Luz Parish, a Holy Cross parish in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He also served as Director of Postulants (a program to provide candidates with an introduction to the history, spirituality, charism, life, and work of the Congregation of Holy Cross). After Ordination, Fr. Kuczora will return to Mexico.

Fr. Kuczora celebrated his first Mass, a Mass of Thanksgiving, on Sunday, April 15 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

View the pictures and video from Fr. Kuczora's Ordination here.

Deacon Kuczora's upcoming Ordination is a joyous time for the entire Congregation of Holy Cross. Read a reflection from Fr. Ken Molinaro, C.S.C., First Assistant Provincial and Vicar of the U.S. Province.

Deacon Kuczora's recently attended the Papal visit in Silao, Mexico and was able to assit during Mass. Read his story in Today's Catholic.

Stonehill Alumni Magazine Recognizes Holy Cross Contributions

2012-04-13T06:00:00-04:00

Stonehill College was founded in 1948 in Easton, Mass., by the Congregation of Holy Cross and is sponsored by the United States Province.

Currently there are 16 Holy Cross religious serving at the College.

In Stonehill Alumni Magazine's Spring issue, homage is paid to the current Holy Cross religious serving at the College and two C.S.C. greats that made a lasting impression with one professor.

UP Named Top University for "Return on Investment"

2012-04-13T06:00:00-04:00

Bloomberg Businessweek has named University of Portland the top school in Oregon for “return on investment” for the second consecutive year. In a state-by-state ranking of schools providing graduates with the most return for the price of their education, University of Portland came out on top among all colleges and universities in Oregon.

Bloomberg Businessweek estimates that the 30-year net return on investment for University of Portland students is $327,600, or an annual return of 8.6 percent. UP’s net return on investment is more than twice the national average of $152,114 for all 1,248 schools included in the rankings and places UP among the top 15% of schools nationwide.

University of Portland – ranked 193 overall – was the only college or university in Oregon to be ranked among the top 200 schools nationwide, and the only college or university in the Portland area to be ranked among the top 650.

“This ranking shows that the University of Portland is a sound investment for our students and their families,” said University president Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C. “But what I am most proud of is that as our students continue to outperform their competition, they are still true to the university’s core tenets of educating the hand, heart and mind. Our students do great things in the fields of business, medicine, law, nonprofits and more but they also contribute greatly to their communities in a variety of ways both on The Bluff and after they graduate.”

UP has been sponsored by Holy Cross since 1901 when the University of Portland was known as Columbia. Since then, Holy Cross priests and brothers have served at the University of Portland, carrying out the vision of our founder, Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., to educate the hearts and minds of students. In every endeavor at the university, Holy Cross is helping to shape faithful citizens who will go forth to inspire, lead, and improve the world.

Read more about this latest recognition for UP by visiting the University's website.

Notre Dame to Award Fr. Tyson with Honorary Degree

2012-04-12T13:00:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame will award an honorary degree to Provincial Superior Rev. David Tyson, C.S.C., along with 10 others, during it's 167th Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 20. Fr. Tyson will receive a Doctor of Laws.

Fr. Tyson is a member of the Board of Trustees for Notre Dame and the former president of the University of Portland. Born in Gary, Ind., he earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Theology at Notre Dame, as well as a doctorate in Education from Indiana University. After his Ordination in 1975, Fr. Tyson held various positions at Notre Dame, including Admissions Counselor, Assistant Rector, Business Professor, Executive Assistant to the President and Vice President for Student Affairs. He was selected to lead the University of Portland in 1990 and led a major expansion of its campus, endowed teaching chairs and funding, including a tripling of the university’s endowment. He became Provincial Superior in 2003.

Read more about the other 10 distinguished figures in business, education, engineering, law, mathematics, media, medicine and the Catholic Church that Notre Dame will be honoring.

Stonehill Professors Ranked Among the Best

2012-04-10T15:00:00-04:00

Stonehill College has two of the country's best undergraduate teachers according to The Princeton Review. The Massachusetts-based education services company-widely-known for its test-prep courses, books, and student survey-based college rankings-profiles Professors Richard Capobianco (Philosphy) and Jared Green (English) in its new book, The Best 300 Professors (Random House/Princeton Review).

Published April 3, 2012, The Best 300 Professors is a project that The Princeton Review teamed up with RateMyProfessors.com - the highest-trafficked college professor ratings site in the U.S.-to develop.

Read the complete story on Stonehill's website.

Fifth annual Father Ted's 10K helps youth get a running start on education

2012-04-10T11:00:00-04:00

Father Ted’s 10K, the fifth annual race for TRiO Upward Bound at the University of Notre Dame, will start at 10 a.m. April 29 (Sunday) at the Jordan Hall of Science.

This 5K and 10K competitive race and family walk provides a spring tour of campus with University landmarks such as the lakes, south quad, library and Golden Dome.

For the first time, the race will chip-timed with digital tags embedded in the race bibs. Participants will see their name in lights when they cross the finish line. A post-race prayer service also will be held this year. This race is part of the Michiana Runners Association official race circuit for 2012. Father Ted’s 10K is the only Michiana 10K race in April.

This family-friendly morning will include entertainment, refreshments and prizes. Participants get a T-shirt and a goodie bag. All proceeds will benefit college scholarships for low-income and first-generation students in TRiO Upward Bound, a college preparatory program at Notre Dame that serves high school students in South Bend and surrounding schools. Through academic services such as tutoring, college visits, summer classes on campus, leadership conferences and motivational speakers, TRiO programs have been helping students from South Bend successfully enroll and complete post-secondary education for more than 40 years.

Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., president emeritus of Notre Dame, also known as “Father Ted,” helped to bring TRiO Programs to the University in the 1960s as a way to expand educational opportunity.

Organizers expect more than 400 Notre Dame students, staff and Michiana community members to come out and help support local youth. Register by April 20 (Friday) for a discount by clicking on the Father Ted’s link at upwardbound.nd.edu.

Race-day registration is also available on-site starting at 9 a.m.

Contact: Melissa Lindley, race director, 574-631-6835, m.lindley@nd.edu; Stephen Ponzillo, TRiO Program director, 574-631-9004, stephen.ponzillo@nd.edu

Originally published by Melissa Lindley at newsinfo.nd.edu on April 09, 2012.

Holy Cross Deacon Assists at Papal Mass

2012-04-04T16:00:00-04:00

Rev. Mr. Matthew Kuczora, C.S.C., currently serving at Nuestra Madre Santísima de la Luz Parish in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, had the spiritually rewarding experience of seeing Pope Benedict XVI on his recent trip to Silao, Mexico. Deacon Kuczora was also able to assist at Mass.

Deacon Kuczora shared his story with Today's Catholic, the diocesan newspaper for Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., in the April 8, 2012 issue.

Kuczora will be Ordained on Saturday, April 14 at 2:00 p.m. at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. After Ordination, Kuczora will return to Mexico. Father Kuczora will celebrate his first Mass, a Mass of Thanksgiving, on Sunday, April 15 at 11:45 a.m. at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Holy Cross Makes ND Student Paper Headlines

2012-03-28T17:40:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame's student run newspaper, The Observer, recently ran two articles about Holy Cross.

Week Celebrates Holy Cross recapped an exciting night of discusion among the Holy Cross religious on campus and the faculty, staff and students.

Campus Ministry to Welcome New Director interviews Rev. James King, C.S.C., about his new role with the University and what it means for the spiritual life of students.

Notre Dame Named to Public Service Honor Roll

2012-03-28T10:00:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame has been named with distinction to the 2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll in recognition of the role it plays in solving community problems; achieving meaningful, measurable outcomes in the communities it serves; and placing students on a lifelong path of civic engagement.

Notre Dame is one of four Indiana colleges and universities to be selected with distinction. The Corporation for National and Community Service releases the Community Service Honor Roll annually.

“At Notre Dame, we consider community service an integral component of our mission to educate the heart and the mind,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president. “I am always impressed by the numerous ways our students and employees choose to serve others both in the local community and across the world.”

Community service and community engagement efforts at Notre Dame range across University units and are integral to the academy. Last year, the University offered 119 community-based learning courses and had more than 200 undergraduate students engaged in community-based research. Community service and engagement efforts include mentoring by student-athletes; teacher professional development in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; tutoring and arts programming at the Robinson Community Learning Center; and service through student clubs and organizations.

Last year alone, Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns (CSC) estimates that 3,436 Notre Dame students gave more than 188,000 hours of service at 60 local community agencies, a 3 percent increase in the number of students from the previous year. Nationally, 1,139 students took part in service-learning courses at more than 331 sites as part of the CSC Summer Service Learning Program or the Social Concerns Seminars. All of these efforts would not be possible without the insight, expertise and commitment of community partners locally and nationally.

Launched in 2006, the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll annually recognizes institutions of higher education for their commitment to and achievement in community service. The President’s Honor Roll increases the public’s awareness of the contributions that colleges and their students make to local communities and the nation as a whole.

Contact: Jay Brandenberger, director of research and assessment, Center for Social Concerns, 574-631-5293, jbranden@nd.edu

Originally published by John Guimond at newsinfo.nd.edu on March 27, 2012.