Photos provided by the Holy Cross Mission Center.
The Holy Cross Mission Center (HCMC) is pleased to share the following updates from our continued engagement with the community:
- Holy Cross Missions Student Essay Contest deadline extended: The Holy Cross Missions Student Essay Contest submission deadline has been extended until 11:59 p.m. on September 30! Thank you to all the students who have submitted essays sharing their immersion experiences and reflecting on the Holy Cross ministries they served. We look forward to reading the additional submissions and hearing more about how immersion experiences have shaped students’ understanding of the international Holy Cross Mission. Learn more and apply at studentessaycontest.holycrossmissions.org.
- World Mission Month SWAG preparation: HCMC Outreach Coordinator Maria Kangapadan and Office Coordinator Paula Lent prepared for World Mission Month (WMM) by ordering HCMC T-shirts, pens, luggage tags, stickers, prayer cards, pop-up banners, and tablecloths. These materials will be distributed to parishes and campus ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross to invite community members ahead of the start of World Mission Month in October to participate in the international Holy Cross Mission. To learn more about WMM and find ways to participate, visit wmmresources.holycrossmissions.org.
- University of Notre Dame Student Activities Fair: On September 1, Maria represented the Holy Cross Mission Center at the University of Notre Dame Student Activities Fair. Maria spoke with students about the Holy Cross missions supported by the Baraka Bouts and Bengal Bouts boxing clubs, highlighting the communities and ministries that benefit from the clubs’ fundraising and mission engagement. She also connected interested students with current boxers so they could hear firsthand about their experiences as members of the clubs while balancing their responsibilities as students.
- Bengal Bouts and HCMC discuss potential Bangladesh immersion trip: On September 2, Bengal Bouts Outreach Captain Ben McVeigh and President Jake Loughran met with HCMC staff to discuss the possibility of an immersion trip to Bangladesh with the University of Notre Dame Men’s Boxing Club. HCMC Director Fr. Tom Eckert, C.S.C., Assistant Director Michael Jezewak, and Maria shared their experiences with immersion trips and discussed the various steps and procedures involved in planning a fruitful immersion trip. The Bengal Bouts captains are now working through next steps with the University to ensure that a potential trip follows all applicable University procedures.
- World Mission Month planning luncheon: On September 9 and 10, the HCMC hosted World Mission Month planning conversations with representatives from Holy Cross parishes and ministries, including parish staff and Twinning Site Liaisons. Melonie Mulkey, director of communications and marketing at St. Joseph Catholic Church in South Bend, attended in person at Moreau Seminary and Scholasticate, while Communications Coordinator Christy Yanez and Senior Priest and Twinning Site Liaison Rev. Pete Logsdon, C.S.C., both from St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in Austin, Texas, and Echo Graduate Service Program Intern Danielle Schmitz, from Holy Cross Parish in Easton, Massachusetts, joined virtually. The conversations helped prepare representatives for World Mission Month and its focus on engaging communities in the international Holy Cross Mission. As part of this preparation, each Holy Cross parish and campus ministry within the United States Province will receive an HCMC swag box with materials to promote the Holy Cross Mission within their respective apostolates. Maria is delivering boxes to local parishes, while boxes for parishes outside of South Bend have been shipped directly.
- Baraka Bouts Club begins programming: Mission Mondays for Notre Dame Women’s Boxing Club, Baraka Bouts, began on September 7, providing weekly opportunities for boxers to learn more about the Holy Cross ministries they support: St. Joseph’s Hill Senior Secondary School (S.S.S.) and Holy Cross Lake View S.S.S. in Uganda. Through speakers, educational resources, and conversations, Mission Mondays help participants deepen their understanding of the international Holy Cross Mission and the impact of their fundraising efforts. Maria attended the September 14 Mission Monday, introducing herself to the club following a presentation from one of the Baraka Bouts captains on fundraising efforts and opportunities. On September 23, Michael gave a presentation to the boxers about his recent trip to Uganda, sharing his experiences visiting both St. Joseph’s Hill S.S.S. and Holy Cross Lake View S.S.S. and helping the boxers learn more about the schools and communities they support.
- On Friday, September 18, Baraka Bouts also held its annual Power 12-Hour Fundraiser outside the Notre Dame Bookstore. Baraka Bouts boxers worked out as a team on the lawn behind the bookstore, completing different exercises while selling merchandise and soliciting donations from community members and visitors to campus. This season, Baraka Bouts is fundraising to support a new faculty/staff housing unit at St. Joseph’s Hill Senior Secondary School in Kyembogo-Kyenjojo, Uganda. Donate, learn more, or buy tournament tickets at barakabouts.holycrossmissions.org.
- Alumni Hall runs for Martin Hall in Bangladesh: For 12 hours between 12:31 a.m. and 12:31 p.m. on Friday, September 18, the men of Alumni Hall at the University of Notre Dame held their “5th First Annual Dog Jog” on South Quad. Many thanks to Alumni rector Br. Dennis Gunn, CFC, and his hall leaders for keeping this tradition alive and supporting the young Bangladeshi men of Martin Hall a half a world away. Rev. Geoff Mooney, C.S.C, a high school math teacher in Indianapolis, also participated in the run to help raise funds for Alumni Hall’s Twinning Partner, Martin Hall. The fundraising will continue on November 6 with “Dawgtoberfest,” an Oktoberfest-themed event featuring food, games, and a dunk tank. If you will be on the University of Notre Dame campus, stop by South Quad from approximately 1 to 5 p.m. to support their fundraising efforts for Martin Hall.
- Bengal Bouts fundraising statistics: HCMC Project Coordinator Delila Baca and Maria compiled statistics highlighting the impact of fundraising by the University of Notre Dame Men’s and Women’s Boxing Clubs on the Holy Cross ministries they support. The Men’s Boxing Club supports the Sacred Heart (priests) and St. Joseph (brothers) Provinces of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Bangladesh, while the Women’s Boxing Club supports St. Joseph’s Hill S.S.S. and Holy Cross Lake View S.S.S. in Uganda. These statistics will help the boxing clubs better understand how their fundraising translates into support for communities they support and assists the clubs with fundraising this season. To learn more about the University of Notre Dame boxing clubs, visit ndboxing.holycrossmissions.org.
- Twinning Kickoff Event preparations: Following the Twinning Kickoff information session with international Twinning Site Liaisons in July, initial Twinning Kickoff planning calls between international and U.S. Twinning Site Liaisons took place in August. These conversations began preparations for Kickoff Events between Twinning Partners during World Mission Month in October. These Kickoff Events will take place between October 5 and 9 to build and foster a culture of encounter between Twinning Partners. Thank you to all the Twinning Site Liaisons for participating and continuing to strengthen these relationships.
- Baraka Bouts and the HCMC collaboration continues: On September 23, Maria met with Baraka Bouts Missions Captain Maisie Jenuwine to continue strengthening the partnership between Baraka Bouts and the Holy Cross Mission Center. They discussed continued collaboration around Mission Mondays, Maria’s outreach to pastors regarding parish ticket sales for the club, and opportunities for Baraka Bouts boxers to volunteer during Holy Cross Missions Weekend at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Baraka Bouts captains and boxers will be present at tables outside the Basilica during the weekend of October 10 and 11, when the University of Notre Dame hosts Stanford. Community members and visitors to campus are invited to stop by and learn more about Baraka Bouts and the Holy Cross Mission during the post-game Mass on Saturday, or the 8am, 10am, and noon Masses on Sunday at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus.
Provided by Holy Cross Mission Center Outreach Coordinator Maria Kangapadan, September 2026
