A Q&A with Cross and Anchors Guild member, Joan Mileski. She and her husband, Bill, are 1979 graduates of the University of Notre Dame and have been married for 45 years.
What and when was your initial contact with Holy Cross?
My initial contact with the Holy Cross order was as a new student at the University of Notre Dame in 1975. We would have Mass at the Lewis Hall Chapel. Of course, some of my faculty were priests and brothers. Some were fellow students who were studying for the priesthood.
Were there any particular members who were positive influences, or a particular charism of Holy Cross that was formative?
Then, seminarian, Rev. Dave Porterfield, C.S.C., was a good friend in college, so much so that he married my husband, Bill, and me as one of his first marriages. He also made a statement once that Notre Dame was the Holy Cross family business, which really brought home the importance of the Holy Cross to the mission of Notre Dame.
What compelled you to initially support the work of the Province?
Observation of the good work the boys were doing compelled my support. As I learned more about the mission of the order, I wanted to be part of the mission.
Your monthly contributions began in December 2016 – what prompted you to make a monthly commitment?
For the charities in which I really believe, I make a monthly commitment. I discovered in 2016 that you could direct the charity to charge your credit card. This made it much easier to donate.
Provided by the Office of Mission Advancement, November 2025.
