5 Questions with Sister Mary Lynch, SSJ

How often do we live with people in our dorms, walk by them, and not know their stories? This week, I decided to explore the story of McGlinn’s rectress, Sister Mary Lynch, SSJ.

Sister Mary worked as a campus minister, a high school theology teacher, and a Formation Director for the Mount St Joseph Convent in Philadelphia before coming to Notre Dame. She has now been the rectress of McGlinn for the past 9 nine years and continuously gives back to her residents in many different ways. Here is just a bit of her story in her words:

How to did you discern your calling to become a nun?

I had a sense that I was being called to religious life. It is not easy to put it into words. I tried not to think about it and it kept coming back.

How did you decide what order to join?

I had the Sisters of St. Joseph in grade school and I have two aunts in the community. Also, the charism spoke to me and I felt that it resonated with my desire to live.

What was your story in terms of coming to Notre Dame?

I was doing internal ministry for the congregation. It was no longer needed so I decided to look for another ministry. I had thought of the rector position two other times in my life but those times were not the right time for me to pursue this ministry.

What is your favorite part of being at Notre Dame? 

Working with students and walking with them through these four years of great growth and maturity.

What is your least favorite part?

The administrative parts of the rector role.

A Guide to Holy Week on Campus

Holy Week has come to Notre Dame. Whether you plan to spend the weekend on campus or at home, this week is an important time to pray and prepare for the death and resurrection of Christ.

Holy Week at ND is definitely something that students should try immerse themselves in at some point during their time here. The choirs rehearse all week, creating truly awesome music. The Basilica itself is a beautiful place to pray and reflect. There are few places you can have such a rich Holy Week experience as you can here, so take advantage of it in any way you can.

If you plan to stay on campus this year, here are a few tips to help you navigate the various Basilica liturgies.

1-    Come Early- like really early. No matter who you ask, you will always hear the same thing- getting to the Basilica early is necessary for getting a seat. The estimated times are: Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper- 1 to 2 hours early; Tenebrae- At least 1 hour early; Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion - 1 to 2 hours early; Good Friday Stations of the Cross- 45 minutes early; Saturday Easter Vigil- 2 to 3 hours early[K1] . Make it your priority to get to each service early or you may risk missing it all together. If you have a large group, make sure to come even earlier to make sure you have enough seats. As a general rule, saving seats is frowned upon.

2-    Know the Schedule. With so many events going on for Holy Week, it is important to know when each event starts. The Campus Ministry website has a convenient schedule for the week[K2] . You might want to consider printing it off, deciding what services you want to go to and how early you wish to arrive for them.

3-    Confession Time. As Catholics, it’s recommended that you go to Confession once a year, usually before Easter. Luckily, Notre Dame makes it really easy to get that confession in this week as they offer reconciliation several times a day. See the website for a full schedule [K3] or check out the cards available in dorms that include an  Examination of Conscious along with confession times.

4-    Eat. One recommendation I received from several people was to definitely enjoy the food this weekend. The Dining Hall offers an Easter Buffet, which is very delicious. For a full menu, see the food service website[K4] . There is also an unofficial student tradition of going to Steak and Shake with friends after the Easter Vigil (and drinking a shake if you gave up sweets for Lent)/

5-    Enjoy the Experience. Notre Dame’s Holy Week gives you so many opportunities to really make the most of this important time of the liturgical year. In addition to the masses, there are morning prayer services (Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 9 a.m.) and Sunday Night Vespers (at 7:15 p.m.). There are also several opportunities unique for students, such as the Campus Wide Stations of the Cross (Tuesday night 8 p.m. at the Grotto) and Student Easter Mass (Sunday 9p.m. Basilica).

A Letter to my Sister on her Confirmation

Dear Ruth, 

As your sponsor, I’ve been trying to think of a way to talk to you about Confirmation and everything you have to be excited about in becoming a full member of the Catholic Church. It’s easy to talk about these things to people who say prayers daily, never miss Sunday mass, and have lists of their favorite saints. But you, alas, are not that Confirmandi (though let’s face it- we know our mom was).

You often tell us that you aren’t sure God exists, though you often tell us about how you see signs of God in your life. You talk about how you see God answering your prayers. You often drag your feet when we go to mass as a family, yet you go to confession more than anyone else in our family. You complain about doing service hours, yet you always step up to serve- whether at your school or in the community. You have so much anger toward God, but in many ways you have the beginning of a rich relationship with God too.

You are full of passion and fire for the things you care about. You are never afraid to stand up for the things you believe in. I was talking to your catechist today, and he beamed when he told me about how you taught the class to always remember not to refer to God as “he.” I think you often worry that being a person of faith will stop you from being the strong woman you are. What you don’t see is that you can be both. You can take your thirst for justice and equality and channel it into your faith. There are so many women of faith who are able to make a huge difference in the world (link). God is always calling you to take your talents, your strengths, and passions and use them to help other. You just need to listen to God and find your call!

I can’t promise that I will always be a perfect model of faith, but I’m so happy you picked me to be your sponsor. I can, however, promise that I will always be there for you- if you have questions about God and faith, if you want someone to pray with you, or even just to listen to you. So on this very happy and blessed occasion, I encourage you to recognize that this is the start of your new grown up faith life. A chance to show the world how you can live your faith in your own way.

Sincerely,
Megan

Journeys of Love and Acceptance: LGBT Retreat

In 1998, students who wanted to take part in Campus Ministry’s LGBT retreat took an application from a secret drawer, separate from the wall of applications for the other retreats. The retreat itself was held in a hotel off campus Retreat talks focused mainly on finding the courage to “come out” and on finding a life within the church. And, after the retreat, follow-up discussions and reunions were also held off campus. Everything was done so that students could keep their sexuality a secret.

“It was a different place in society and acceptance,” said Tami Schmitz, Campus Ministry’s Director of Undergraduate Ministry who once worked on the LGBT retreat. Over time “straight” allies were invited to come on the retreat as well, which Schmitz said made it a happier experience, as students were joined by their friends, RAs, and other supporters. Eventually though, the core of student leaders who supported and lead the retreat graduated, and the retreat was no longer offered. “Not because Campus Ministry didn’t want it, but because it ran its course,” Schmitz explained.

Since then, Notre Dame has experienced changes that have helped grow the university in the areas of equality and inclusion. The creation of a full-time Gender Relations Center, the changes to the inclusion clause, and the creation of the “Beloved Friends and Allies” plan,which prompted the creation of PrismND, have all made it possible for the LGBT retreat to return to Notre Dame.

This spring, PrismND in partnership with Campus Ministry and Gender Relations, is offering a new and improved LGBT retreat. Gone is the secret off-campus location and the hidden application forms. Just like ND’s many other retreats, this year’s LGBT retreat will be housed at Sacred Heart Parish Center and the application is available online. It is entirely student lead and has been organized by Stephen Fisher with help from Prism’s Spiritual Committee and Campus Ministry’s Pastoral Care and Outreach Coordinator Ed Mack.

“As PrismND develops the retreat, we draw upon our past experiences with the Freshman Retreat, Senior Retreat, Latino Freshman Retreat, Asian/Asian American Retreats, and the Silent Retreat, as well as our experiences with spiritual direction and Campus Ministry’s interfaith resources,” Fisher said. “At the same time, we have tailored this retreat to serve and respect a diverse LGBT community with a variety of experiences regarding faith, spirituality, and sexuality, including those that are Catholic and non-Catholic. I cannot predict how the manifold influences on the retreat or the insights shared by the retreatants will shape the conversation on LGBTQ issues, but with certainty I can say it will provide for a intellectual, spiritual, and social experience.”

Fisher is full of enthusiasm for the retreat. “Others and I are excited because it’s Notre Dame’s mission to nurture an inclusive campus for every individual student. Recognizing that the current campus climate for LGBTQ students presents its unique strengths and challenges, PrismND’s Spirituality Committee first met to ask ourselves how we could contribute to this mission. We made a choice to create a retreat where LGBT students could come to reflect and rest, and begin to share their questions and experiences with faith, spirituality, sexuality, and gender identity. To accomplish this in the context of community--we hope-- will foster a deeper sense of fellowship among LGBT students at Notre Dame. To see that unfold will be priceless,” Fisher said.

The retreat will include talks by four student speakers, unique prayer experience, and time to reflect and socialize with new friends. It is open to all students at Notre Dame, St Mary’s, and Holy Cross, but it is primarily geared toward students who identify as LGBTQ.

40 Days, 40 Acts of Kindness

I am the master of coping out at Lent. I once gave up French fries, a food I rarely eat. Another year, I gave up coffee. I was nine. I’d watch my family and friends challenge themselves by depriving themselves of sweets, junk food, and comforts, while I just didn’t.

I started thinking a while back that it was high time to re-evaluate how I spend my Lent. I realized that maybe giving up stuff isn’t the thing for me. In the pursuit of happiness, a word I’ve been reflecting on a lot lately, I decided to change my mindset. Instead of giving things up, I’ve decided to do the opposite. Instead of taking away things I enjoy in my life, I’ve decided to bring greater happiness to other people.

I’ve always been a huge fan of random acts of kindness. Long before I started my blogging career, I was a frequent follower of kindness blogs. I love reading about the creative ways people choose to give back to others. Some of my favorite blogs are about people who worked as “secret agents” to hide gift cards and other goodies around public places as gifts for strangers, and others about people who challenge themselves to acts of kindness every day.

Despite being an avid reader of kindness blogs, I’ve never actually done any true act of kindness. My dad was always great it. When we’d go out to lunch at our favorite greasy spoon after church on Sunday, he would always get the bill of a different table at the restaurant- whether it be a young mother with her child or a table of teenage boys. He was always careful to remain anonymous, making sure we ran out of the restaurant before they knew who had paid their bill. I always admired this action and hoped to emulate his kind ways, yet I never did.

Hence, I decided to make random acts of kindness my mission for Lent. 40 Days, 40 Random Acts of Kindness (or more if I can find the time). I don’t know exactly what direction my acts of kindness will take, but I’m preparing by buying lots of sticky notes, Starbucks gift cards, and cookie making materials. At the same time, I’m a poor college student; I don’t have the money to fund extensive RAKs or even lots of small ones. I want to challenge myself to find ways to help people without spending money- whether it be tutoring a freshman, doing my roommate’s laundry, or lighting candles at the grotto for people who are sick.

I hope that by the end of Lent, I will have brightened people’s lives. More importantly, I hope to become more aware of the people around me whose  lives need to be brightened. In college it is so easy to get caught up in classes and extracurricular, over looking the friend down the hall who is sick, heartbroken, or having a bad day. By the end of this time of reflection, sacrifice, and discipline, I hope to see the world a little bit differently.

Strong Women of Faith

We live in a world that encourages young women to be anything and everything they dream to be. Women now receive more college degrees than ever before. We run businesses, lead nations, and make discoveries in science. It’s an empowering place to live, albeit not perfect, but it has taken on a more positive direction than where we were 25 and certainly 50 years ago.

To me, the greatest struggle of my faith life is reconciling being a feminist (link to http://areyouafeminist.com/) who believes that women can do everything men can, with a religion that doesn’t always feel the same. I don’t have the solution and I don’t think  this is a problem that can be solved in a single moment- or a single blog post.  I do, however, think in times of doubt I can turn to the beautiful, strong women who have served as strong leaders and great beacons of hope for women of faith. These ladies can show us how many awesome things Catholic women can do!

Catherine Doherty- Born a Russian Baroness in 1896, she worked as a nurse, writer, and an advocate for social justice. She emigrated to England and then Canada, converting to Catholicism and leaving behind her title and riches. She founded Friendship House and Madonna House[WU1] , soup kitchens for the poor. She is now a “Servant of God,” the first step on the road to sainthood.

Saint Katherine Drexel- An American Heiress, she visited the west and saw the poverty for Native Americans and African Americans at the time. She decided to become a nun and use her large inheritance to help the poor. She started an order of sisters, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament[WU2] . She also founded Xavier University in New Orleans and other schools across the country for minorities.

Jean Donovan- I’m pretty sure she is the Ke$ha of Catholic women. It is reported thatshe poured alcohol on her cereal and wasn’t afraid to swear. However, she felt a strong call from God to go into service, prompting her to travel to El Salvador as a lay Maryknoll missionary. When things became dangerous in El Salvador, she remained in the country, dedicated to the children and poor in risk. Gravely, her dedication to the poor of El Salvador resulted in her murder[WU3] .

Nuns on the Bus[WU4] - These fiery sisters, lead by Sister Simon Campbell, during the 2012 election boarded a bus and toured the country, speaking on working with the poor and protesting cuts in aid. They continued their mission in 2013, by touring the country to speak on immigration reform. Sister Simon Campbell also spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2012 on helping the poor.

These are just a few examples of the fearless, Catholic women leaders that have made their mark on the world. Many of our country’s hospitals and schools were founded and led by nuns. We have lists upon lists of female saints. Catholic women have had a definitive role in shaping the world and our faith and I hope they continue to do so. Who are some of your favorite female Catholic leaders?

Recommended Reading

As a blogger, having people read my blog and receive feedback on it is very rewarding. In turn, I like to try and read lots of other blogs to see what other students write about, how they think of life and faith, and to gain new insights. So for this week, I thought I’d share a little of my recommended reading with you!

The Irish Blessing
Jen is my partner in crime at Thursday morning blog meetings and is the other undergraduate student blogger within Campus Ministry! Because of this, our blogs pair really well together, as we often write on similar and contrasting issues. Jen’s blog also tries to bring in theology and church teachings. Reading her blog is a great way to learn more about Catholicism and gain a new perspective on some of the topics I cover too

Remaining Unstained
I met Sarah on Sophomore Road Trip and was really excited to discover that she also keeps a blog about faith. Sarah’s blog is always challenging you in your faith life and constantly demanding that you love God and others with your everything. It’s a beautiful message, usually delivered with lots of colorful fonts!
Sarah says, “My blog is about sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone who will click on the link. I love sharing what has been on my heart during the week, and I love even more when people share back with me about what they think or what it taught them. God is so good and I could write about how much I love him all day long!”

The Hunger and Thirst
I’ve known Hayley through Dance Company at Notre Dame and happened upon her blog! Her blog is inspiring and real, often drawing from service she has done or big questions she is grappling with. Her blog is really engaging, as she brings in music, literature, and pictures.
Hayley says, “Whether we realize it or not, each of us is hungry for the joy, love, and fulfillment that God has to offer. My blog is called 'The Hunger and Thirst,' and every Sunday I write about the hunger and thirst I have for Jesus. The title is based off Matthew 5:6, 'Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.'”

I Am Notre Dame
Though this blog isn’t a “faith” blog, it is never the less inspiring and thoughtful. In the tradition of Human’s of New York, this blog works to tell the stories of Notre Dame of anyone who finds their way to our campus (everyone from professors to students to the FEDEX delivery guy). It beautifully captures what it means to be part of the Notre Dame family!

The creator of this blog sent me a lovely reflection of her mission:“I've grown in countless ways since November, when I started the blog. I've learned about photography (especially when shooting squirrels); I've learned about patience. I've learned how to approach strangers and hold conversations with them without seeming either pushy or detached. And I've learned so much about the Notre Dame community. I've talked to Student Council candidates, I've learned what ROTC entails, I've discussed the ins and outs of the dining hall with the swipers, I've talked to the glee club, to a rector, to priests, to ushers, to fans, to seminarians, to alumni, to international students. I honestly believe that, with each interview, I learn something new about this school. And that is invaluable to me, because it might have taken me years to find (or I might not ever have learned) this information, to learn about the clubs and activities on campus.


I really love being a student blogger for Campus Ministry. It’s been a great way to reflect on my faith and grow more authentic in how I live and speak about it. However, my blog is only my unique way of seeing the world, while there are so many others. Reading and gathering unique ideas from other people is one of the absolute blessings about the internet. So make time this week to read a new blog and gain a new perspective. And please be sure to share links with me to some of your favorite blogs as well!