University of Notre Dame’s new president aims to be a bridge-builder

NOTRE DAME, Ind. (OSV News) — When Holy Cross Father Theodore Hesburgh became president of the University of Notre Dame in 1952, there was no search committee or formal inauguration ceremony.

He received his “obedience” from the provincial superior. On the way out of church, his predecessor, Holy Cross Father John Cavanaugh, reached in his lapel pocket, handed Father “Ted,” as he was best known, the keys to the president’s office and told him to get to work.

The investiture of the 18th president of Notre Dame, Holy Cross Father Robert A. Dowd was a bit more involved, and it extended over Sept. 12 and 13, just before two feasts with particular significance for the Congregation of Holy Cross: the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14) and Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept. 15).

It was under the leadership of Father Hesburgh that responsibility for the university passed from the Holy Cross order to a largely lay board of trustees. Since they were responsible for choosing the successor to Holy Cross Father John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president from 2005 until the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, it was John B. Veihmeyer, board chairman, who hung the Presidential Medal around Father Dowd’s neck and presented him with the University Mace that symbolizes his authority.

The inauguration Notre Dame Forum events Sept. 12 included four “fireside chats” with distinguished leaders in global development, technology, philanthropy and foreign affairs. The new president chose the theme for this year’s forum: “What do we owe each other?”

Since its establishment in 2005, the annual Notre Dame Forum invites campus-wide dialogue about an issue of importance to the university, the nation and the world.

After experiencing mild cold symptoms, Father Dowd tested positive for COVID Sept. 10, so he was masked during the morning Mass Sept. 13 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and for most of the afternoon investiture ceremony. Since his voice was a bit “raspy,” Bishop Patrick M. Neary, who heads the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minn., and himself a Holy Cross priest, gave the homily and was the principal celebrant of the Mass. Five other bishops and many brother priests were concelebrants.

The Mass featured special readings chosen for the occasion: Wisdom’s invitation from the Book of Proverbs; a reflection on wisdom from James, read in Spanish; and Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth, including the Magnificat.

Bishop Neary began his homily by jokingly paraphrasing the Gospel question, “Can any good thing come out of Michigan City?” — the hometown of his friend “Bobby Dowd.” He then proclaimed that Divine Providence has chosen the new president and will guide him, having already prepared him through his family of origin, his time in East Africa and his varied responsibilities at the university in campus ministry, political science, interdisciplinary and international relationships.

He called the two previous presidents — Father Jenkins and his predecessor, Holy Cross Father Edward “Monk” Malloy (1987-2005) — “wisdom figures” on whom Father Dowd can rely.

“Like a sea captain setting out on a voyage, you’re bound to feel excitement and trepidation,” Bishop Neary said, “But don’t be intimidated by your own weakness. Rely on Jesus Christ, who loves you and has called you to this mission.” He pointed out that Notre Dame’s fundamental mission is Eucharistic and recommended turning often to the intercession of the Lady lifted high on the golden dome.

Individual prayers of the faithful were read not only in English but in Bengali, Portuguese, Vietnamese, French, Irish and Kiswahili. Gifts were brought forward by Father Dowd’s sister Mary Wiegand and other members of the Wiegand family; the new president had celebrated the funeral of his mother, Norma, in August.

Before the afternoon convocation, trumpeters beside the steps to the university’s Main Building heralded a reading by Holy Cross Father Greg Haake — first in French, then in English — of letters from Father Edward Sorin, founder of Notre Dame, to his Holy Cross superior, Blessed Father Basil Moreau, about the “excellent piece of property” surrounding a snow-covered lake on which he envisioned a college that would become a powerful means for good for the entire country.

A long line of academics, visiting dignitaries and selected students processed from the Main Building to Purcell Pavilion for the investiture, with provost John McGreevy serving as emcee. Music was provided by almost 400 student members of the concert band and combined choirs.

Attendees heard from representatives of many different constituencies, including student body president Dawson Kiser, who had earlier presented Father Dowd with the vestments he wore at Mass, white and gold befitting the celebration, with a trace of Notre Dame blue and gold. He exhorted the new president to “be you — and be more than you, be Notre Dame.”

There was also a graduate student, a faculty member, Holy Cross Father William Lies, provincial superior of his congregation’s U.S. province, and an international counterpart, President Ignacio Sánchez Diaz from the Pontifical Catholic University in Chile.

In his remarks after his official inauguration as Notre Dame’s new president, Father Dowd quoted Father Hesburgh, who asked, “If we’re afraid to be different from the world, how can we make a difference in the world?”

Father Hesburgh said the Catholic university must bridge the chasms that separate modern people from each other. The problem is obvious: The chasms are widening. But this is also our opportunity. “Notre Dame must be the bridge,” declared Father Dowd, “and all of us must be bridge-builders,” rejecting an either/or mentality in favor of both/and.

He pointed out that the University of Notre Dame has many strengths. Forbes recently named it a top employer among educational institutions, and its world-class faculty explain it being the only faith-based university named to the American Institute of Universities. We strive for excellence, said Father Dowd, but he underlined that excellence must be holistic and bridges built on a firm moral foundation lest they buckle.

His threefold presidential program includes more pathways to Notre Dame for students of varying means and backgrounds, more collaboration as a community of learners, and expanded engagement with the world, including the city of South Bend.

For students, including international students, those pathways will include being loan-free and need-blind, so that no student admitted to the university has to worry about incurring debt.

The new president said that he plans to remain a resident of Cavanaugh Hall, which identifies itself as the Chaos. After all, learning to live together is an important lesson of dorm life as we learn to bring out the best in others, with humility and humanity.

He ended his remarks by reminiscing about coming to a Notre Dame football game as a child and asking his dad, a ’56 grad, about the lady on top of the dome. In an age of anti-Catholic bigotry, Father Sorin erecting Our Lady up there was an act of faith rather than defiance.

Noting that Our Lady has her hands extended to all, Father Dowd concluded, “Join me and the Blessed Mother. We are Notre Dame. Let us be the Notre Dame the world needs now.”

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the key to the president’s office. Then Father Dowd knelt with Father Jenkins and Father Malloy on either side of him to offer their blessing.

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, offered a final benediction, with “Notre Dame Our Mother” concluding the convocation.

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