Your Sunday picture...

Simply beautiful...

...from Notre Dame. Here's a spring view of Mary and the Golden Dome from my favorite place to take photos of the two. As you can imagine, with spring in full swing, campus is awash in colors. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday Squirrel's.

Out of place tulips

Our furry friends are always around, and when we see them, they are constantly looking for handouts, getting into tiffs with other squirrels, or just up to plain old tomfoolery. One thing that you may not know is that they are also up something else... gardening. Yes, in the fall, when the tulip bulbs are planted, the squirrels love to dig them up and replant them. Of course, they forget what they did and where they buried it. As a result, rogue tulips can be spotted all around campus like above. Instead of being planted in FRONT of the statute of St. Francis, there are now tulips BEHIND him. On these out of place tulips, a furry friend non-verbaled, "We need to spread the color around."

He's at it...

Out of the trees and into the streets of L.A. 

...again. Pat Rahill ’16 has a love of nature. Together, with his fellow ND grad,Charlie Engelman, they created the 12-part mini-series Nature Boom Time for the Nat Geo Wild Channel. Their show focuses on looking at nature in a more fun, engaging, and accessible way as they traveled to the coolest forests around the United States, from giant kelp forests off of the California coast to temperate rainforests of Washington State. Tonight, Rahill took a break from hanging around trees and out a tuxedo on all because his TV series was NOMINATED for an Emmy! Watch tonight and cheer for Pat. On Rahill’s nomination, Dan Rahill, Steds freshman and Pat’s cousin, said, “He’s on TV? But Pat has a face for radio!”

TO WACTH Nature Boom Time on Nat Geo Wild Channel, every Saturday morning, click HERE. 

A much needed special...

Larry: Rancher or Renaissance Man... or both?

...thank you to someone working behind the proverbial scenes. He's no stranger to us. From time to time, he offers his common sense "straight from the homeSTED." Other times, he amuses us with his "good, clean ranch humor." As if that wasn't enough, he offers us glimpses into our past through selected excerpts from the 1943 Notre Dame Student Handbook. Yes, our Rancher Larry does ALL of this while pursuing his medical degree! Yes, that's right folks... soon ladies and gentlemen, he just won't be a doctor for animals anymore. But something that you don't know about Rancher Larry is that he actually takes care of all the Hall's website needs. Suffice it to say, his skills were much needed and appreciated during the recent ND Day. On the sharing of his technical skills, St. Edward said, "There's no need to know when hold or fold them OR even know when the dealings done as Kenny Rogers sings so eloquently. You see, when you got Rancher Larry, you got an Ace, and you can't help but go all in!" 

Maybe it was...

Steds Lacrosse: Making Steds proud

...a carryover from the decisive ND Day win on Monday. Still, maybe it was the lingering vapors of the soccer playoff victory over the Zahm on Tuesday. Still yet, maybe it was sheer rage that propelled Steds Lacrosse forward to shut down, once again, Zahm today. Yes, good old rage. You see, Steds suffered a great injury as they were forced to wear Zahm red for the game. On the the victory as well as the great injury, Alex Schelhorn quoted fellow Steds freshman, Jack "Poz" Pozluszny, and said, "RecSports made us wear red. It made us mad, but you need to dress like the enemy in order to beat the enemy." 

Because of you...

It's official!

...Stedsmen, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, grand and godparents, friends, people of good will, and Saturday’s squirrels... and anyone else who we are forgetting... that made St. Edward's be the #1 residence hall this ND Day! THANK YOU!!! 

As the votes are tallied and certified, St. Edward's received 2,354 which equals to MORE THAN $24.2K. But when everything settles, it will be more than $30K! How will the funds be spent? Stay tuned. 

Still, thanks for making us once again the #1 residence hall this ND Day, and if you are counting, this is the FOURTH year in a row as #1! 

Yes, thanks to you, St. Edward's saw all other residence halls in the rear view mirror and left them in a cloud of smoke because St. Ed's took an early lead and never looked back. On St. Ed's ND Day finish, a Gentleman, speaking on the condition of anonymity- clearly because of humility, said, "Never underestimate the love for Steds." 

Still, Fr. Ralph said, "The love and affection for St. Ed's was visible in a big way this ND Day, and without any doubt, it is the envy of other residence halls. I am, as are all of the Gentlemen of the Hall, truly humbled and grateful!"

Many, many thanks... and all of our love!

For the kids...

For the kids!

...now, more than ever. Everyone can turn and keep the tide in favor of Steds! So, this ND Day, donate and vote Steds, AND encourage others to do the same. Yes, we NEED everyone's help to keep, like Shakespeare said, "this blessed plot, this realm, this St. Edward's Hall" the residence hall that it is... a home for Gentlemen. On donating and voting for St. Edward's, Fr. Ralph said, "For the kids... NOW and FOREVER... Amen."

To do YOUR part for Hall and King, click HERE.

Now, is the time...

For the kids: Donate and vote Steds today!

...for everyone to take a stand and rally behind Notre Dame's oldest and most storied residence hall, St. Edward's Hall. Now is the time to donate and vote for St. Edward's. YES, now is the time because today is Notre Dame Day! 

To donate and vote for St. Edward's Hall, go to www.steds.nd.edu.

On donating and voting to St. Edward's Hall, St. Ed said, "Now is the time for everyone to do his and her duty to Hall and King!"

What he wants for Notre Dame Day...

Please make our furry friend’s dreams come true!

ND Day is almost here! While the Hall is preparing for the big day, it's important that everyone does their part for St. Ed's. Why? Because we ALL can make the dreams of so many Gentlemen come true! For more information about the day and ways YOU can support the Gentlemen go to the Hall’s website. Click HERE. Ten dollars can really go a long way! More information coming soon…

On what he would like to do with the funds raised on ND Day, a furry friend on a tree by Corby Hall said, “What should we do ND Day funds? We should...

..buy more nuts, of course!"

What he wants for Notre Dame Day...

Please make Youssef's dreams come true!

ND Day is almost here! While the Hall is preparing for the big day, it's important that everyone does their part for St. Ed's. Why? Because we ALL can make the dreams of so many Gentlemen come true! For more information about the day and ways YOU can support the Gentlemen go to the Hall’s website. Click HERE. Ten dollars can really go a long way! More information coming soon…

On what he would like to do with the funds raised on ND Day, Paul Youssef, Steds freshman, said, "I would dedicate the ND Day funds to build a first-class hot tub for St. Ed’s. or maybe, in the back yard, a sock wrestling arena that could also double as a sort of amphitheater- the Greek sort of course- for philosophical debates and well meaning banter.”

What they want for Notre Dame Day...

Please make Blossfield and Trzaska’s dreams come true…

ND Day is almost here! While the Hall is preparing for the big day, it's important that everyone does their part for St. Ed's. Why? Because we ALL can make the dreams of so many Gentlemen come true! For more information about the day and ways YOU can support the Gentlemen go to the Hall’s website. Click HERE. Ten dollars can really go a long way! More information coming soon…

On what he would like to do with the funds raised on ND Day, Josh Blossfield, Steds freshman, said, " I would direct the funds towards more Hall activities like paintball and other things we normally don’t, but should, do while matriculating at college.”

Still, on what he would like to do the funds raised on ND Day, President Joe Trzaska said, “I want them to benefit and enrich my constituents… for the kids!”

What he wants for Notre Dame Day...

Please make Edwards' dreams come true!

ND Day is almost here! While the Hall is preparing for the big day, it's important that everyone does their part for St. Ed's. Why? Because we ALL can make the dreams of so many Gentlemen come true! For more information about the day and ways YOU can support the Gentlemen go to the Hall’s website. Click HERE. Ten dollars can really go a long way! More information coming soon…

On what he would like to do with the funds raised on ND Day, Ben Cook, Steds freshman, said, “ I'd like to see our Notre Dame day funds go towards fostering the Hall community that makes the gentlemen of St. Ed's Notre dame's finest. Most importantly, our funds would be for the kids.”

What he wants for Notre Dame Day...

Please make Rahill’s dreams come true!

ND Day is almost here! While the Hall is preparing for the big day, it's important that everyone does their part for St. Ed's. Why? Because we ALL can make the dreams of so many Gentlemen come true! For more information about the day and ways YOU can support the Gentlemen go to the Hall’s website. Click HERE. Ten dollars can really go a long way! More information coming soon…

On what he would like to do with the funds raised on ND Day, Dan Rahill, Steds freshman, said, “For more hall activities, like paintball, and other things we normally wouldn't do at college… allowing us to recreate and refresh.” 

Actually, I think that he wants a new couch to sleep on…

What he wants for Notre Dame Day...

Please make Edwards' dreams come true!

ND Day is almost here! While the Hall is preparing for the big day, it's important that everyone does their part for St. Ed's. Why? Because we ALL can make the dreams of so many Gentlemen come true! For more information about the day and ways YOU can support the Gentlemen go to the Hall’s website. Click HERE. Ten dollars can really go a long way! More information coming soon…

On what he would like to do with the funds raised on ND Day, Cole Edwards, Steds freshman, said, “Hmm. First thing that comes to mind would be adding some insulation to the windows and walls.. Its pretty rough in the winter when my curtains blow open…even though the window is closed.”

Happy Easter!

He is risen; He is truly risen!

Resurrexit sicut dixit... He has risen as he said! Here is a picture of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart resplendent in its Easter joy. Happy Easter to you and your families!

It wasn't...

How many kites can you spot?

... a good day to fly a kite. Having an adequate amount of wind, numerous students took to North Quad to fly their kites, but they were surprised to discover that there was too much wind! Odd, but true. There was simply too much wind, and many kites ended up in the trees. On kites in trees, an unnamed Stedsman said, "Too much wind? More like not enough skill."

A blast...

More to come...

...from the past. Thanks to Neil Sielski '15, we have an insight into Notre Dame's past. Through a patient, Sielski came into possession of the Notre Dame Student Manual from 1941.

This week's installment from the 1941 Notre Dame Student Manual, page 18:

“It is everyone’s duty to support St. Edward’s Hall on Notre Dame Day, April 23rd & April 24th."

On reading this, Tim Fyan, a friend of St. Edward, said, "The foresight from 1941 is truly amazing."

Indeed, it is, and remember St. Edward's this Notre Dame Day!

A message from...

President Trzaska

...the President, Joe Trzaska. Actually, it's more than just a message. It's a message AND an interview from the man leading the Sted's ND Day campaign. In addition to advancing his studies and general procrastination, President Trzaska is rallying everyone, deploying all forces and operatives, and mustering everything to aid and advance the Hall's 2017 ND Day campaign. Even though ND Day is a few days off, the Hall campaign starts today. Before it did, I had the chance to talk with President Traska. 

St.Ed: Is ND Day really that important to St. Ed’s?

Trzaska: Yes - in fact, it's important to almost every group on campus.  It just so happens that we in Steds have, for the past several years, been the first and foremost among nearly every club, dorm and team on campus in funds raised on ND Day.  As such, our signature events like yacht dance, the paintball outing, founder's week, and many others have similarly outclassed our competition's.  Inasmuch as Steds is the greatest community on campus, ND Day is critical to our remaining so.

St.Ed: What are you and your administration doing to make this year’s ND Day campaign a success?

Trzaska: Though none of our trio is particularly "creative" or "known for drumming up active and vigorous participation", we have been working hard on preparing materials to create help build the support and excitement for ND Day.  Expect a precise social media and email onslaught in the near future - one which will quickly render our competition's efforts futile.

St.Ed: If this year’s campaign is successful as last year’s was, how will the Hall use its ND Day funds?

Trzaska: There are always more worthy uses for dorm funds.  Of course, first and foremost would be the continued support of the great yacht dance.  Many outside our hallowed halls seem to have a vendetta against the greatest formal to grace Notre Dame's campus, and funding the dance so well ourselves does wonders to keep it "afloat."  In other areas, we plan to bring well-earned updates to the beloved Flounge, keep our inter-hall teams the best-clad around, and possibly install a slide from the fourth to first floor.

St.Ed: Why should someone give to St. Ed’s on ND Day?

Trzaska: For the kids! Steds has, for the past several years, been extremely successful in the events of ND day. WIth your help, we can continue to leave the likes of Zahm, Sorin, and Keenan in our dust and secure Sted’s stronghold as the greatest dorm on campus.

There you have it folks... For the kids!

They gave it...

With a few bumps, everyone is STILL all smiles

...their all and then some! Yes, taking advantage of the good weather, the Gentlemen partook in a Steds tradition... Hall paintball! Playing a variety of paintball games, Stedsmen took aim against at their fellow Stedsmen in good fun. And with fifty-two residents present, there was no shortage of targets! Still, one target, a high value target, was missing- Fr. Ralph- due to a convenient illness. Next year... next year everyone will have their chance at him! On paint balling, Tom Roman, 2nd year AR and 3rd year law student, said, “Never have I seen such valor or such bravery! The Gentlemen rallied together and left their hearts out on the battlefield. While some were victorious in battle and others tasted the bitterness of defeat, all were winners in my book.”

Still, on seeing this picture, I am reminded of Winton Churchill who once said, "I hate paint balling, but I love the smell of paint."

What a weekend...

Taking a much needed five...

...it was! There was plenty of sunshine this weekend which only made more difficult to study. Still yet, throw in events like hall paint balling, and you have a recipe for tired students. One extremely tired student was freshman Dan Rahill who, out of sheer exhaustion, collapsed on a coach in the Flounge. On his being all tuckered out, Rahill said, "I was still exhausted after Moms' Weekend of course." Of course Dan... of course you were...

Sunday Picture...

God, Country, Notre Dame.

...from Notre Dame. Here's the iconic "God, Country, Notre Dame" doorway of the Basilica. Located on the east side of the Basilica and flanked by Sts. Joan of Arc and Michael, the doorway commemorates the forty-six ND students who died in World War I. Walk through the doorway, and you will see their names along with Fr. O'Donnell's C.S.C.'s helmet hanging as the light fixture in the Basilica's War Memorial entrance. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday's Squirrel.

A little pondering at the Steds fence

Our furry friends are everywhere, but what are they thinking? Are they thinking, "Should I beg for some food?" If not, then is it,  "Where did I bury that nut?" If not that, then it must be "I need a vacation from these kids." Yes, what exactly are our furry friends thinking?

A blast...

More to come...

...from the past. Thanks to Neil Sielski '15, we have an insight into Notre Dame's past. Through a patient, Sielski came into possession of the Notre Dame Student Manual from 1941.

This week's installment from the 1941 Notre Dame Student Manual, page 18:

"The ideal of complete development - physical, mental, and spiritual - is constantly held before the students."

What's going on...

Cattanach and Imaly up to some good, clean learning

...in the Flounge? Yes, what's exactly going on in the Flounge? Yes, that was the question when Hall Staff encountered freshmen Seth Cattanach and Parker Imlay. What's all the wires and electrical circuitry all about? Should NDSP or Homeland Security be alerted? But before a call could be placed, Cattanach said, "Parker and I were working on a project for our microprocessors class. The project was a door slam detector, and was inspired by unnamed individuals on the first floor." Okay... but we want names!

Remember St. Ed's...

Remember St. Ed's...

...because it's happening, again. Everyone's favorite day, Notre Dame Day, the day were Notre Dame students, staff, and faculty are feted all while donations are made, is happening April 23rd and 24th. Again, mark your calendars and remember Steds! On Notre Dame Day, St. Edward said, "We need everyone to do his and her duty for King and Hall!" 

It's official...

Dan and Victoria McQuarrie

...they're married! With Fr. Ralph witnessing and with fellow Stedsmen present, Victoria McCarthy' 12 of PW and Daniel McQuarrie ’12 of Steds were married at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame this past Saturday. It was a beautiful day, and it was only made more beautiful by this beaming and radiant couple. On becoming a part of the Steds family, Victoria, said, ”It’s a honor and privilege.” 

Best wishes and congratulations Victoria and Dan!

On their wedding, Mike Flynn '12 said, "Dan married his freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year dining hall crush, Victoria McCarthy, proving once again that the nice guy does not always finish last. Unfortunately, the same could not be said about his dance moves at the reception. Rumor has it he and Victoria will be practicing while on their honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands."

Exit Moms...

Mission Accomplished!

...from Moms' Weekend 2017. All good things must come to an end, and so too, our beloved Moms' Weekend. But still, what fun we had! Thanks to Corey Gayheart, the commissioner for the weekend, for his energy and dedication to make this weekend a reality and all who helped in some shape and form. Still, thanks must be given to Jay Mathes '12, the Stedsman who had the idea for this weekend, as well as Frank Soler '14, the Stedsman who convened the first Moms' Weekend in the spring of 2013. On the weekend, Fr. Ralph said, "Without doubt, we continue to follow in the wake of giants like Mathes and Soler, but thanks to Stedsmen like Gayheart we continue to make a splash of our own every now and then... and thank God... because STEDS LOVES THEIR MOMS!"

Moms' Weekend continued...

Monogram Room Dinner

...Saturday morning with a brunch at South Dining Hall. While many brunched, others gathered to cheer on the Steds runners participating in the Holy Half Marathon. Congratulations to Patrick Yerkes, Steds senior, who finished second in marathon. As someone said, it was better than finishing third! Still, the weekend had more... a dinner in the Monogram Room with photos and a dance lesson, specifically, a salsa lesson. Suffice it to say, a fun time was had by all. On the evening, a Steds mom said, "It was a magical, fun-filled, evening."

Enter Moms...

Moms and sons having fun

...for Moms' Weekend 2017! Last night with a social at Remick Commons in Visitation Hall, Moms' Weekend got off to a great start. With Corey Gayheart as commissioner, this year there are 107 moms in attendance with 20 aunts and grandmas present as well... and all of this makes for ONE FUN WEEKEND. On the weekend, Joe Grady, Steds senior, said, "Moms' Weekend is every Stedsmen favorite weekend!"