Your Sunday picture...

AT&T Stadium

... Notre Dame on the road. It’s really difficult to write anything more about the Cotton Bowl. But if I had to say something I would say, “The stadium was really nice.”

On assignment.

Haag: Always a listener, first time caller

Taking a break from Christmas Break, Fr. Ralph went to Dallas to oversee Cotton Bowl festivities. Gearing up for Friday’s show at the Dallas Convention Center, Fr. Ralph managed to make a visit to SMU’s campus and tour the presidential library of George W. Bush. While there, Fr. Ralph made a surprise phone call to an unnamed Stedsman, asking him if he still believed in an Irish win this Saturday. On the phone call, Haag said, “We had a really great call. It was the best phone call ever, really. It was beautiful. It reassured me in something that I have known for some time now... we’re going to see a great Irish win!”

Go Irish!

Merry Christmas

The Main Building's Christmas Tree

To all Gentlemen, family, friends, and all lovers of St. Edward's Hall, Merry Christmas! May the Christ Child guide you all to happiness and peace this Christmastide and throughout the New Year! Merry Christmas!

Twas the night before...

Somewhere then Steds

Christmas, when all through the Hall not a creature was stirring- not even a mouse on the third floor! That's really the case, and the mouse in the picture is from another residence hall which shall remain anonymous. Enjoy your Christmas Eve!

Saturday Squirrel

Stand down- we got security covered 

While students are off breaking here and there, campus has absolutely no activity. Should students worry? Is the vacant campus now a target for crime? Will rooms be pillaged and ransacked by bulgars? Perish the thought! While NDSP have things well in hand, there is an extra level of campus security- squirrel squad. Yes, our furry friends know their own, and if you are not one them, then they’ll ask you kindly to move on. On seeing a stranger, this squirrel non-verbaled, “Can I see your campus pass?”

Best of...

...the Gentlemen's Monthly. Yes, four years ago today, here was today's posting. What are these three pouring these days? Enjoy this blast from the past.

That last push...

But did Frank really drink that egg nog?

...before the end of Finals Week. Vaishnav, Kevin, and Frank, Steds sophomores, take a break during the Hall's 10pm study break, the third of the week. Enjoying the oasis of the Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Christmas cookies, and egg nog, Stedsmen were all were smiles until the break was over, and it was back to studying. Good luck to all our Stedsmen!

And suddenly...

A sunny, but cold, view of the HomeSteds

...it was quiet. Today marks the first day of the Christmas Break. With residence halls and most other buildings now closed, an eerie silence has descended upon campus. But, don’t worry. All throughout the break, we will continue to bring you, every other day, the life and times of St. Edward’s Hall.

Your Sunday picture...

Do you see it?

... from Notre Dame. Here is a beautiful sunset, the University Christmas tree, and the second oldest residence hall in the background. BUT if you look closely, you will notice something else. What is it? It's a beautiful crescent moon. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be.

Saturday Squirrel.

Sad day...

What are they thinking? Who knows. Still, sometimes we can glean from their posture, language and empty stares what they are pondering. And from the body language of this furry friend sitting on a rock outside St. Ed's, we can understand much what is racing through the little mind of this squirrel. As students are scurrying about campus with suitcases and whatnot, this squirrel's body language non-verbaled, "Please don't leave us! Who's going to feed us while you are away?!"

What's going on...

Campus' new residence hall- Corby Hall

... next to the Basilica? It's a new residence hall, but it's not for matriculating students. It's the new residence hall for Holy Cross priests. The old Corby Hall, built in the early 1900's was demolished this past summer to make way for a completely new hall. While it will look very similar to previous building, the new Corby will have much more space as well as many improvements. How's construction going? On schedule, and if you're on campus you'll see the Hall's two new elevators rising from the construction site. On the construction of a new Corby Hall, an unnamed Steds resident said, "Now more than ever, I would hate to live in Sorin."

It's official...

Noel and Cole Patterson

They got married! Cole Patterson ’11 of St. Ed’s and Noel Bennett ’11 of Vanderbilt were married at the Onwentsia Club in Wilmette, IL, on a bright and sunny September day. Surrounded by family, friends, and members of Steds family, Noel and Cole exchanged their vows with great enthusiasm and excitement, making this special day only that much more memorable. On Noel and Cole wedding, Fritz Schoenhut ’11 said, “We are so happy to welcome Noel into the Steds family. Cole, previously Vice President of St Ed’s and known as “Veep,” really picked a winner. Being the shutdown cornerback on the Steds football team that he was, it comes as no surprise Cole made a great play by choosing Noel as his bride. Congrats to the Pattersons!”

Best wishes and congratulations to Noel and Cole!

Noel and Cole dancing...

...with Cole later lifted high by his excited Steds Family!

The war on Christmas...

Christmas will always win

... continues as the Hall is prevented from putting up its traditional Christmas decorations. In years past, the Hall placed its traditional wreaths and Christmas trees, in white lights, above its two porticos. It was a sight to behold. But, then, enter Risk Management, who brought everything to a halt. While Risk Management may currently have the upper hand in this war, the forces of Christmas cheer and tasteful decorating at St. Ed's will not give up without a fight. Leading the charge into the fray are the residents of room 209 who refuse to let defeat be the order of the day by placing a Christmas tree in their window, a window very close to the main portico. On the zeal, creativity, and cheer of the residents, Fr. Ralph said, "They are an inspiration for us all!"

Lost and found.

Something lost; something blue: a Steds hat

On a stroll around the Hesburgh Memorial Library, St. Ed's juniors, Jack Barrett and Matt Cyrs, found something. As the pair walked around the reflecting pool, now drained for the winter, something caught the eye of our Stedsmen. What did they see in the pool? A handsome, embroided   Steds bucket hat. Caked with sediment, the hat must have been lost during a game day float. On the find, Cyrs said, "We found only this hat. There was no sign of the owner."

Your Sunday picture...

A new day dawns...

... from Notre Dame. Here's a look at the Hesburgh Memorial Library and a view of the sunrise breaking over campus. Sunrises are not usually enjoyed, but nevertheless, they are just as beautiful as the sunsets that are more often viewed by those matriculating. Enjoy your sunrises and sunsets wherever you may be!

Saturday Squirrel.

Staying alive...

While it's cold outside, we can always come inside and warm up. Unfortunately, our furry friends cannot. To stay warm, they have bulked up, putting on some winter weight, but they need to keep eating to keep the weight up and stay warm. A hand out here, a trash can drive there go a long way to keep the weight on, but it's not enough. So, remembering where they buried their caches of nuts and what not goes a long way. On finding a winter treat, this squirrel non-verbaled, "It may not be roasted on an open fire, but this nut is delicious."

Christmas is a...

Frosty is looking more like a Christmas tree...

... go! Thanks to the generosity of the Gentlemen, Christmas is on! Sponsoring four South Bend families and ten children, the Gentlemen raised funds to not only fill the wish lists of the children but also to take care of the basic necessities of everyday living. With ample funds and volunteer shopper sat the ready, Friday’s Christmas shopping at Target was fun and memorable. Still yet, thanks to the generosity of the Gentlemen, not only is Christmas on but also the Hall’s Christmas tree has become decorated with many strands of lights and bulbs- many of which still have to be placed. On this achievement, Frankie Tran, Steds sophomore and organizer of Christmas charity efforts, said, “The Adopt-a-Family by St. Vincent de Paul is a great opportunity for Steds to give back because it puts Christmas gift-giving into perspective. It’s times like these when we can appreciate the little things in life that we often take for granted such as clothing, family, and friends.”

All we want for...

The war continues... 

... Christmas is a Christmas tree! The war continues on the Steds Christmas decorations. Yes, picking up from last year, the Hall continues to press to have its Christmas tree placed atop its main portico. Too tall an order? Tosh. But to our friends in Risk Management this is a portico too far... too far off the ground, making it dangerous for anyone to ascend. In the end, the casualty is our Hall Christmas tree. On the War of Christmas Decorations, Fr. Ralph said, "Our resolve and determination have never been stronger. We will continue to fight until we have our tree!" Echoing these sentiments, a parent of two former Stedsmen, added, "We shall fight them in the quads; we shall fight them in the traffic circles; we shall fight them in the snow drifts.... we will never surrender!”

Preparing for Finals...

A sight to see: Gentlemen bouncing about in pink socks

... the Gentlemen are. To combat that "Finals feeling" and energize themselves for studying during Reading Days, RAs Brook Meadowcroft and Jack Ryan Williams organized the Gentlemen for a trip to Sky Zone- the local trampoline park. There's no getting around, but there's going to be a lot of ups and downs during these upcoming days. So, there's nothing better than lifting the weight of looming tests with trampolines that let you touch the sky. But were our Gentlemen the only patrons of the trampoline park? Heavens no. There were plenty of other kids- elementary and junior high students- present too celebrating birthdays and special outings. On trampolining with others, Meadowcroft said, "Safe to say we had a few pounds on the rest of the kids there, but we did not let that deter them from challenging us in the dodgeball arena. Turns out, our size just made us big targets. All in all, we had a hoppin’ good time, but what I’ll cherish the most is my new pink sky socks. Till next time Sky Zone!“

Do you see what...

*The above picture does not reflect the belief and values of Ed's Eatry

... is wrong with this picture? Yes, what is wrong with this picture of Josh Chapple, Steds sophomore and Ed's culinary representative, in Ed's? The problem is that Josh has brought in food that is NOT from Ed's. For some reason, Josh thought it's okay to bring a bag of little powdered doughnuts and a can of ice tea from the Huddle into Ed's during his shift when he's serving up the wholesome goodness of Ed's pizza sticks, paninis, and smoothies. Shocking without a doubt; however, Chapple has no qualms about this in the least. On having non-Ed's food items in Ed's while working Ed's, Chapple said, "It's my rule never to eat the product that I am selling."

It's official...

Fr Ralph with Mr. and Mrs. Daniel and Margaret Crisman

They got married. Daniel Crisman ’12 of St. Ed’s and Margaret Leibold ’12 of St. Mary’s were married at St. Martha’s in Sarasota, Florida on a sunny and bright December day. With Fr. Ralph officiating and surrounded by family, friends, and his Steds family, Dan and Margaret exchanged their vows with much joy and enthusiasm. Suffice it to say, the couple was ready for this moment! On Margaret and Daniel’s wedding, Stedsman Matt Abeling ’12, former Stedsman, said, “The ceremony and reception were beautiful, and we couldn’t have picked a better match for Dan. Margaret must have been hooked after one of our room 420 parties. She makes a great addition to the Steds family, and we wish them all the best!”

Congratulations and best wishes to Margaret and Daniel!

The happy couple with their extended Steds Family

Your Sunday picture...

Pretty to look at...

... from Notre Dame. Here's a picture of God Quad's Jesus statue with a fresh coating of wet, heavy snow. It's the perfect snow for coating everything in white, and so, campus now looks like the interior of a giant snow globe. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday's Squirrel.

Digging, digging, and more digging 

Digging. Digging. Digging all the way to China some would say, but did our furry friend find what he was looking for? Well, who knows? Maybe he did... maybe he didn't. All we know is that our squirrel was busy doing who knows what. We all hope that he found what he was looking for, but then again, maybe he wasn't looking for anything. On being pictured for the Steds blog, this squirrel non-verbaled, "I am not looking for anything. I saw a camera and wanted to look busy. Can you blame me?"

What else did...

Sitting behind enemy lines...

... they do during Thanksgiving Break? Yes, what else did our Gentlemen do over the extended Thanksgiving Break. Lots of things, but one of those things was, without doubt, to take in the ND vs USC football game in Los Angeles. Traveling near and far, Stedsmen joined their fellow ND football fans in cheering for Old Notre Dame in the Coliseum on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Whether you were there or watched it on TV from the comfort of a good couch, the game was an emotional rollercoaster, with too many highs and lows. But, finally finding their way in the second half, the Irish went on to defeat the Trojans by a score of 24 to 17.  On the game, Alec Lis, Steds freshman and resident Southern Californian, said, “The game was amazing, but Notre Dame does it better" while fellow Stedsman and sophomore, Felipe Segura, said, "Are you not entertained?”

Lis with his ND and USC friends...

... and Stedsmen Segura and Jake Harris with grins of victory.

  

It was time...

Spesia, O'Donnell, and Blossfeld under the watchful eye of St. Ed

... for the Hall's monthly Senior Afternoon Time in the Flounge. Starting at 5pm, all seniors and juniors, who were 21, were invited to one-of-a-kind campus event. Enjoying a selection of domestic and imported beers, along with some Chick-Fil-A nuggets and Christmas music, seniors and juniors took a much needed break from their day and that final push before Finals Week to enjoy each other's company and forget, if just for a moment, the cares and worries of the day. On participating in S.A.T., Ben Worth, Steds senior and Hall Sacristan, said, "Any other day, the RA’s would have written me up for drinking beer in the Flounge. Today, they did it with me!" Joe Corcoran, another SAT goer, said “Every SAT I go to is better than the last. It must be all the newly 21-year-old juniors coming and spicing things up for the washed-up seniors.”

They got married!

Mr. and Mrs. Schoenhut

It's official. Frederick “Fritz” Schoenhut ’11 of St. Ed’s and Gina Celemnti were married at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Bronx, New York on a beautiful November day. With Fr. Ralph officiating and surrounded by family, friends, and his Steds family, Fritz and Gina tied the proverbial knot with much emotion and joy. Suffice it to say, there were smiles all around. On Gina and Fritz’s wedding, Stedsman Derry Herlihy ’11, former Stedsman and ND football player, said, “Any time you get the chance to add a talent and character along the likes of a Gina Schoenhut (née Clementi) to the Steds Family, you’ve got to be thrilled. Steds fans all over the world are ecstatic, and I’m sure her jersey will be sold out overnight!”

Congratulations and best wishes to Gina and Fritz!

Gina and Fritz with their ND guests

A message to all...

Register NOW!

... moms, sisters, aunts, grandmas, and all special women in the lives of our Stedsmen. Yes, we want to celebrate and fete you, and so, we have set aside a special weekend for all of you- Moms' Weekend. It’s NEVER too late to register for this special weekend. The fun filled weekend starts Friday, March 29th and ends on the 31st, and no detail has been left to chance by Patrick Magner, commissioner for this much anticipated weekend. On why a mom should attend this Moms’ Weekend, Magner said, “We are so excited for this year’s Moms’ Weekend. It is quite possibly our most important tradition- and it’s a great chance to get to spend time with our Steds family!”

If you would like to register for the weekend, click HERE and if you have questions, contact Patrick at pmagner@nd.edu. 

Steds, we have...

Thumbs up: Spesia, Frosty, and Foy

... a Christmas tree! Without the assistance of Christmas Tree Selection Committee, the Assistant Rectors of St. Ed’s, Frank “Uncle Frank” Spesia and Dillyn “Dill” Foy, formed their own selection committee and found the perfect tree for the Hall. After taking a late and leisurely breakfast, the ARs stopped by the Roseland Garden Center and hit gold, finding a true gem, a handsome tree. While last year’s tree was given the Irish name of “Fearghal“ (pronounced Fer-gal), meaning "man of valor," by Conal Fagan, Steds resident Irishman, this year’s tree has a more “American” name. On naming the tree, the ARs said, “His name is Frosty.” 

So be it! Welcome Frosty. More to come...

Your Sunday picture...

A cloudy yet beautiful day

... from Notre Dame. Here's a view from the 11th floor of Flanner Hall of Mary, the Dome, and the steeple of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart- all against a background of stratocumulus clouds. The unique cloud cover over campus all looks like a big sky quilt. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday's Squirrel.

Can't we share?

Our furry friends might seem to be a little "nuts" from time to time, but don't be fooled. They're sharper than you think. Oh, their antics and behaviors may give the impression we're dealing with friends who are missing a few "nuts" and bolts, but if anything, they are keenly aware of their surroundings, including us- their friendly neighbors. On snapping a picture of this furry friend outside of LaFortune, the squirrel non-verbaled, "Hey, are you going to eat all of that muffin?"

Best of...

…the Gentlemen's Monthly. Yes, FOUR years ago today, here was today's posting. Enjoy this blast from the past!

Your Sunday...

Snow: What's it good for?

...picture from Notre Dame. Here's a picture of North Quad, looking at Stone Hedge, just after the snow stopped. Enjoy.

Happy Thanksgivings.

St. Edward's is thankful too

The Gentlemen, as I am, are thankful for all the laughs, Yacht Dances, and memorable times associated with this special place, St. Edward's Hall. Thank you to all who help make the traditions and high jinxes carry on. God's blessing upon you all!

Word in the hallway...

The start of Thanksgiving Day Break

... is that it's time for break. With no classes today, the Thanksgiving Day Break officially starts, and the hallways of St. Edward's are rather empty. Whether residents are headed home or traveling with other fellow residents to their homes for Thanksgiving, everyone is taking a much needed break. With  Finals on the horizon, this break is perfectly timed to rest, relax, and sleep. Indeed, that's the order of the day, er, I mean break!

Gentlemen of...

Molyneaux: Steds LOVES you

... gentlemen this man is. Peter Molyneaux, Steds junior and culinary service representative, serves up quality, late night snack food that powers the minds and much more of his fellow Gentlemen. But yet, Peter does more than simply serve up paninis, milkshakes, and pizza sticks. What he and his other culinary service representatives serve up is love... some times on a plate, some times in a cup, some times, well, let's hear from Peter himself about this. On serving up love at Ed's, Molyneaux said, "Love is some times cleaning up the ranch dressing bottle that everyone has made a complete mess of in the course of the night. Nothing says love than a clean Ed's!"

Your Sunday picture...

Let's take a walk

... from Notre Dame. The walkway between the Stinson Remmick Engineering Building and Hesburgh Center International Studies is a walkway that many people don't take in the course of their day; however, with this fall foliage, a slight detour may be in store for students. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday’s Squirrel.

Can you see our friend?

Often times, our furry friends are engaged in a world unto their own. We have absolutely no idea what they’re thinking or doing. Whatever it is, it means the world to our furry friends. On spotting one of our furry friends in the sea of leaves in St. Edward’s Park, this squirrel non-verbaled, “What? I am in sea of leaves?”

Something blue...

Blue and gold in NYC!

... something gold... ah, that must the Empire State Building. YES! For the upcoming game against Syracuse in the Shamrock series, the iconic NYC landmark has been  flooded in blue and gold. A rare treat indeed. On the Empire State Building’s colors, Joe Meares ‘10, former Stedsman and New Yorker, said, “You mean to tell me that those aren’t the usual colors?”

***Thank Frank McCarthy for the picture***

It really snowed...

It's getting worse...

... this time. Yes, the first major snow storm hit campus today. Dropping one to two inches, with some sleet and ice mixed in, made for the Thursday morning commute to class just a bit more hectic than usual. There was also a dash of confusion as Keenan Lofton, Steds freshman and resident Hawaiian, upon experiencing snow thought that classes were cancelled. No. Classes were not cancelled, but whether or not your professor showed up for class, well, that's another story. On seeing the snow, an unnamed assistant rector (AR) said, "When will someone will be scraping the snow off of my car? It's part of our AR package, correct?

More football...

ND vs Navy: A great tradition

... traveling has been done by Stedsmen. It's not only current but also former Stedsmen who have been traveling here and yonder to cheer on their undefeated ND football team. Traveling to San Diego, PJ Moran '13 traveled from Baltimore while Dan Rish '14 and James Yurkovich '13 both traveled from Seattle to soak up the southern Californian sun and see their Irish square off against the Midshipmen of Navy. But for Moran it was a bit more than that. Teaching at the Naval Academy, Moran came to see some players that he might have in class! The Steds trio were not disappointed as the Irish defeated Navy by 22 points, keeping national championship hopes alive. On Navy's loss, Yurkovich and Moran commented: “They did, they did… But they’re good kids.”

A Gentlemen Ponders...

All ears...

... many things, but tonight the Gentlemen pondered something rather specific. With the help of Professor Gabriel Reynolds of the University's Theology Department a discussion was had concerning Christianity and Islam. Giving a brief talk entitled "Islam and Catholicism: Compatibility or Incongruity?" Professor Reynolds then guiding a discussion and debate amongst the Gentlemen in the Gregorian lounge. On the talk and discussion that ensued, Logan Arnold, Steds senior and organizer of this lecture series as in-Hall Academic and Arts Coordinator (iHAAC), said, ""Dr. Reynolds provided historical context about the development of Islam and related Islam's origins to the current dialogue between Catholics and Muslims. And there was pizza." Indeed there was Logan... indeed there was.

Taking the show...

Taking a breather at base camp: Merrick House

... on the road. Amid the masses that trekked to Northwestern, a small contingent Steds sophomores was present. Being so close to campus and the home of one of them, Ben Merrick, how could they not have gone and cheered on their undefeated football team? Despite game day traffic that at point caused a ten mile backup and a substantial smaller stadium that was not prepared for larger than normal game crowd, our brave and zealous Stedsmen made it and helped in cheering our team on to victory over the Wildcats of Northwestern. On the road game, Ben Merrick said, "Listening to Michael Brannan’s singing in the car for two and a half hours there and back was completely worth the incredible trip with my closest friends to Chicago to watch the Irish crush Northwestern!”

Picture above are (standing, left to right): Peter Haley, Eli Travis, Kevin Michael, Noah Viner, Ben Merrick, and Mr. Merrick (seated, left to right) Sean Leyden, Michael Brannan, and Charlie Donnelly. Not pictured, Jack Olmanson, who probably was taking the picture. Also, the man in the Northwestern top is Ben's dad. Even though he works at Northwestern...we all know, despite the fleece, he was pulling for Notre Dame! 

Your Sunday picture...

The Tabernacle with the Lady Chapel in background

... from Notre Dame. Since the weather has taken a real turn to snow and cold temps, here's a view from inside a warm and beautiful Basilica of the Sacred Heart. With the Lady Chapel in the back, added to mark Fr. Sorin's 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, the Basilica is always a place worthing spending some time. Stay warm. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday Squirrel.

A moment of silence

Something all we need from time to time is a little peace and quiet. And it is no different for our furry friends. They too need a moment of silence. Finding no one around, this squirrel decided to take advantage of a deserted St. Joseph's Beach and enjoy a walnut. On enjoying a quite moment at St. Joseph's Lake, the squirrel non-verbaled, "I think we're alone now... there seems to be nobody around."  

It had to...

Snow in the Park

... happen. Yes, it had to happen, but did it have to happen so soon? Yes, this morning as the Gentlemen woke up and headed off to matriculate, a dusting of snow greeted them. But before you lose all respect for them, know that more snow is on the way. If the predictions hold, there should be one to two inches of snow for game time. On the prospect of more snow, Joe Trzaska, Steds senior, said, "I love snow."