Happy...

Bergstrom with his motivation...

... Half Way Day! Believe it or not, but we are half way through the Fall Semester. How do we know? Well, Pete McKeon, Steds Assistant Rector, calculated the day using November 20th as the end date, so today, September 30th, is the momentous day. And what better way to celebrate and mark this milestone than to have some Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Specially bagged, the Gentlemen were able to grab a bag of glazed doughnuts in the Flounge to enjoy as the went off to their morning classes. Don't worry. Those in quarantine and isolation were not forgotten as a special delivery was made just for them. On being the first to find the tasty treats for Half Way Day, Henry Bergstrom, Steds junior and resident Minnesotan, said, "Somedays, you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Right when I thought using a mask or completing my daily health check was going to get to me, here comes St. Ed with some delicious donuts to save the day. I couldn’t be more thankful for this Krispy motivation. Time to get after the second half of the year!"

... while some had it delivered to their door.

Yet another surprise...

Very special deliveries

... for the Gentlemen was had today. If the surprise in the Flounge was not enough, then perhaps the surprise in their mailboxes was. Today the Gentlemen received a surprise gifts from not only the University- reusable silverware since plastic silverware will be discontinued- but also from their hall- a new, couture face mask. Designed by the fashion genius, Kyle Rubin, this bespoke face mask gives the wearer the peace of mind and confidence of knowing that they are doing their part to keep the Covid at bay. Nothing says "back off" to the Covid than this handsome and functional face mask. On the new face mask, Peter Ferraro, Steds sophomore and resident New Jerseyan, shared, "Today marked another fantastic day in St. Edwards Hall… Just as I was passing the mailboxes on the way to the laundry room, I witnessed Rubin pull his brand new Steds face mask out of his mailbox. Once again, St. Ed’s has really outdone itself with these new masks. Its beautiful design further bolsters our status as the dorm with the best merch, and I can’t wait to show it off around campus for the rest of the semester!"

It was a surprise....

Out with the old...

... to everyone. Yes, the yellow caution tape blocking off the beloved Flounge caught everyone by surprise. And if that wasn't enough of a surprise, then the ripping up of the carpet did. The Flounge carpet, made up of numbers of small squares, had become worn out and was even coming up in some places. So, it was time to do something which was to replace it with a new identical one... with a better floor adhesive of course.  On the new carpeting and adhesive, Fr. Ralph said, "It was all a surprise to me, but the finished product is what this old and storied hall and its Gentlemen need and deserve." 

... and in with the new!

Your Sunday picture...

Farewell to Summer

... from Notre Dame. Ending at 9:31am on last Wednesday, summer finally gave way to fall. Here is the last summer sunrise over Notre Dame. It was an amazingly beautiful morning, and a great way for summer to say goodbye. Enjoy, and enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be! 

As always…

Join us for the Steds' Sunday Hall Mass at 10pm EST! Click on either of the links below. Save them as they will work for EVERY Sunday. It's just that simple!

For the Facebook Page, click HERE.  

For a Zoom Invitation Link, click HERE.  

Saturday's Squirrel.

I see you

They know something is up. Our furry friends know something is happening. There are less people around the lakes. Gone are the myriads of runners and joggers. Gone too are the walkers. Now, there is barely a passerby. Yes, the squirrels are sensing the recent change in the seasons. Summer has given way to fall, and now, they know that some lean times are head. And to get head of these lean, not to mention cold, times, they are stepping up their panhandling efforts. No longer are they hoping you stoop to their level and give them a handout. Now, they are going right to eye level and making their case for delicious treat. Such was the case when this squirrel was spotted in a tree at eye level. On seeing a person at eye level, this squirrel non-verbaled, "Are you really going to look me in the eyes and say, 'no?' Come on... something for the effort here!"

One step ahead...

Kolodychak and his new bag

 ... of everyone else, but at Steds, we usually a good three, maybe even four, steps ahead of the game. That's where Steds was when everyone return to campus this August and made a mad dash to secure personalized residence hall face masks. Yes, we were three steps ahead as we already had ours. Once again, when the dining halls announced they were discontinuing plastic bag service, cutting back on waste and leaving students to improvise on transportation their meal selections home, Steds was ready. There will be no bungling of food cartons, spilling of drinks, nor dropping of meals on the floor because the Stedsmen have their reusable meal bag. Stylish, yet functional, this bag will prevent any embarrassing mishaps as well as make food transport a breeze. On his new bag, Alexander Kolodychak, Steds sophomore, Chemical engineer student, and resident Eriean,  “The new high quality Steds totes make up for the low quality food. One could even say that they are TOTEally awesome.”

Missing, but

Nothing says love more than unexpected Chick-Fil-A

… not forgotten. While the curve continues to flatten, there are a few Stedsmen who have taken up residence at the Embassy Suites and Morris Inn after being placed in quarantine and isolation. Yes, as we have heard before, these select few enjoy king size beds, personal bathrooms, and, even though it’s just food from the dining hall, room service. But we know there’s a high price to all this luxury…isolation. These Gentlemen are living in something very much like the elevator in Jean Paul Sartre’s play No Exit… there's of course no exit... but sadly there is no one else. It's complete isolation. To let these Stedsmen know they are not forgotten, a Chick-Fil-A lunch was delivered right to their room. On finding a Chick-Fil-A lunch at his door, an anonymous Stedsman said, "Suddenly, quarantine wasn’t so bad when I could sit on my bed, on a Zoom call, eating Chick-Fil-A.”

Mission accomplished.

AND... Later tonight...

He's no...

... slouch. Many things could be said of our Hall Vice President Mark Giugliano but slouch is NOT one them. Perish the thought! Not to be outdone by the Hall President, Peter Nichols, or fellow Vice President, Brendan Moriarty, Giugliano lent his person and talents to fight the Covid and appear in one of the Hall's official anti-virus posters. Drawing on his dashing looks, couture Steds mask, and a penchant for flare, a Mercury-seques poster, with clear nod to the Ice Cube, was created, rallying his fellow Stedsmen to complete their daily health check. The daily health check is an electronic questionnaire to comes to each faculty, staff and student at Notre Dame, assessing their wellness to on campus teaching, working or attending classes. Okay, so it is true. The daily health check, with its long list of questions, can be a bit tedious, monotonous, and easily forgotten about in the course of the day.  Nevertheless, its completion is paramount to keeping the Covid away. On doing his duty for King and Hall, Giugliano shared, “Father Ralph asked me for this pose, and of course, I had to oblige. Why not show a little of the Quarantine 15 if it means I can remind us to do our daily health check!?!?!”

Today at...

Fall has fallen upon us all

... 9:31am summer ended and fall began. Whether people realized it or not- and they probably didn’t because the weather was so nice- we’re officially into fall. If you couldn’t tell the change in seasons by the sun is rising later and setting sooner, then you would know it by the smell in the air and the small patches of brightly colored leaves in the trees about campus. But some at Steds wouldn’t know it’s fall because they have never experienced it. That’s the case for Isaiah Alvendia, Steds freshman and Guam native, who has only experienced “tropical” before coming to Notre Dame. On the arrival of fall, Alvendia said, “As excited as I am to experience fall for the first time and see the leaves change color, I am not looking forward to the freezing temperatures that will be coming in the next few weeks. Hopefully, I will have enough clothes to keep me warm, or it will be a very, very long few months. " 

They said...

Dwortz (far right corner) enjoying a Friday feast...

... it couldn't be done. Yes, first they said that we could never have Food Sales at Steds, but yet, we have Ed's. And Ed's would be open if it were not for the Covid. Next, they said that Steds could never have a gym, but yet, we have a newly refurbished hall gym. And thanks to the lifting of the pause, it's open again with some serious gainz being made by our gym goers. So, when they said that we could not have pizza on the patio because of the Covid, things got real, and the challenge was accepted. And thanks to generous donors, the Gentlemen were able to keep their undefeated record of "can'ts." As others watched on, the Gentlemen, seated individually or as a household, had their fill of pizza, cookies and candy novelties, and drinks on the Steds patio on the Game Day eve. Once again, thanks to our donors, what couldn't be done was done! On the start of the weekend treat, Will Dwortz, Steds freshman and resident Massachusettian, said, "We loved it. It was a great getting to eat with some upperclassmen, though the amount of pizza we ate made me regret choosing a nap over a run earlier."

... with others who were not worried...

...about the freshmen 15 or Covid 19, lbs that is

Your Sunday picture...

Moonrise over St. Mary's Lake

... from Notre Dame. After a great day of football, with fantastic weather too, here is the a picture of the moonrise over Notre Dame. Currently a waxing crescent, the moon could not help but capture one's attention as a wonderful day drew to a close. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

But there's more...

Join us for the Steds' Sunday Hall Mass at 10pm EST! Click on either of the links below. Save them as they will work for EVERY Sunday. It's just that simple!

For the Facebook Page, click HERE.  

For a Zoom Invitation Link, click HERE.  

Saturday Squirrel.

Up, up and away!

While our furry friends are busy preparing for winter, we're going to focus on some other campus friends, Canada geese. Don't get too close to these feathered friends because they are rather standoffish. If you do get too close, they are not afraid to hiss, even take a peck, at you. Still, the Canada geese are fun to watch, especially when they land or take off from the lakes. Here is a photo of a flock taking off from St. Mary's Lake. What's interesting in this photo is not only the capturing of their flying but also how one black cormorant (seen in the background) did not join in the departure. On watching the other leave, the black cormorant non-verbaled, "Finally, I have the whole place to myself."

Never shying away...

Steds Karaoke: Steds Stars Rising

... from a moment to show off. Stedsmen never pass up a moment to show off their skills, moves, and talents and that is especially the case when an open mic was involved. In addition to Portillo's last Friday, there was also a karaoke contest. Covid compliant, Friday Karaoke gave Stedsmen of all class levels an opportunity to give the best renditions of their favorite songs. Can't sing? Not a problem. All that matters is that they gave it the old college go... and gave that go with passion and panache. Who won? Everyone, but if someone had to be declared a winner, then Hayden Mascarenhas and his singing of Justin Bieber's Baby would get the nod. On the karaoke-ing, Josh Gambardella, former Steds Hall President, senior, and karaoke judge, said, "It was a tremendous display of talent from my fellow Stedsmen. Truly an honor to be called back home to witness and judge the contest. As long as no one quits their day jobs, we should be okay."

Weren't there? Not a problem. Watch these videos...

Video One

Video Two

Video Three

Video Four

Missing, but...

Sunday Krispy Kremes: Delivered...

... not forgotten. While the curve is flattening, there are some Stedsmen who have taken up residence at the Embassy Suites and Morris Inn after being placed in quarantine and isolation. Enjoying king size beds, personal bathrooms, suites, turndown and room service (Campus Dining delivering dining hall meals), these Stedsmen have some comfortable surroundings, but there is a high price. They are alone, and it can get very lonely! To let them know they are not forgotten, every Sunday, amid other things, Krispy Kreme doughnuts are delivered right to their rooms. On receiving Krispy Keme doughnuts, an anonymous Stedsman said, "Only Krispy Kreme could have made my quarantine better. Sure, I didn’t get to have a true Game Day, but hey, doughnuts made my stay a bit more okay.”

...and enjoyed.

The gainz train...

Showing Off: McKechney

... has left the station. With the University Covid "pause"over and now in the rear view mirror, classes are, to the delight of all, in-person once again. Still, other things have only now received a green light to resume, namely gyms. Yes, all across campus, gyms have reopened for student use, from the Smith Gym in the Duncan Student Center to right down to the Steds Gym at St. Ed's. Once again, free weights and dumbbells clank away from the first floor gym, and slowly but surely, gainz are being made by our Gentlemen gym goers. And, thanks to the incredible and generous Steds housekeepers, Keira and Tyler, the Steds gym is open EARLIER and for MORE hours than other residence hall gyms. Thank you Keira and Tyler! On the Steds gym reopening, Colin McKechney, Steds sophomore and resident New Yorker, shared, "Now that the gyms are open, I’ve lost the last excuse to not work out."   

Back at it...

Marcarenhas: A real ND champion

... again. Let it rain, snow, or the sun shine because Steds has a new patio tent. “Steds Blue,” the Hall’s blue tent, fell victim to the torrential downpour of a week and a half ago. Often seen in blog photos out in the backyard or in the park, the tent suffered damages and was beyond repair. Sadly, we had to part ways, and while this old and trusted friend is now gone, it certainly is not forgotten. But, we must move on, and thanks to a donor, Steds has. Recently, a new black tent was procured, and once again, the Gentlemen enjoyed outside eating, studying, and recreating all while keeping the Covid away. On the new tent, Hayden Mascarenhas, Steds sophomore and Steds patio regular, said, “Thanks to the new tent, I am back HERE, studying and eating. And if you’ve never eaten HERE, like I am now, you won’t know what it is like to EAT LIKE A CHAMPION. Go Irish!”

The men behind...

The Brothers McKeon: Purveying sweet treats

... the ice cream socials. On Sundays, after Mass, at Plaza St Edward (the Steds patio), the Gentlemen are treated to a Covid compliant ice cream social. But this is not your typical ice cream social put on by Fr. Ralph. Gone are his five gallon vats of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Gone are his jars upon jars of sprinkles. Gone are his bottles of Hershey's speciality syrups and toppings. Yes, they have all made an exit during this pandemic, and in their place, something else has now appeared. Klondikes bars, Snickers and Twixs, Italians ices, chocolate covered bananas with and without nuts, fruitsicles, Drumsticks, M&M cookie sandwiches, ice cream sandwiches with various kinds of ice creams are now being served by the Brothers McKeon, Peter and Nate, Steds ARs and brothers. 

On the delivering sweet treats to the kids, Nate (above left) said, “As if life in St. Ed’s couldn’t get any sweeter, enjoying the privilege of sharing ice cream and good will with my fellow Stedsmen after Mass has been an absolute treat. Whoever determined you can catch more flies with honey must have never tried ice cream.”

Still, Pete (above right) added, "After witnessing our Lord’s salvation at Mass, there’s nothing a Stedsman likes, nor deserves, more than the icy, sweet goodness that comes from this freezer. To be a part of something so crucial to the hall is humbling to say the least. Many thanks to all our donors who make this all possible."

Your Sunday picture...

... here is a view of Mary, the Dome, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and the new Corby Hall... all from St. Mary's Lake. A beautiful day, for what hopefully will be a great week. Enjoy this view and video, and enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

For a special video, click HERE.

But there's more...

Join us for the Steds' Sunday Hall Mass at 10pm EST! Click on either of the links below. Save them as they will work for every Sunday. It's just that simple.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/St-Edwards-Hall-Mass-102057961618320/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Zoom Invitation Link: https://notredame.zoom.us/j/94136213595?pwd=QzBwaDJscU0rd0VpSTJlWlNJVWlGZz09

And they were...

Whether out back or...

... satisfied. Thanks to a generous, anonymous donor, the Stedsmen's hunger for a Game Day cookout with all the trimmings were satisfied on Game Day Eve as Portillo's of Chicago catered a special meal for a very special group. Served at Plaza St. Edward's, the Steds backyard patio, and in keeping with University Covid guidelines, the Stedsmen enjoyed Italian beef and Chicago sausage sandwiches, pasta salad, a green salad, and a slice of Portillo's famous chocolate cake. Suffice it to say, they were many Irish eyes a smiling! Indeed, there smiles, laughs, talk of the game, and some looking for another slice of cake. In the end, it was a great start to the weekend. On the special catered meal, our anonymous donor shared, "

You're back on campus and it's Fall

It's been a hot start at St Ed's Hall.

Not only the temps,

But this Rona virus too-

And y’all have worked hard,

So here’s some fun food!

‘Tis the eve of the Irish vs devils,

We’ve got the leprechaun & 

Are on such a different level! 

ND will prevail & so will you Stedsmen

Keep up the hard work 

And we’ll do this again!

Congrats Guys for doing your part & flattening the curve!! 

You’re all in our prayers.

GO IRISH!! ☘️✨  "

MANY, MANY THANKS TO OUR ANONYMOUS DONOR!

... out front, happiness was all around!

We remember...

We remember

... September 11th. Today, we remember those who died and were injured in the terrorist attacks of 2001. Even though it was nineteen years ago today, we can all remember where we were when we heard the terrible news. Today, on South Quad, a temporary memorial was erected at the flag pole commemorating the 2,977 fatalities of that day. 

Fueling the fire...

The Gentleman behind the boards: Colin Kremus

... this Gentleman is. The corn hole fever that has recently gripped the Hall has been helped along by one of the newest members of the Steds, freshman and resident New Jerseyan, Colin Kremus. As he moved in this past August, Kremus brought along all the items that a freshman would need, but he along brought something else with him... a bespoke corn hole set. Crafted by was a family friend, Kremus gifted his home away from home with corn boards with intricate graphics, rendered through vinyl printing. The graphics? None other than the coat of arms of St. Edward... something that is always in fashion. On fanning the flames of the corn hole rage, Kremus stated, "There's so much about Steds that speaks of class and refinement, and lawn games should not be the exception. What better way to remain true to this fact than with corn hole boards that handsomely sport the green and gold?" 

Indeed, Colin. Indeed. Truer words could not be said HERE...

Doing his duty...

 

Great question...

... to King and Hall. As the Hall President AND the Hall mailman, Peter Nichols is doing his part to stop the Covid, and now, he is encouraging others to do the same. All about the Hall's post boards, even the lobby's glass cabinet, posters featuring the Nichols have gone up reminding Stedsmen to wash and sanitize their hands. Why? Because if he catches the Covid, mail delivery will grind to a halt. I guess we found out what will really stop the mail! As being the incumbent mailman, I have the confidence of the Hall to perform my duty during the pandemic. Everyday, I do my part to ensure no Stedsmen will contract the virus from the USPS. Being President as well, there are growing conspiracies that my leadership is becoming a dictatorship as I’m now controlling the information flowing through St. Edwards Hall. I deny all theories and hold mail delivery with the utmost respect! #ReFundUSPS." 

Special delivery...

 

Krispy Kremes: keeping hope kindled

... for the Gentlemen in quarantine and isolation. Yes, a special delivery was made to those Gentlemen who have taken up residence in quarantine and isolation. What better way to let someone afar know that they and their presence are missed than with Krispy Kreme doughnuts. An assorted of Krispy Kremes were delivered to their doors, delighting the palates and lifting spirits, all in the hopes of reminding them not to lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel... or in this case, quarantine and isolation. On finding a box of doughnuts at his hotel door, an unnamed Stedsman said, "I was so close to hitting my lowest point, but out of nowhere, I received a box of delectable donuts. This was all I needed to reinvigorate me and find the strength needed to push through quarantine!”

Sunday studying and...

Gentlemen players giving it the old college go...

... bocce playing. Oh, the life of the Gentlemen students! Taking advantage of the break in the weather, RAs Johnny Welsch and John Swift organized a round robin bocce tourney for the freshmen of the 1st and 2nd floors. New to the Hall, these Gentlemen must be acquainted with an old past time of the Hall, bocce. Played often in the park, St. Edward's Park, bocce is not only a great diversion but also a great way for the competitive spirits of the Hall to find expression. And so, the day started learning and playing the basics, but it quickly turned into experimenting and mastering advanced techniques. The tourney saw highs and lows, victories and defeats, and great jubilation and disappointment. In the end, the tourney saw freshmen upstarts Patrick "Paddy" Burns and Anthony Kafel take on the tourney organizers and old guard,  Johnny Welsch and John Swift, in championship play. Who won? The young bucks. 

On their coup, Burns stated, "My partner and I had never played bocce before but that wasn’t going to hinder our desire to win the tournament! We started off slowly, but we got the hang of it after our first game. We were glad to meet the two RAs in the final. But with an incredible performance from my Philadelphian teammate, Anthony, we were carried to victory. Something tells me the RAs will want a rematch soon so we’ll celebrate our success when we can. The bragging rights are ours, for now!" 

Still, Kafel said, "This victory was just the first of many victories to come for intramural competitions among the Hall here at Notre Dame. We plan to bring home many more victories to honor the St Edwards name, and we look forward to the many challenges that are to come our way in the future."

... with some winners...

BUT THERE'S MORE...

The day also saw heartbreaks too. One such heartbreak was suffered by Matt Vawrink while playing Fr. Ralph. After Fr. Ralph tossed his red ball and making a bocce, kiss, with the marker ball, Vawrink felt the pressure, but it clearly didn't phase him as he threw his greenball. It was a prefect toss, but sadly, it wasn't enough. On missing out on the win by millimeters, Vawrink said, "My shot ended up a few inches from the white ball, probably my best ever shot in Bocce Ball, but ultimately that wasn’t good enough to match the sheer precision of Father’s shot. It was nerve-wracking to watch for sure."

Fr. Ralph said, "I never want to play that kid again. His first game? Oh my God... Vawrink had me throwing everything I had, even the kitchen sink, at him to win the game. I am getting too old for this!" 

... and some losers.

Your Sunday picture...

A beautiful sight...

... from Notre Dame. Here is a twilight view taken from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. An usual sight for sure, and it was mesmerizing. As quickly as it was seen and photographed, it was gone. But what a sight is was. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

But there's more...

Join us for the Steds' Sunday Hall Mass at 10pm EST! Click on either of the links below. Save them as they will work for every Sunday. It's just that simple.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/St-Edwards-Hall-Mass-102057961618320/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Zoom Invitation Link: https://notredame.zoom.us/j/94136213595?pwd=QzBwaDJscU0rd0VpSTJlWlNJVWlGZz09

... that just got better.

Saturday Squirrel.

 

In part two, the flowers of Notre Dame, the second half of summer flowers are shared for your viewing pleasure. Collected during various walks about campus and the lakes, the flora of Notre Dame in all its beauty can be seen. Now waning as summer draws to a close, it was a sight to see and take in. On the flowers, Fr. Ralph said, "I cannot help but recall a Gospel pericope from Luke... Consider how the wild flowers grow. . . . Not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”