What are they...

Fay: Taking in the waters of Champlain...

… doing? Yes, what are our Stedsmen doing now that they no longer have classes to attend, papers to procrastinate writing, nor any thing else for that matter, especially if they have graduated?! Indeed, what are they doing this summer?! Well, some, especially Eoghan Fay '23 and NDLS '26, are taking a break from the post-grad labors. Fay just graduated from the Notre Dame Law School and what do you do after being "hooded" as a laywer? Take a break before studying for the New York Bar exam of course! And what better way to that than going to land that America would have forgotten if James Fenimore Cooper hadn't written about it- Upstate New York. Visiting Fort William Henry and Lake Champlain, Fay took a break from his labors of reading law and from the Steds Assistant Rector mantle. On his time in the wilds of New York, Fay shared, "The Queen of American Lakes is always resplendent in summer. Fans of 'The Last of the Mohicans,' however, shouldn't expect to see Daniel Day-Lewis. That movie was, disappointingly, filmed in North Carolina!"

... and the reconstructed Ft. William Henry. 

What are they...

Doctor-to-be Les with his dad...

… doing? Yes, what are our Stedsmen doing now that they no longer have classes to attend, papers to procrastinate writing, nor any thing else for that matter, especially if they have graduated?! Indeed, what are they doing this summer?! Well, some, especially Owen Les '24, are taking a break from the post-grad labors. Owen just finished his first year of medical school at Cooper Medical School in Camden, New Jersey, and what do you do after completing your first year? Have a father son celebration of course! Owen and his dad went to Dublin, and when in Dublin, they made a stop at Guinness factory, where at its Gravity Bar atop the factory, they took in more than just the views. On seeing Les and his dad at the Gravity Bar, Fr. Ralph said, "Please have one, maybe two, for me!"

P.S. Thanks to mom for sharing this story!

... repping...

... drinking...

... and of course, praying!

Your Sunday picture...

Just plain beautiful

... from Notre Dame. Here is a view of Mary and the Dome at twilight. Against a beautiful blue sky, our golden Mary and Dome truly shine out in the darkness or whatever the backdrop might be. Enjoy, and enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

To hear this week's installment of In the Red Room, on:

iTunes, click HERE.

Spotify, click HERE.

When it rains...

Jesus Lake

... it pours! Recently, with the abnormally high temperatures and unbearable heat indexes, there have been some severe storms at Notre Dame. Several times the tornado sirens have been heard, but thankfully, no tornadoes have crossed campus. Still, there has been significant tree damage and some localized flooding. And while many the damage is being quickly tended to, there are some unique scenes about campus... especially the appearance of a third lake. After a very heavy rain a third lake, Jesus' Lake, appears at the Grotto, and then, we have them all at ND... Mary, Jesus, and Joseph! On the appearance of Jesus Lake, Fr. Ralph said, "I feel blessed!"

To hear this week's installment of In the Red Room, on:

iTunes, click HERE.

Spotify, click HERE.

Good byes...

See ya later!

... can be so difficult. That's certainly the case when saying goodbye to Southern California. Completing his assistance at Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach, it was time for Fr. Ralph to return to ND but not before renewing friendships, visiting Stedsmen and Steds families, and of course, getting his base tan for the summer. On leaving, Fr. Ralph said, "Parting is truly such sweet sorrow!"

To hear this week's installment of In the Red Room, on:

iTunes, click HERE.

Spotify, click HERE.

What are they...

Heffernan and Zavala atop the Reichstag 

… doing? Yes, what are our Stedsmen doing now that they no longer have classes to attend, papers to procrastinate writing, nor any thing else for that matter, especially if they have graduated?! Indeed, what are they doing this summer?! Well, some are busy at study and play, and that's certainly the case for President Michael Heffernan, Steds junior, and Alexi Zavala, Steds sophomore. Seeing an opportunity to study and play at the same time through participating in a study abroad, Heffernan and Zavala applied, and were accepted, to the summer program in Berlin. Hitting the books of course, Heffernan and Zavala have managed to see the sights of Berlin though not too many of them... and for a good reason. On studying- and playing in Berlin- Heffernan said, "I am in Berlin right now... but I have some serious jet lag!"

To hear this week's installment of In the Red Room, on:

iTunes, click HERE.

Spotify, click HERE.

Best of...

... the Gentlemen's Monthly. Well, TWELVE years ago this was the posting. Enjoy this blast from the very distant past.   

Communing with Nature.

No, it's just the path around St. Joseph's Lake.

Even if you don't like the outdoors, every now and then, you must walk around the lakes at Notre Dame. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a Holy Cross priest said, "A walk around the lakes at Notre Dame can be a 45-minute silent retreat." Indeed, it can be, unnamed priest... it very well can be!