THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS ESTABLISHED 1966
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2026 | VOL. LX, NO. 61
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
The Shirt 37 features class ring, Golden Dome By Matthew Morin Associate News Editor
At 4:30 p.m. Friday, The Shirt Committee at Notre Dame announced its 37th annual design, a navy color with a class ring and the Golden Dome on the back. The first Shirt was created during the 1990 football season. That year, the University sold 9,000 shirts that featured a hand-drawn design with then-Coach Lou Holtz. In recent history, 2011’s Shirt, entitled “Cheer Cheer For Old Notre Dame,” has sold the most at 165,000 purchases. Proceeds of the initiative are split — half going to the University to support clubs, organizations and the Office of Student Enrichment, and the other half going to The Shirt Charity, “which helps students afford unexpected medical expenses,” according to the organization’s website. This year’s Shirt was unveiled in Duncan Student Center after poor
MATTHEW MORIN| The Observer
The Shirt Committee, singing Notre Dame our Mother, wearing the 2026 Shirt. Despite bad weather forcing the event indoors to Duncan Student Center, the Shirt Committee revealed their 37th Shirt Design Friday.
Holy Spirit Chapel marks 100th year anniversary By Aynslee Dellacca
weather conditions forced the event off of its original location on Library Lawn. Opening events included a performance by the Notre Dame Glee Club, singing its signature rendition of “Tonight” from West Side Story. Fr. Pete McCormick, assistant vice president of Campus Ministry, emceed the event, keeping the audience engaged with jokes and various activities throughout. Following the Glee Club, McCormick brought up several children from the audience to play “Simon Says.” The Undertones performed its cover of Jason DeRulo’s “Whatcha Say,” followed by McCormick taking the stage to engage the audience again. McCormick called out various colors, encouraging the audience to cheer for the color they hoped the Shirt would be. He called out, “purple” and “pink,” receiving minimal cheers, see “Shirt” on page 3
Richard Clark to lead Sheedy Program
“There are some places that seem almost too beautiful where they’re planted … hidden here on the third floor of the Le Mans hall, the Chapel of the Holy Spirit is just such a place. To call it a hidden gem doesn’t quite do it justice, does it? It is more like a quiet heartbeat: steady, faithful, life-giving, at the very center of this remarkable building for the past one hundred years,” Fr. Bill Lies said. Lies is the provincial superior for the U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers for the Congregation of Holy Cross. Lies’ remarks on the chapel echoed throughout the nave, where scores of attendees sat and listened to his homily for the 100th anniversary of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit’s dedication. The Mass, celebrated Friday, was the 100th anniversary to the day. A 24-person community choir, made up of students, alumnae, faculty, staff, sisters and community members, led the congregation in liturgical worship. Lies was accompanied by Fr. Felipe Campos and Fr. Joseph Lorenz. Generally, the Holy Spirit Chapel is reserved for students throughout
the school year because of its location in the center of the residence portion of Le Mans Hall. However, for a few times out of the year, the chapel is open to the tri-campus community. This Mass marked one of these special occasions, “widening the invitation” to faculty and staff to celebrate Mass in Saint Mary’s landmark building. “Holy Spirit Chapel is so beautiful and such an icon of the College because it’s nestled into the heart of Le Mans and surrounded by student residences. We aren’t able to bring even faculty and staff or off-campus friends into it as often as we would ideally like. It’s what makes today so special,” vice president for mission Molly Gower said. The planning for this dedication, however, began nearly two years earlier when Director of the Center for Faith, Action, and Ministry Nicole Labadie became interested in the chapel’s 100th anniversary during the College’s celebrations for Le Mans Hall’s centennial. Labadie described herself as “having a dream” to host a large celebration after learning from the College’s archivist Eric Walerko the century milestone hadn’t passed yet. The original dedication date, April
24, 1926, had been lost to time until Walerko found the original worship guides within Saint Mary’s archives. “I’ve been recounting a lot of just how much this chapel has seen over the past 100 years. It has been a place of such encounter: encounter with God, with community, in moments of silence and stillness. It has seen numerous weddings, many confirmations, many words of healing through the sacrament of reconciliation. It has been a place where students and Saint Mary’s community members and sisters have paused, bringing anguish, joy, grief and peace,” Labadie said during the anniversary Mass. A post-Mass reception held in Stapleton Lounge invited those in attendance for the Mass and the general Saint Mary’s College community to digitally view the found archival materials and enjoy snacks, Holy Spirit Chapel-themed stickers and prayer cards. Students, alumnae, sisters and community members alike shared their appreciation for and memories of the Holy Spirit Chapel. “When I first came here, I didn’t really know who I was or what I
NEWS | PAGE 3
OPINION | PAGE 5
SCENE | PAGE 8
SPORTS | PAGE 9
SPORTS | PAGE 11
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see “Chapel” on page 4
‘Michael’
Courtesy of the University of Notre Dame
Assistant professor of political science Richard Clark will replace Paul Blaschko as the new director of Sheedy Family Program.
By Mara Hall Associate News Editor
After serving as the director of the Sheedy Family Program in Economy, Enterprise and Society since its conception in 2022, Paul Blaschko is being replaced by Richard Clark, a tenure-track assistant professor of political science. Blaschko is leaving the University
Blue Gold Game
at the end of his current contract, which runs through June 30. Clark will assume the role July 1. The program unifies a business background with a liberal arts pedagogy for students with concentrations in both Mendoza College of Business and College of Arts and Letters. The program includes see “Sheedy” on page 3
Williams stepping up