THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS ESTABLISHED 1966
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026 | VOL. LX, NO. 47
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Basilica welcomes thousands for Lenten season By Annelise Demers and Matthew Morin Associate News Editor and News Writer
Carved into the base of the Sacred Heart statue at the center of God Quad are the words “Come to me, all of you,” a phrase from Matthew 11:28. That Scripture verse serves as this Campus Ministry’s Lenten theme this year, an invitation directed not at the perfect, but at anyone willing to respond. An estimated 3,500 people received ashes Wednesday at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart across four Englishlanguage Masses at 8 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 5:15 p.m. and 9 p.m. A Spanish-language Mass was offered at 7 p.m. In addition to the Basilica liturgies, ashes were distributed at Masses held in dorm chapels and several academic buildings throughout the day. Fr. Brian Ching, rector of
the Basilica and director of liturgy for Campus Ministry, estimated about 800 people attended both the 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses. The 5:15 p.m. liturgy drew the largest crowd, with between 1,000 and 1,200 attendees, and roughly 800 were expected at 9 p.m. In his 8 a.m. homily, Ching ref lected on the f leeting nature of earthly glory, invoking the phrase “thus passes the glory of the world” as a reminder that even the most beautiful parts of life are temporary. Lent, he said, reorients believers toward what is eternal. “This world does pass away,” Ching said, describing the Lenten season as preparation for Easter and the promise of resurrection. Ching also emphasized that Ash Wednesday publicly acknowledges human limitation.
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
With ashes traced on foreheads and the words “Come to me, all of you” echoing from God Quad at The Sacred Heart of Jesus statue, Notre Dame began Lent on Wednesday as a season of response rather than perfection.
“I think Ash Wednesday speaks to a truth that we all know and have to acknowledge,” Ching said. “We make
mistakes. We assume. That’s not something that we can pretend isn’t a part of life.” The ashes, he said,
symbolize both mortality and hope — a call to seek grace at see “Lent” on page 4
60th Observer Ed Board selected for upcoming term
Bishop Rhoades speaks at HCC
By Observer News Staff
By Eileen Doyle
Ten department heads and seven management editors will comprise the 2026-27 Observer Editorial Board, incoming editorin-chief Gray Nocjar announced Wednesday. The board’s tenure begins March 7. “This year’s Editorial Board is talented, vocal and incredibly innovative,” Nocjar said. “The Observer is blessed to be led by such devoted people.” Thirteen incoming editors have held positions on past editorial boards, a record number in the 60-year history of the newspaper, and three are returning for a rare third term. Four editors hail from Saint Mary’s College, the second-most ever after the 202021 board.
News Writer
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
The board collectively boasts 15 years of prior experience as editors, the most in the paper’s history. Three editors return for a third year.
Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend visited Holy Cross College on Wednesday as part of the Mind and Heart Lecture Series, delivering a talk on what he described as one of the greatest challenges facing the modern world — the global migration and refugee crisis. The lecture series began in 2021, aiming to combine intellectual reflection with moral responsibility, connecting reason, compassion and the Holy Cross mission of healing the world. Rhoades clarified that the event was not meant to be a political debate, but rather a reflection on what it means to live out the Catholic faith and values in today’s world and on how to confront today’s challenges. Rhoades centered his talk on the staggering scale of human displacement worldwide. According to United Nations data he cited, 117.3 million people are currently displaced globally. Of those, 42.5 million are refugees who have fled
their countries, 67.8 million are displaced within their own borders and millions more are asylum seekers. He emphasized that these figures represent more than data points. “I’m sharing these statistics to highlight the staggering dimensions of this crisis, but it is important that we not only look at the numbers — these are real people. Over 40% of refugees today are children under the age of 18. Over 60% are in family units. And the sufferings of refugees are multifaceted,” Rhoades said. Throughout the lecture, Rhoades framed migration as a moral and theological issue. Drawing from Scripture and Catholic social teaching, he argued that Christians are called to recognize the dignity of every person. “Pope Francis coined the phrase ‘globalization of indifference’ to describe a widespread mentality where people are desensitized to the suffering of others, viewing the migrant crisis as someone else’s problem. As Christians, we must never treat the
Management editors Junior Aynslee Dellacca will take over as managing editor for her third term on the board. She is the first Saint Mary’s student to hold three distinct editor roles in over 40 years. Margaret Fosmoe, now an associate editor for Notre
Dame Magazine, was the last to do so — serving as Saint Mary’s news, managing and executive editor from 1982-84. Raised in New Palestine, Ind., Dellacca is majoring in anthropological and Indigenous studies and minoring in justice studies and film studies at Saint Mary’s College. She joined The Observer her freshman year writing for news and working production
before assuming her role as Saint Mary’s news editor and later as an assistant managing editor. Her coverage interests include administrative policy, campus life, local news and political activism. Sophomore Sophie Hanawalt will serve as an assistant managing editor this spring. Hanawalt is studying global affairs with
NEWS | PAGE 4
OPINION | PAGE 5
SCENE | PAGE 8
SPORTS | PAGE 8
SPORTS | PAGE 11
The council passed its first resolution in three years, addressing off-campus leases.
Beyond controversy over her political opinions, Osterman has been dedicated to ND mission.
New generative AI video model, Seedance 2.0, proves a threat to the entertainment industry.
Payton Dymek interviews the Irish track national champion ahead of Winter Olympics debut.
With the sport gaining popularity, learn more about Notre Dame’s curling club.
Campus Life Council
Ostermann defended
see “Ed Board” on page 3
AI in Hollywood
Jadin O’Brien
see “Bishop” on page 4
Curling