Notre Dame alum aid needy around Diocese

That service includes painting, cleaning, cooking and providing holiday celebrations for homeless people.

"We believe it is an important part of the Catholic tradition of the university to be of service to people in our communities when we are alumni," said Karen DeHais, club president and parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Church in Rensselaer. "The partnership between a Catholic university and local Catholic charities seemed natural."

Working for others

Mrs. DeHais explained that during Notre Dame's sesquicentennial in 1992, the university arranged for a day of service when all of the Notre Dame Club chapters were encouraged to perform community service. That's when the local club connected with Mercy House in Albany, a shelter for homeless women.

Since then, every other month, club members prepare and share a Sunday dinner with the residents of Mercy House. The club also provides Christmas gifts for residents.

Notre Dame's day of service has expanded beyond Mercy House. This year, for example, the club painted living space and offices for Community Maternity Services in Albany. Club members have also worked at Camp Scully.

Natural effort

Alumni service is a natural product of the Notre Dame experience, Mrs. DeHais said. The university has an office -- the Center for Social Concerns -- dedicated to arranging service opportunities for students and alumni. The center was formed 11 years ago to focus on service, social action and reflection for the Notre Dame community.

"Service is central to the Catholic mission of the university," said John Gschwind, one of the 150 members of the local Notre Dame Club. "Notre Dame is more than a football powerhouse. Academics, faith and service are important."

Mr. Gschwind, a parishioner at St. Pius X Church in Loudonville, was involved in an inner-city tutoring program while a student at Notre Dame. He said his years at the University helped him to mature in his faith.

"As a child, you inherit the faith of your family. As you get older, you begin to question it," he said. "Maturity and depth of faith were developed at Notre Dame. Community service was a part of that maturing."

Passing the faith

To help current students further develop their faith, the local club assists the Center for Social Concerns in placing them in local service activities. Each summer, the club sponsors an undergraduate who volunteers at a local Catholic Charities agency. The club provides a stipend, housing and a scholarship while the student learns first-hand about social justice and human services.

The local club also arranges for students to go on an "Urban Plunge." Mrs. DeHais, who participated in this activity as an undergraduate, explained that it is an organized experience in urban poverty in the student's home town when students spend a week living and interacting with the poor.

"The experience exposes students to the reality of the needs," she said. "It helps students see the connection between social responsibility and faith."

Many students are inspired to participate in a year of service after graduation after this experience, Mrs. DeHais said.

Essential part

Faith and service are an important part of the local Notre Dame Club, because they are important part of the undergraduate experience, Mrs. DeHais said.

"Notre Dame is a Catholic college. The faith life on campus is strong," she said. "Notre Dame alumni leave seeking the opportunity to continue this."

That is one of the reasons Notre Dame graduates are so loyal to their school, Mr. Gschwind said. "It's what the school stands for that causes loyalty," he said. "The Catholic traditions go against modern society. There are eternal truths that you learn to speak up and act on."

More help

Besides providing community service, the local club has also raised money to sponsor events, such as bringing a motivational speaker to diocesan schools and organizing a visit by the Notre Dame Liturgical Folk Choir for two parishes in the Diocese last year.

In the future, the club will continue its emphasis on community service and assisting in educating students on social justice issues, Mrs. DeHais said.

The club is also hoping to connect with other Catholic alumni for future activities. "We'd love to have other Catholic universities work with us," she said. [[In-content Ad]]