I stand in awe of my students at Notre Dame, what their dreams and aspirations are for themselves and the world.
The young women with whom Sister Mary Donnelly, OP lives in community, as rector at the University of Notre Dame, are searching for identity: answers to Who am I? Who do I want to be? “Part of my role and presence in these young women’s lives is to see them and to listen. I do a lot of listening.”
“I’m present to help women, with whom I share a life, to grow and become more fully the person who God created them to be, whether that is supporting them in a moment of crisis or being there to help them celebrate something that’s gone extremely well.”
Sr. Mary Donnelly (back row, center) with the residence hall team that guides the community of women at Flaherty Hall at Notre Dame. At least two of them are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Photo by Jennifer Mayo/University of Notre Dame)
