I invite you to reflect on the importance of personal and community-based passion and mission as we begin this academic year.

Four years ago at the commencement ceremony in the JACC, Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ (of Dead Man Walking book/movie fame) concluded her powerful talk after receiving the Laetare Medal with the words, "May you be blessed with passion and may you follow it all your life." She returned to Notre Dame and DeBartolo a few months ago to a standing room only crowd and affirmed the importance of passion and our call to our community-based mission of "loving tenderly, acting justly and walking humbly with God" (Micah 6).

During the past 12 days, I have experienced events which are energizing and encouraging for me as executive director of the Center for Social Concerns. In the next few days, I anticipate an initiative which is very challenging. This spring we at the CSC worked hard as a staff and with students, faculty, alumni and other constituents to revise our mission statement as part of a comprehensive strategic planning process. I am grateful to share these brief and personal reflections on how our mission is more than words and is being lived out passionately by many in our community as I write to you.

Our mission statement is as follows: Rooted in the Gospel and Catholic social tradition, the Center for Social Concerns of the University of Notre Dame creates formative educational and service experiences in collaboration with diverse partners, calling us all to action for a more just and humane world.

This past Saturday morning, I celebrated with the more than 200 students and collaborators who participated in Summer Service Projects, discussing the way their passions were engaged during the eight weeks nationally and internationally in service-learning. With readings, journals and written reflections over the summer, they discovered how their "formative eductional and service experiences" were "rooted in the Gospel and Catholic social tradition." A few days before in our Theology seminar with SSP returnees, I relished the way students responded to the video of Sr. Helen Prejean's talk and related it to the passions and collaboration of "many diverse partners" who made their service experiences possible.

On Thursday afternoon, August 24th, over 100 First Year students gathered in our Center Multipurpose Room with their professors for a new course initiative. They will be able to incorporate community-based learning opportunities in the South Bend community into their First Year Composition writing course because of the collaboration of four groups: Office of First Year of Studies, First Year Writing Program, agencies in the South Bend area, and our own Center. I was especially pleased to share the enthusiasm of two First Year students in McGlinn Hall who expressed their appreciation for the opportunity and for the passion of their professors for this challenge.

I am also anticipating my joy at Activities Night to see many options in the area of social concerns and service in the midst of other invitations for you students to share your gifts with the Hall, campus and off-campus possibilities. It is encouraging that all received by mail the listings of the multiple Social Concerns Seminar offerings during breaks which often complement other CSC programs in "calling us all to action for a more just and humane world."

I am grateful that a press conference on Thursday will clarify a new program, called New Initiative in the Northeast Neighborhood, which has included "many diverse partners," on and off campus. The CSC has welcomed the initiative to be deeply involved in this effort to have out the best of our ND mission to be collaborative and sensitive to our "neighbors."

This past Sunday, August 27th, I participated in a special Eucharistic Celebration in the African-American parish of St. Agatha in North Lawndale (Chicago). Fr. Mike Ivers, who was a dynamic speaker at the conference last February, "Reconciliation and Renewal in the Cities: Faith-Based Initiatives," was leaving the vibrant parish community after 12 years of shared ministry. In his homily, he asked those of us with Notre Dame connections to stand. As I looked at our current Notre Dame African-American students, other students and alumni who learned so much from Mike and the "diverse partners of St. Agatha," I was moved to tears with gratitude. Many Notre Dame alumni of St. Agatha had transformative experiences and will continue to on SSPs and Urban Plunges.

Thanks for your interest. We of the CSC welcome your ideas, suggestions, passions and sharing in our mission.

Father Don McNeill, CSC, ND '58, is Executive Director of the Center for Social Concerns, a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, and a resident in McGlinn Hall.

The CSC's column appears every other Wednesday. Please contact us at the CSC by email ND.ndcntrsc.1@nd.edu or call 1-5293 for more information about the CSC.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

• Seeing old friends on the dishline
  
• Tuning in on the Republican Convention
  
• Continuing the mission of the CSC