For the Week of December 2
Arts and Performances
Exhibitions
Sacred Art Visio Divina
Visio divina, or “sacred seeing,” is an ancient form of Christian prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to prayerfully and meditatively enter into an image. These guided sessions with sacred art in the Mary, Queen of Families Chapel or in the galleries are held on the first Tuesday of every month.
Tuesday, Dec. 3; 11 to 11:30 a.m. in the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
ONEbyONE Community Portrait
Be part of a free one-of-a-kind photoshoot with acclaimed photographer Tom Styrkowicz of ONEbyONE Community Portrait. One print will be made for you to keep and one will become part of the Raclin Murphy’s community portrait wall on view all weekend. Everyone is a work of art and belongs at the Raclin Murphy Museum!
Afternoon session: Friday, Dec. 6; noon to 3 p.m. in the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
Evening session: Friday, Dec. 6; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Happy Birthday, Raclin Murphy!
The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art is turning 1! You’re invited to commemorate the museum’s first year in the community and celebrate you for making the museum come alive. Celebrate with a community portrait photo experience, sweet treats, cash bars from local vendors, music from DJ Pam Blair, and birthday-themed art activities.
Friday, Dec. 6; 6 to 10 p.m. in the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
Winter Wonders
Embrace the magic of the season at your Raclin Murphy Museum. Join in celebrating the winter wonderland with art, music, and community. Make ornaments inspired by works of art from the collection, listen to and join in holiday music with The Music Village Jammers, enjoy holiday treats provided, and peruse holiday pop-up shops.
Sunday, Dec. 8; 1 to 4 p.m. in the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
Performances
NDSF 2025 Info Session
Learn how you can join the 2025 Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival. Discover the summer 2025 programming, featuring ShakeScenes, Shakespeare After Hours, and the NDSF Professional Company, and find out how you can play your part. Paid positions available; food and refreshments provided!
Monday, Dec. 2; 5 to 6 p.m. in the Philbin Studio Theatre, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
One-Person Show: Shakespeare and the Alchemy of Gender
Lisa Wolpe’s powerful, moving, and uplifting experience is an incredible feat of storytelling and personal exploration. Wolpe is an acclaimed actor and scholar who has likely performed more of the Bard’s male roles than any woman in history. $10–$20.
Thursday, Dec. 5; 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Philbin Studio Theatre, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
Friday, Dec. 6; 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7; 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Black Images
Join the Black Cultural Arts Council in celebrating Black arts, culture, and talents! The show shines a spotlight on the incredible and talented performers in the community, from singers and dancers to poets and artists. All are invited to enjoy the exciting talents that celebrate our various cultures. Buy tickets here. $5 presale; $7 at the door.
Friday, Dec. 6; 7 p.m. in the Carey Auditorium, Hesburgh Library
Notre Dame Chorale Presents Handel’s Messiah
The Notre Dame Chorale and Festival Baroque Orchestra present their annual performances of Handel’s masterpiece. This popular event features a professional orchestra of Baroque instruments, with vocal soloists drawn from the chorale and from the Notre Dame Sacred Music Program. $12 adults, $6 seniors, child/student free.
Friday, Dec. 6; 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the Leighton Concert Hall, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
Saturday, Dec. 7; 8 p.m.
University Band
The University Band presents a concert including marches, contemporary concert band pieces, holiday music, and traditional Notre Dame favorites. The University Band is a concert band for current students as well as staff, faculty, and alumni of Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s, and Holy Cross. Free but ticketed.
Sunday, Dec. 8; 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Leighton Concert Hall, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
Jazz Band Concert
The Notre Dame Jazz Band program features two traditional jazz ensembles and a New Orleans brass band. The bands perform a wide variety of music, ranging from jazz classics and vocal selections to new works and transcriptions. Free, but ticketed.
Sunday, Dec. 8; 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Leighton Concert Hall, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
Athletics and Sporting Events
Visit the Athletics composite schedule for events this week.
Deadlines or Registrations
Shamrock Leadership Series Book Club
Join the Shamrock Leadership Series Book Club this Christmas break to explore leadership through David Brooks’ How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. Participants will read the book during break and then engage in thoughtful group discussions upon returning to campus, sharing insights, interpretations, and research from the text.
An application to participate in the book club is due by 11:59 p.m. Monday, December 2.
ProjectConnect Spring Semester Sign-Ups
ProjectConnect brings together small groups of students to hang out and form genuine connections. It’s a laid-back, peer-led space where you can meet new people, strengthen friendships, and feel like you truly belong. Groups meet for one hour each week for five weeks and follow up with a celebration. Sign up now for spring semester information.
Meetings begin Monday, January 27
Notre Dame Global Health Case Competition
All students are invited to participate in Notre Dame’s Global Health Case Competition, an annual event that brings together students from multiple disciplines to creatively address critical challenges in global health. Applications to participate are now open, and the deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. Friday, December 20. For more details and the link to the application, please visit the case competition website.
Call for Proposals: 2025 Notre Dame Student Peace Conference
The 2025 Notre Dame Student Peace Conference committee announces “Unified Paths for Peace: Empowering Collaborative Peacebuilding.” The committee is now accepting proposals until Friday, January 24, from students interested in presenting at the conference in April. Students from all fields of study are invited to submit original work that intersects with themes of peace, conflict, and justice. There is no cost to submit or attend.
Friday, April 11; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Hesburgh Center for International Studies
Saturday, April 12; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Crucifix Initiative Student Art Competition
The Crucifix Initiative is accepting submissions of original student-created crucifixes for its second student art competition. The initiative seeks to reinforce the universalism of Catholicism and the internationalism of Notre Dame through an expanding collection of crucifixes from artists around the world. Winning pieces from the contest will join the collection and be displayed on campus and on the website, along with earning a cash prize. Submissions are due Tuesday, March 18. Please visit campuscrucifixes.nd.edu for more information.
Deals and Discounts
Photos.nd.edu Holiday Sale
Bring a piece of Notre Dame into your home—or share the gift of tradition with someone special. For a limited time, all photo orders are 20 percent off. Use code “ND20%” at checkout.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Wellsprings: A Time for Connection and Care
The Office of Institutional Transformation, in partnership with the Initiative on Race and Resilience, invites students, faculty, and staff to gather weekly for support and fellowship. Wellsprings: A Time for Connection and Care provides a safe space for members of the campus community to discuss fears and concerns related to social divisiveness.
Wednesday, Dec. 4; 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Initiative on Race and Resilience Sojourner Truth Commons (Room 300), O’Shaughnessy Hall
Men Talking
Hear Mike Hebbeler, assistant director of the Institute for Social Concerns, M. Brian Coughlin, associate vice president for Student Development, and Dom Sanfilippo, assistant director of the Gender Relations Center, discuss authenticity within service and community at Notre Dame. Franky’s Tacos will be served.
Thursday, Dec. 5; 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Coffee House, Geddes Hall
Educational and Research Opportunities
Hesburgh Libraries and Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship Workshops:
Click on each workshop to see more details and to register.
· Personal Digital Preservation Basics
This workshop will provide some resources and high-level tips on how to plan for backing up and organizing your personal digital materials, such as photos, documents, and recordings to preserve your “born digital” information and make it last for future generations.
Monday, Dec. 2; 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. in the Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship (Room 247), Hesburgh Library
· Topic Modeling Against a Corpora
Topic modeling is a process of analyzing a collection of texts to better understand the collection as a whole. This process can be useful for identifying genres, authors, or subjects in a body of literature. This hands-on workshop will demonstrate and facilitate the use of a free Java-based program called Topic Modeling Tool.
Monday, Dec. 2; 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship (Room 247), Hesburgh Library
· Introduction to Text Mining
In this hands-on workshop, learn the benefits of using computers to analyze textual corpora such as a collection of books or journal articles. Sometimes called “distant” or “scalable” reading, text mining is a way to analyze the words or phrases in a text to find patterns and anomalies within it.
Tuesday, Dec. 3; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship (Room 247), Hesburgh Library
· R for Absolute Beginners
This introductory workshop provides a quick “swimming” lesson to students, scholars, practitioners, and researchers who want to dive into the world of “R,” a commonly used language for data and statistical analysis and visualization. Participants will learn to write and run an R script and interact with their data.
Tuesday, Dec. 3; 7 to 8 p.m. in the Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship (Room 247), Hesburgh Library
· Introduction to Zotero (Managing Humanities Research)
Participants will learn the open-source Zotero research tool, which allows scholars to create bibliographies easily, but its capabilities also extend to broader areas of research management, note-taking, and sharing research.
Wednesday, Dec. 4; 2 to 3 p.m. in the Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship (Room 246), Hesburgh Library
· Using the Distant Reader
This workshop will help anyone who needs to read large volumes of materials take control of their content. The Distant Reader, a locally written system, can take large volumes of URLs or files, create a corpus, convert it into plain text, complete natural language processing, and output sets of reports.
Wednesday, Dec. 4; 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship (Room 247), Hesburgh Library
· Introduction to Natural Language Processing with Python
This hands-on workshop is an introduction to the Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK), a very popular suite of Python (programming language) modules that make the process of text mining easier. By the end of the workshop, you will have a working knowledge of Python and exposure to the inner workings of the NLTK.
Thursday, Dec. 5; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship (Room 247), Hesburgh Library
Computer Vision Research Laboratory—24EB Research Study Participation Opportunity
This study is open to Notre Dame students, faculty, and staff who are between the ages of 18 and 65. Participation involves using a web application on your laptop/desktop system (using Chrome) to capture face images and videos in two sessions. The participant must be on campus or connected with VPN to access the server. Participants will receive two $10 gift cards after completing two sessions that should be at least 24 hours apart. Review the instructions and the consent form. Please complete the study by Friday, December 13.
Faith and Service
Sacred Stories of Notre Dame
No matter who we are, where we come from, or what we believe, we all have a story to tell. This Advent, join the Notre Dame family for Sacred Stories of Notre Dame. Follow along with the Alumni Association as we ready our hearts for the joy of Christ’s birth and prayerfully reflect on where we find the sacred in both our mundane moments and extraordinary experiences. Text ADVENT to 51555 to be among the first to see each video the evening before its wider release, or visit sacredstories.nd.edu to explore other ways to follow along.
Began Sunday, Dec. 1, through Christmas, online
Sing with the Notre Dame Community Choir on Christmas Eve
All are welcome! No audition or fees required. For more information, please contact director Patrick Kronner at pkronner@nd.edu or visit communitychoir.nd.edu.
Rehearsals: Mondays, Dec. 2, 9, and 16; 7 to 8:45 p.m. in Room 329, Coleman-Morse Center
Monday, Dec. 23; 7 to 8:45 p.m. in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Christmas Mass in the Night, Dec. 24; 8:30 p.m. rehearsal in Room 329, Coleman-Morse Center
10 p.m. Lessons and Carols in the Basilica
11 p.m. Mass in the Basilica
Mass in the Mary, Queen of Families Chapel
Celebrate the weekend leading up to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in the Mary, Queen of Families Chapel. Led by Rev. Brian Ching, C.S.C., rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, this opportunity to worship amid site-specific installations offers an opportunity to reflect on the connection between liturgy and the arts.
Friday, Dec. 6; 9:30 to 10 a.m. in the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
Raclin Murphy’s First Birthday Mass
Led by Rev. Brian Ching, C.S.C., rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Mass is an opportunity to worship amid site-specific installations and to reflect on the connection between liturgy and the arts.
Friday, Dec. 6; 9:30 to 10 a.m. in the Mary, Queen of Families Chapel, Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
What is Christmas?
Are you an international student intrigued by the festivities happening around campus, or a domestic student new to Christianity? Join in to learn about the true meaning of Christmas. There will be Chinese and Mexican food served, stories shared, and fellowship enjoyed! Kindly register by Tuesday, December 3.
Friday, Dec. 6; 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the first-floor lounge, Coleman-Morse Center
EXALT Adoration
Sofia Benigno will offer a reflection on Mary, Our Mother, and praise and worship will be led by Totus Tuus. Confession and prayer teams will be available, and a social with hot chocolate and Christmas cookies will follow. Fill out this form for more information.
Friday, Dec. 6; 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the chapel, Graham Family Hall
Underwear and Sock Drive for the South Bend Center for the Homeless
Men’s, women’s, and children’s sizes are needed. NEW items only, please. Donation boxes are in the Hesburgh Library main concourse and the first- and third-floor lobbies of Geddes Hall through Thursday, December 12. Sponsored by the McGrath Institute for Church Life.
Toys for Tots Drive
ND Vets, in collaboration with Notre Dame ROTC, OMVA, campus partners, and local Marines, is proud to bring the Toys for Tots campaign back to campus. Donation boxes will be available through Friday, December 13, at various campus locations. Please review the poster for locations and acceptable donations.
Lectures and Presentations
“The Resilience of a University and Its People”: A Fireside Chat with Volodymyr Turchynovskyy
Attend an insightful fireside chat featuring Volodymyr Turchynovskyy, dean of the social sciences faculty at Ukrainian Catholic University, in conversation with Nitesh Chawla, founding director of the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society.
Tuesday, Dec. 3; 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium (Room 130), Hesburgh Center for International Studies
Information Session: Social Concerns Summer Fellowships
Sophomores and juniors can learn more about Social Concerns Summer Fellowships at a virtual info session. The fellowship—which includes $2,500 in funding plus room, board, and transportation—enables students to explore their vocation while researching questions of justice alongside communities in the United States and around the world.
Wednesday, Dec. 4; 2 to 3 p.m. via Zoom
ND Democracy Talk—“State of Democracy Around the World: Reflections on 2024”
In 2024, more than 70 countries held elections, with more than half of the world’s population participating. This panel will explore global election results from a comparative perspective and reflect on what they reveal about the state of democracy. Featuring expert insights on key regions, the discussion will cover elections in nations such as India, South Africa, Poland, France, the UK, Venezuela, and the US. A welcome reception with light refreshments will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the panel will begin at 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Wednesday, Dec. 4; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium, Hesburgh Center for International Studies
Panel Discussion: “On the Ground in Israel-Palestine”
This Notre Dame Forum event brings together a diverse array of Notre Dame voices with personal and professional relationships to the current conflict in the Middle East. From their distinct vantage points as scholars, practitioners, and individuals with deep ties to the region, panelists will describe their experiences, how they are processing what is happening, and what they hope and expect for the future. The evening fireside chat intends to create a safe space for the Notre Dame community to engage in this challenging, but necessary, conversation. A reception will follow the panel discussion.
Wednesday, Dec. 4; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the auditorium, Eck Visitors Center
This presentation by Eva Del Soldato, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, delves into the intriguing journey of a forgotten booklet by the Franciscan Matthias Ferchius (1583–1669), drawing from recently unearthed material and uncovering a fascinating blend of Biblical exegesis, poison expertise, medical reasoning, and rhetorical balancing acts.
Thursday, Dec. 5; 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Rare Books & Special Collections (Room 102), Hesburgh Library
Student Presentations: South Asia Group
Tia Mittle, an undergraduate student majoring in global affairs and political science, and Poulomi Ghosh, a master’s degree student in governance and policy at the Keough School of Global Affairs, will present papers for this session of the South Asia Group. Free and open to all those with an academic interest in South Asia. Lunch provided with registration required.
Friday, Dec. 6; 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Room 2148, Jenkins Nanovic Halls
Labor Café
The Labor Café at the Institute for Social Concerns convenes the Notre Dame community for casual conversation on contemporary questions about work, workers, and workplaces. Participants choose the concrete topics, all people are welcome, and all opinions are entertained.
Friday, Dec. 6; 5 to 6 p.m. in the Coffee House, Geddes Hall
The Christmas Lecture: “The Hidden Reality—Exploring the Invisible Universe with the James Webb Space Telescope”
Explore the invisible universe with Michelle Thaller—astrophysicist, TV and podcast host, and retired NASA science communicator. See exciting photos from the James Webb Space Telescope and demos on how we can “see” infrared light. Stay for Q&A and a surprise afterward with Kate the Chemist. For young and old alike—held in downtown South Bend after the city’s tree lighting! Free and open to the public.
Friday, Dec. 6; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Century Center, 120 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., South Bend
Panel Discussions: “2024 Election Postmortem”
Bringing together scholars, activists, and faith leaders with expertise in religion, radicalism, democracy, and depolarization, the 2024 Election Postmortem offers space for interdisciplinary analysis and collaboration at this critical historical moment.
Saturday, Dec. 7; 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Rooms 215 and 216, Notre Dame Conference Center at McKenna Hall
Social Gatherings
Coffee Hour: Natale italiano e panettone
Italian Coffee Hour is a fun experience where you can meet and practice your Italian with members of the Italian program, Italophones, Italophiles, and people with an appreciation for all things Italian. All are welcome! For more information, contact cslcstaf@nd.edu.
Monday, Dec. 2; 4 to 5 p.m. on the third floor, Decio Faculty Hall
Fair Trade Sale
Get ready for the holidays with beautiful, handcrafted fair trade items! Items include yak wool shawls, cashmere scarves, ear warmers, singing bowls, wool hats, and more. Sales will benefit nonprofit organizations in South Bend, Palestine, Uganda, Kenya, and Nepal. Free and open to all.
Friday, Dec. 6; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Forum (first floor), Jenkins Nanovic Halls
Beyond the Frame: Guided Creative Session
The Raclin Murphy Museum and the Institute for Social Concerns’ Home Team invite you to slow down, get inspired, and create! Join the group for a drop-in guided creative session focusing on poetry. The hosts will provide art supplies, guided questions for inspiration, artistic community and conversation, tea and baked goods.
Saturday, Dec. 7; 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Learning Commons, Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
Tech Tips, Tools, and IT Maintenance
IT Maintenance Affects Many IT Services December 7 and 8
Beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, December 7, through 8 p.m. Sunday, December 8, Office of Information Technology systems engineers will perform various maintenance activities and upgrades. Many IT services may be unavailable for some or all of the maintenance period.
Canvas Tip: Use Canvas’ What-If Feature to Predict Course Grades
If you’re wondering how your finals could affect your grade, you can calculate your potential score with Canvas’ What-If feature. Current course grades may not be visible in all courses.
Also This Week ...
Provost’s Open Office Hours
Provost John McGreevy will hold open office hours from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 6, in the Dooley Room of LaFortune Student Center. These office hours are open to all Notre Dame faculty, staff, and students. No appointment needed. Come with questions or ideas, or just come to say hello.
Hesburgh Library Finals Hours
The library began finals hours (open 24/7) Sunday, December 1, and stays open through 11:00 p.m. Friday, December 20. Find all branch and service desk hours at library.nd.edu/hours.