PRESIDENT ROBERT CURIS' WELCOME REMARKS
Welcome to all who are gathered here today to celebrate with us for two very special institutions…
First is the Congregation of Holy Cross and more specifically, the Brothers of Holy Cross…Today is a special day because we are here together, sharing in liturgies of the word and Eucharist and honoring the legacy of over 200 Brothers of Holy Cross who founded and served Notre Dame High School over the past 77 years. They have “charged” all of us with carrying forward this important mission…doing the work of resurrection.
It is my pleasure to welcome Brother Paul Bednarczyk, CSC ‘75, Superior General, Congregation of Holy Cross. The first Brother to hold that position within the Order. That is a significant personal and professional accomplishment, and we are all so pleased to know he is one of us.
I also want to recognize the Brothers who are celebrating with us today: Brother Thomas Dziekan, CSC '66, Provincial Superior, Moreau Province; Brother James Branigan, CSC, former President of Notre Dame, and my predecessor; Brother Joseph Walsh, CSC.
It’s great to have members from our Board of Directors celebrating with us, led by Chair David Garamella, Class of ‘88.
I’d also like to welcome back so many long-serving administrators and faculty. Ralph Proto ‘71 and Patrick Clifford ‘75–our first lay principals– as well as the former and current faculty and staff of Notre Dame. Your commitment to the mission and our students and their families make everything possible.
Our second institution is just a man, but he is a special man indeed…Brother George Schmitz. We recognize and thank Brother George for all of his contributions to ND as he retires from his beloved alma mater (here he has been a student, teacher, administrator, principal and so much more.)
Although we know Br. George will never fully “retire” from Notre Dame, he will forever be a mentor and confidant to me and so many of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
Brother has been a confidant for me from day one. I always know I can turn to him for honest advice and straight talk. (I was even called to the “Principal’s Office” a few times when he wasn’t happy with a decision I made!) Brother George is a credit to his family, his friends, and his Order.
A fellow classmate, John Cramer wrote about Brother: I have followed George's career over the decades, and have been continuously impressed with the variety, complexity, skill, and dedication that he has exhibited in each one. In each, he has been a quick study in grasping the essentials of the roles he has assumed, but the key to his success in each one has been his outstanding people skills. All in all, a most remarkable career.
Brother George leads by example. He not only serves Notre Dame, but he lends his expertise to worthy causes. Brother’s many passions include ethical investing. He is a community and social services professional…and has especially shown commitment with Hispanic outreach and support.
Brother is the kind of humble servant-leader that The Brothers of Holy Cross inspire all of us to be.
The Brothers’ leadership has inspired our Board, our alumni, and our entire school community to continue to innovate and transform this “light on the hill!” We continue to innovate academically as the “times” demand.
Through our Excellence Imagined Campaign, we are in the process of modernizing the building to support new and innovative academic programs, and provide collaborative spaces for teaching and learning; To quote Brother George, “We want our academic space to reflect the modern and innovative academic programs we offer.”
We are blessed with courage and support as we engage in what Moreau called the work of resurrection. So, thank you all for coming today, to celebrate Brother George and to celebrate the legacy of the Brothers of Holy Cross…who through their dedication, sweat, tears, and sacrifice, have made Notre Dame a special instrument in Moreau’s work of resurrection.
We will continue this work…Bringing Hope, Building Respect, Educating Hearts and Minds, and Being Family in our Holy Cross Tradition.
