On Saturday, November 9, the United States Province of Priests and Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross hosted a forum for the presidents and provosts from all eight higher-education institutions belonging to the Holy Cross Family in the country. This was the first time that all eight institutions had come together for such a gathering.

Six of the institutions are part of the Congregation of Holy Cross: Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Indiana; King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas; Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts; University of Notre Dame, in Notre Dame, Indiana; and University of Portland in Portland, Oregon. The Sisters of the Holy Cross run Saints Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, while the Marianites of Holy Cross have the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The forum, which was held at the University of Notre Dame, began with a panel consisting of Dr. Julie Sullivan, President of Santa Clara University; Dr. Dennis Jacobs, Provost of Fordham University, and Dr. Donna Carroll, President of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities in Washington, DC. Fr. William M. Lies, C.S.C., Superior of the United States Province of Priests and Brothers, moderated the panel.

Following the panel, there were two sessions on charism and mission integration co-facilitated by Sr. Andrea Lee, IHM, Assistant Director for the Conference on Mercy Higher Education, and Dr. Chris Haug, Provincial Assistant for Apostolic Mission & Charism for the United States Province. The presidents and provosts then met in separate groups to discuss common issues and explore areas for potential collaboration.

After Mass presided by Fr. Lies, the forum attendees joined the festivities for the evening Notre Dame football game. All expressed their gratitude for this historic opportunity to explore their shared Holy Cross mission and charism and to consider possible bridges in addressing the challenges in U.S. higher education today.