Faith at Notre Dame

At Notre Dame, faith serves as a bridge—to understanding, connection and hope.

A close-up of the top of the University of Notre Dame's Golden Dome, featuring a dark cross with Celtic knot details above the letters 'N.D.'

Podcast

Breathe with both lungs

Notre Dame's theology chair demonstrates Catholic character in a global context.

A priest in a rich purple vestment stands before an altar with lit candles, reciting prayers with his hands raised near stained-glass windows.

Video

Uncovering the Aramaic Dead Sea Scrolls

A Notre Dame theology professor explores the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

A close-up, shallow depth-of-field shot of an ancient parchment of the dead sea scrolls covered in dense lines of dark, handwritten text.

Article

A deeper river

Father Dan Groody's woodworking is a metaphor for spirituality in both his day-to-day work and his pastime.

A close up of hands on a piece of wood with really defined wood grain.

The Laetare Medal

Established at Notre Dame in 1883, the Laetare Medal was conceived as an American counterpart of the Golden Rose, a papal honor that is at least 1,000 years old. The medal has been awarded annually at Notre Dame to a Catholic “whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church and enriched the heritage of humanity.”

The Laetare Medal

  1. A woman sits at a desk with a laptop, looking through an archival document in a folder.

    Article

    Coda

    Medieval music at the end of life

  2. A female with dark hair gazes at the Angels Unawares sculpture, a bronze sculpture of migrants and refugees from various lands crowded on a 20-foot boat at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

    Article

    A place in history

    Spanish immersion teachers travel to DC for a firsthand look into American history and government.

  4. Black Man in pinstripe suit and gold bow tie against a blue background.

    Article

    Fighting for religious liberty

    Notre Dame Law School stands ready to advocate and defend religious freedom for all people.

  5. Four smiling graduates wearing black graduation gowns and colorful stoles pose for a photo. They wear mortarboards with white tassels.

    Article

    A leap of faith

    How two Christian and two Muslim young women went from Nigeria to Notre Dame, overcoming tragedy and trauma to show the world-changing power of knowledge.

  6. A close up view of Mary's face on the statue on top of the Golden Dome.

    Article

    A woman clothed with the sun

    Looking up at the newly regilded statue of Mary atop the Main Building, gleaming gold in the afternoon light, it is not difficult to imagine her as the woman who appears in Revelation, “clothed with the sun” itself.

  7. A graphic for the Notre Dame Global Day of Service. The logo, which features a globe with a shamrock and the statue of Mary from the Golden Dome, is prominently displayed to the left of the text. The background is a semi-transparent black and white photo of a person using a large leaf rake in a yard with a wooden fence.

    Article

    2023 Notre Dame Global Day of Service

    A day designated for Notre Dame students, alumni, parents and friends around the world to serve in their communities.

  8. A richly carved wooden altar displays a golden monstrance with spiky rays, surrounded by numerous lit taper candles and two large pillar candles.

    Photo essay

    Sacred places

    Every residence hall on campus has its own chapel.

  9. A large, vintage-style globe is shown, with a close-up of the continents of North and South America.

    Article

    Origin story

    The Peace Corps began in part on the campus of Notre Dame.

  10. A blue sign with a green shamrock and white text reading ‘St Joe Farm Est. 1852’ is mounted on a stone wall.

    Article

    Before the sunrise

    Farm that fed Notre Dame for 125 years now provides power.

  11. An ornate gilded altar inside the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame is surrounded by arches and murals on the ceiling.

    Article

    “Live with hope”

    Notre Dame, Boston College presidents offer vision for Church revitalization

  12. A religious mural depicts Jesus Christ holding a red book while an angel holds a banner above him and two priests look up from below.

    Article

    A meeting — and healing — of worlds

    Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visits Notre Dame

  13. Several old Liebig trade cards featuring colorful religious and mythical illustrations are arranged on a gray background.

    Article

    Sommo poeta

    Dante at Notre Dame

  14. An old stone chapel with a cross on the roof stands on a green hill overlooking the blue ocean with small islands.

    Article

    Resurrecting Irish monks

    Notre Dame archaeologists trace the history of island Catholicism

  15. An illustrated cross on the top of a building against a cloudy grey sky.

    Article

    A test of faith

    Iraqi priest publishes story of his abduction

  16. A smiling man wearing dark blue academic regalia with gold accents and distinctive red-rimmed glasses walks past clapping attendees at a commencement ceremony.

    Video

    Arturo Sandoval Records Christmas Album at Notre Dame

    Sandoval headlines Notre Dame's festive Christmas in September event featuring the Notre Dame Children's Choir, Notre Dame Symphonic Winds, and the Notre Dame Jazz Ensemble.

  17. A collage of black and white images featuring New York City landmarks, people on horses, a smiling man, and the Golden Dome.

    Article

    Epic connection

    Family, religious and immigrant history bind subway alumni to Notre Dame

  18. Sunlight shines behind a brick and concrete bell tower with two bells hanging beneath a cross.

    Article

    A new movement for sacred music

    Graduates bring enthusiasm and expertise to community worship.

  19. A smiling woman looks down at a laughing toddler with messy hair, who is sitting on a colorful foam mat.

    Article

    Small acts of great love

    Caring for the abandoned children of China

  20. A man holds up a document with handwritten cursive text, partially obscuring his face.

    Article

    Found in translation

    In 50 years of overlooked letters, French class discovers new insights into Father Sorin and the early days of Notre Dame

  22. The Golden Dome of the Main Building on the Notre Dame campus, framed by blooming white flowers.

    Article

    Notre Dame scholar of Dead Sea Scrolls elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

    One of the nation’s oldest learned societies and independent policy research centers

  26. Ornamental cross on the Basilica of the Sacred heart. Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame.

    News

    Lilly Endowment makes $7.9 million grant to help Notre Dame and Boston College grow Catholic pastoral leaders

    The collaborative initiative’s goals are to reduce barriers and increase support for graduate theological education for a new generation of students; increase knowledge of, and interest in, ministerial professions among this population; and create a consortium of Catholic higher education institutions forming pastoral leaders at the graduate level in collaboration with local ecclesial organizations.

Discover and engage
  1. Silhouette of a person in a green shirt with arms crossed looking out over a densely built, hazy cityscape.

    Article

    Fighting to educate children in Ghana

    Soccer opened doors for student-athlete Daniel Boateng, so he’s leveraging the sport to offer opportunities for kids in his native Ghana.

  2. A man in a blue lab coat and glasses stands in a blue-lit laboratory. He has gray hair and a neutral expression, looking forward.

    Podcast

    New tech to help stop the spread of bird flu

    An “electronic nose” developed at Notre Dame could transform farming by detecting bird flu early.

  3. Notre Dame Stadium at night, packed with spectators, illuminated by bright stadium lights and green and white fireworks exploding above the arena.

    Photo Essay

    14 reasons to love October

    The month in photos, October 2025

  4. A gloved hand holds a petri dish with purple liquid drops, and a pipette is dispensing more liquid into one of the drops.

    Article

    Fighting to cure brain cancer

    To better understand glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, a Notre Dame researcher thought outside the box—and off planet Earth.

  5. The ruined Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) featuring exposed brick and a skeletal metal dome against an overcast sky. Several dark crows perch on the dome, one flying past.

    Photo Essay

    Pilgrimage of peace

    In August 2025, Notre Dame students joined university students from the U.S. and Japan on a pilgrimage of peace to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of those cities.

  6. A woman with brown curly hair and red lipstick holds a baby wearing a denim jacket and black bow headband.

    Article

    Fighting for maternal health

    The US has the highest maternal mortality rate of developed nations. An innovative postpartum care model from Notre Dame can save mothers around the globe.

  7. Aerial view of Notre Dame Stadium filled with fans during a performance. Four helicopters fly over the green field where the Band of the Fighting Irish forms the ND logo.

    Photo Essay

    Do you remember. . .

    The month in photos, September 2025

  8. A serious man in a dark blue shirt and glasses stands with his arms crossed in front of a colorful hurricane projection.

    Podcast

    Improving hurricane forecasts

    Learn how new drone technology is helping scientists better understand what happens inside a hurricane close to the ocean’s surface.

  9. A chicken looking toward the camera in a farm setting.

    Article

    Fighting for faster virus detection

    An electronic nose developed by Notre Dame researchers is helping sniff out bird flu biomarkers for faster detection and fewer sick birds.